If your child turns 5 on or before 19 August 2026, they are eligible to start Primary 1 in August 2026.

You’ll need to enrol them online via Fife Council’s online application form in January 2026. The application form will go live in the first half of January.

• If you live in Dairsie’s catchment area, you can apply directly to Dairsie Primary School.

• If you live in another catchment area, you must apply to your catchment school but can also make a placing request for Dairsie.

Once all catchment pupils have been placed, any remaining spaces will be offered to those who made a placing request in line with Fife Council’s policy. You will receive a decision by the end of April 2026.

Some families may feel that their child would benefit from an additional year in nursery, even if they are old enough to start school. If you are considering deferring your child’s start to P1, please speak to your child’s key worker and Mrs Donald as early as possible. Requests for an extra nursery year for eligible children are not automatic and must be discussed and agreed in advance. Decisions must be made by the end of January 2026.

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If your child turns 5 between 20 August 2026 and 28 February 2027, you can choose whether they start school in August 2026 or wait until August 2027 and have an extra year in nursery.

There are benefits and challenges to both options, so please speak to your child’s key worker and Mrs Donald before making a final decision. If your child attends a different nursery, speak to staff there first. Final decisions must be made by the end of January 2026.

If your child turns 5 on or after 1 March 2027, they are not old enough to start school in August 2026 and will stay in nursery for another year.

If you’re happy with their current nursery place, you don’t need to do anything.
If you want to change nursery or the days your child attends, you’ll need to reapply in January 2026 using Fife Council’s online application form for the 2026–27 session. This will be available in early January.