Parents of children due to start Early Learning and Childcare or school from August 2027, are invited to apply for a place for their child during enrolment week, being held from 16 -20 November 2026.
How to apply
Parents and carers of children born between 1 March 2023 and 28 February 2025 are eligible to apply for ELC for three- and four-year-olds. They are asked to contact their chosen setting to ensure they have availability for the days and times required. Once this is done, parents should complete the ELC online application available during enrolment week. A full list of participating providers including childminders, private and voluntary groups and local authority nurseries is also available on our website.
Parents and carers of any child who is five years of age before 29 February 2028 and is due to start in Primary 1 should complete the online application form for school enrolment which is also available during enrolment week.
To complete the online process for both ELC and primary school, parents and 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 or carer 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.
Deferred entry
Parents and carers of a child whose fifth birthday falls between 19 August 2027, and 29 February 2028 have the right to defer their child’s entry to primary school. Applications for deferred entry should be discussed with the head teacher, ELC setting manager or funded Childminder.
Children who are moving from primary to secondary school in August 2027 will receive details of the local catchment school from their current primary school.
Councillor Julie Pirone, Executive Member for Education, Lifelong Learning and Youth Development:
“Parents of children due to start Primary 1 or who would like to enrol their child for nursery are asked to do so during enrolment week, which takes place this year from Monday 16 to Friday 20 November.
“This is such a special time in the lives of our very young learners, and I wish those children new to our primary schools and nurseries lots of luck and success as they start their education journey within the Scottish Borders.”
More information
For parents and carers 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.