Parents and carers of children due to start nursery or school from August 2026 are invited to apply for a place for their child during enrolment week, being held from 17-21 November.
Early Learning and Childcare enrolment
Parents and carers of children born between 1 March 2022 and 29 February 2024 are eligible to apply for early learning and childcare for three and four-year-olds. They are advised to contact their chosen nursery to discuss options for their child and then complete the enrolment application online which is available during enrolment week. Eligible two-year-olds can enrol in May 2026 and some of our settings do accept paid for two-years-olds.
A full list of participating providers including childminders, private and voluntary groups and local authority nurseries is also available.
In recognition of a growing need within the local community of Heriot and surrounding area, a brand new ELC provision is being established at Heriot primary school. This setting will operate alongside the school, offering 1140 hours to three and four-year-olds. Initially the setting will operate as an indoor/outdoor nursery with a view to developing a fully outdoor provision in the future. It is hoped that this new setting will act as a catalyst for growing the school roll and sustaining a thriving community in Heriot.
Primary School enrolment
Parents and carers of any child who is five years of age before 28 February 2027 and is due to start in Primary 1 from August 2026, should complete the online application form available during enrolment week.
To complete the online process for both early learning and children at primary school, parents/carers will need to have electronic copies of their child’s birth certificate and proof of address available to upload along with their application.
Any parent intending to make a placement request for their child at a school other than their local catchment school, should enrol with their local school in the normal way using the online form. This will ensure a place is reserved for them in the event that the placement request is unsuccessful. They should also contact their preferred school.
Parents of a child whose fifth birthday falls between 20 August 2026, and 28 February 2027 have the right to defer their child’s entry to primary school. Applications for deferred entry should be discussed with the head teacher or early learning and childcare setting manager.
Children who are moving from primary to secondary school in August 2026 will receive details of the local catchment school from their current primary school.
Councillor Julie Pirone, Executive Member for Education, Youth Development and Lifelong Learning:
“Parents and carers of any child due to start Primary 1 or who would like to enrol their child for a nursery facility are asked to do so, as soon as possible during enrolment week, this year taking place from Monday 17 to Friday 21 November.
“Whether they are attending nursery or primary school for the first time, this a really important and exciting milestone for children and their families, and I’d like to wish every young pupil and their families well as they start their journey into education.”
If parents are looking for advice about individual procedures for enrolling children, making placement requests and deferred entry, they should contact their local primary school. For early learning and childcare, they should speak to their preferred provider.
Further information
The Early Learning and Childcare enrolment form and the Primary enrolment form can be completed online during enrolment week from Monday 17 through to Friday 21 November 2025.