FIFE COUNCIL: EDUCATION & CHILDREN’S SERVICES DIRECTORATE
ENROLMENT IN NURSERY AND PRIMARY SCHOOLS FOR 2017/18 Children who reach the age of 5 on or before 14 August 2017, must normally start school in August 2017. Children who reach the age of 5 after August 2017, but before 28 February 2018, may also start school in August 2017, though parents are not obliged to send their children to school until the first entry date after their fifth birthday. Parents of children in either of these categories are asked to enrol their child at their catchment school before Friday, 27 January 2017. Choice of School Parents have the right to make a placing request for the school they wish their child to attend. This applies whether the child is about to start school or whether he/she is already attending primary, secondary or additional support needs school. Parents wishing to send their child to a school other than the catchment school should apply to the school of their choice as soon as possible and, in any case, before 15 March 2017. Parents must also enrol their child at their catchment school to ensure a place is available if a placing request application is refused. Headteachers must provide information to parents on how to make a placing request for the school of their choice. In the case of children starting school for the first time ‘Choosing a School – A Guide for Parents’ is available online at www.scotland.gov.uk . Individual school booklets will be provided by the Headteacher of individual schools and can be accessed online at www.fifedirect.org.uk. School catchment areas can be accessed online at www.fifedirect.org.uk/catchmentchecker. Nursery Enrolment The parents/carers of children who reach the age of 3 on or before 28 February 2018 can apply for a place in a Fife Council nursery. Those wishing to make an application should do so before the 31 January 2017. Nursery places are allocated in line with Fife Council’s Early Years Admissions Policy. Application forms are available from all Fife nursery establishments and at www.fifedirect.org.uk/nurseryadmissionsform Applications should be made for children due to commence nursery at any point in the following academic year and be submitted to the nursery of their first choice. This means that even though the child may not be entitled to start nursery until January 2017 or April 2017 they must apply for a place now. All places are allocated by the Admissions Panel and places will be offered in writing by 31 March 2017. General information about schools in the Fife area may be obtained by contacting Education Service on 01592 583372.