When does my child start school in Scotland?
Children born between 1 March 2022 and 28 February 2023 start Primary 1 in August 2027. Scottish children start P1 aged between about 4 and a half and 5 and a half.
The Scottish cut-off
Scotland groups children from 1 March to the end of February. A child born on 1 March is the oldest in the year. A child born on 28 or 29 February is the youngest.
| Born between | Starts P1 |
|---|---|
| 1 March 2022 and 28 February 2023 | August 2027 |
| 1 March 2023 and 29 February 2024 | August 2028 |
| 1 March 2024 and 28 February 2025 | August 2029 |
| 1 March 2025 and 28 February 2026 | August 2030 |
Source: mygov.scot.
Deferring P1
If your child is still 4 on their first school day, you can defer their start by a year. This is a parent's right. It covers children born from about mid-August to the end of February.
The exact cut-off depends on your council's start date. For August 2027, a child born in September 2022 or January 2023 can be deferred. A child born in May 2022 will already be 5, so there is no automatic right to defer.
Funded childcare in a deferred year
Since August 2023, every child whose P1 start is deferred gets an extra year of funded early learning and childcare. You no longer need to apply for funding for an autumn birthday. That is up to 1,140 hours a year.
How to register for P1
Councils run P1 registration in the school year before your child starts. Timing varies.
- Edinburgh's registration for August 2027 opens in November 2026.
- Renfrewshire runs its registration in November.
- Aberdeenshire and North Lanarkshire register in January.
Some councils write to you about your catchment school. Others ask you to enrol. You usually need your child's full birth certificate and proof of address, such as a council tax bill.
If you plan to defer, most councils still ask you to register first. You then complete the council's deferral form.
Choosing a school
Your child gets a place at the catchment school for your address. In some councils you can also choose a denominational or Gaelic-medium school. Edinburgh, for example, asks for up to three preferences, including its Gaelic primary.
What to do and when
- In the autumn before your child starts, check your council's website for registration dates.
- Register during the registration period, usually November to January.
- If you plan to defer, complete the council's deferral form by its deadline.
- Your child starts P1 in August, on the council's first day for pupils.
Example
Ella was born on 12 January 2023. She is due to start P1 in August 2027, aged 4. Her parents can defer her to August 2028, and she will keep her funded nursery place for another year.
Check your council's website in the autumn for its registration dates.
Quick answers
- What age do children start school in Scotland?
Between about 4 and a half and 5 and a half. Children born from 1 March to the end of the following February start P1 together in August.
- Can I defer my child's P1 start in Scotland?
Yes, if your child is still 4 on the day they are due to start school. This usually means birthdays from mid-August to the end of February.
- Will I get funded nursery if I defer?
Yes. Since August 2023 every deferred child gets an extra year of funded early learning and childcare, whatever their birth month.
- When is P1 registration?
It varies by council, usually between November and January before the August start. Edinburgh's registration for August 2027 opens in November 2026.
- My child was born on 1 March 2022. When do they start school?
August 2027. They will be among the oldest in their P1 class.