Children in Scotland must start primary school in the August term after their fifth birthday. This generally means that children start school when they are aged between four-and-a-half and five-and-a-half.
Education Authorities can make arrangements for children to start in the August when they are four, if they will turn five by the end of February. If you would like your child to start school earlier or later than the education authority would expect them to start, you should discuss this with your Education Authority as early as possible.
When to enrol your child
Education authorities usually need you to enrol your child for primary school several months before school starts.
Information about procedures for enrolling children at their local school and how to submit a placing request for another school is usually made widely available in nursery and primary schools, community centres, libraries and in local newspapers.
You’ll need to know what your education authority expects you to do.
Information about schools
All primary and secondary schools produce an annual handbook. This gives you information about the school, including:
- what it teaches
- policies on discipline, school uniform, homework and extra-curricular activities
- policy on developing spiritual, moral, social and cultural values
- attainment at the school
- secondary schools in the area (for parents of primary 7 pupils only)
- information about the destinations of its most recent leavers, for example full-time further education or employment (for secondary schools only)
Find out more about your child's school
For more information, contact your Education Authority or look up school details on Scottish Schools Online.
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