Families can now apply to defer their child’s entry to primary one for the academic year 2023/2024. Applications must be completed by close of business on 10 February 2023.

New legislation means that, from August 2023, all children who are not five at the start of term and who choose to defer are entitled to funded early learning and childcare regardless of their birth month. East Lothian Council agreed to fund all primary one deferrals for 22/23 in January 2022.

Applications are being invited online for the first time to make the process as easy as possible. Families can request to keep their child within their existing setting or move to another early years provision. The Early Years team will work to allocate a place in a new provision wherever requested however this will depend on availability at the individual setting.

Information and the online application form are available at: www.eastlothian.govuk/p1-deferral

Published: Thursday, 19th January 2023