Following a change to legislation from 1 August 2023, if a parent or carer of a child that is still four years old on the date they are eligible to start school (children with birth dates on or between the day after the school start date in August (12 August 2026) to the last day in February) defers their entry to school for a year, they can automatically access an additional year of funded early learning and childcare.

• Children whose 5th birthday is between March and mid-August (including the first day of the school term - 12 August 2026) are not automatically entitled to defer entry to P1, as they have already reached the age of five on the school start date in August. A further year of funded ELC provision would be at the discretion of the local authority.
• Children whose 5th birthday is mid-August (the day after school starts on 12 August 2026) and the last day in February are entitled to defer entry to P1, and can automatically access an additional year of funded ELC.

All completed request forms should be submitted electronically or handed in to your current ELC provider by 5 December 2025.