If your child turns 5 by the 20th August 2025, they will start P1 in August 2025. If they turn 5 by end February 2026, they can start P1 in August 2025 or you can choose to defer their P1 start and give them an additional nursery year. There are pros and cons to giving your child an additional nursery year and it is important to discuss this with your child’s key worker and Mrs Jess before making the final decision. If you are considering an additional nursery year please discuss it with us as soon as possible. If your child attends a different setting, you should discuss it with the staff at that setting in the first instance. The decision needs to be finalised by the end of January 2025.
If your child turns 5 on or after 1st March 2026 then they aren’t old enough for school in August 2025 and they will continue in Nursery for an additional year. If you are happy with their current placement then you don’t need to do anything but if you want to change their setting or the days they attend then you should reapply during January 2025 using the Fife Council online application form for session 2024-25 – this will go live in the early part of January, don’t try to apply yet.
If your child is due to start P1 in August 2025, you should enrol them online during January 2025 via an online application – the applications will go live in the first half of January, you can’t apply yet. If you live in our catchment area, you can enrol directly to Balmerino Primary School. If you live in another catchment area, you should enrol at that school but can choose to make a placing request to Balmerino if you want your child to come here. Once all catchment children have been allocated a place, any additional places will be given to those who made a placing request following Fife Council policy. Parents will receive the decision on their placing request at the end of April 2025. If you don’t live in our catchment area you should be aware that attending our Nursery does not increase the chance of your child having a place at our school for P1.
Any prospective parent is welcome to contact me at lucy.jess@fife.gov.uk to come and tour the school.
Click here to check your catchment area.
Click here to read a message from the Headteacher.
