Deferred entry to school

Contents

• General
• Factors to be considered
• What should I do?
• What happens next?
• Important information

General

Arrangements for entry to primary schools in North Lanarkshire Council are on a once-a-year-basis at the start of the new session in August each year. Only children whose fifth birthday falls between 1 March of that year and the last day of February the following year will automatically be admitted to school. It is, however, open, to parents to make a request for deferred entry to school and a further year of part time nursery education.

Factors to be considered when making a request for deferral

You may find it helpful to discuss some key questions with staff at your child's nursery about his or her

• approach and attitude to learning
• ability to take responsibility
• confidence in undertaking new of challenging tasks
• organisation skills
• ability to make choices and express preferences
• preferred learning style and approach and ability to adapt this
• enthusiasm and motivation
• determination and perseverance to a task in the face of challenge
• help seeking strategies
• Independence in undertaking tasks
• ability to cope with change and new routines
• ability to take part in conversations and discussions within a range of groupings and situations
• ability to make self understood
• ability to listen to and follow instructions
• ability to follow routines and boundaries
• expression of personal needs
• emotional resilience
• confidence in expression ideas and feelings
• ability to negotiate and co-operate
• sensitivity to the needs and feelings of others
• problem solving skills
• confidence in managing own personal care
• ability to look after and organise own possessions
• awareness of and responsibility for own safety
• co-ordination and fine motor control
• management of feelings and impulses
• ability to care for others
• ability to establish relationships and friendships with peers
• current peer group relationships and friendships

What should I do?

1. You should enrol your child at your local primary school and make a request to defer entry to primary school.
2. You will be given a parents leaflet with a deferred entry application form (DEI). This should be completed and returned to the head teacher of the primary school by the agreed date (usually towards the end of January).
3. Your request will be forwarded to the education department for consideration and acknowledgement will be sent to you within five working days.

You can access PDF copies of the "deferred entry to school" leaflet by using the "download or request by post" box at the right hand side of the screen.

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