INFORMATION FOR INFANT BEGINNERS – REGISTRATION

Children who reach the age of five years between 1 March 2024 and 28 February 2025 (this will be children who are born between the 1 March 2019 – 29 February 2020) are due to start primary 1 at the beginning of the new school term in August 2024.

Parents should complete the P1 online registration process between 8 – 12 January 2024 regardless if they are considering a deferred year to school for their child.  Parents can choose between denominational or non-denominational schools or Gaelic Medium Education. Gaelic Medium Education is available at Whinhill Primary School for all pupils residing in Inverclyde. Please choose Whinhill (Gaelic) School from the online drop down menu when registering.

There are no denominational primary schools within the areas of Quarriers Village, Kilmacolm, Inverkip and Wemyss Bay. Parents often choose to send their children to the local non-denominational primary school because of the travelling distance to their nearest denominational primary school. In such circumstances the following admission arrangements will apply:

• Only those children who have a certificate of baptism into the Roman Catholic faith when registering for primary 1 will have the choice at primary 7 to seek admission to the denominational school assigned to their address.  For more information, please read our Pupil Placement Policy which is available in the documents section.

Once parents have completed the primary 1 registration, they will have the choice to complete a placing request application to a school other than the catchment primary.

A deferred entry application is also available to parents considering deferring their child’s entry to primary 1 in August 2024.

No documents will be required at this stage; however, we may have to contact you, should we require further information.

Parents will be notified by 30 April 2024 confirming their child’s place in school and information regarding induction days will follow from the school after this date.

Placing Request

If you have completed the primary 1 registration process and did not apply for a placing request at that time, you can still make an application by completing the form linked on this page under the Related Links heading.

All placing request applications must be submitted by 1 February 2024. Applications received after 1 February will not be considered until the placing request process is complete. Applications will be acknowledged within five working days of receipt of each application (excluding school holidays). If you do not receive an acknowledgement, please contact Admissions Section on 01475 712850 (please select option 1) to ensure your form has arrived. Parents will be advised of the outcome of their request no later than 30 April.

Defer Entry

Defer entry applications for the school term starting August 2024 are open until 1 February 2024. To make an application you should have registered your child for primary 1 between 8 – 12 January 2024. If you have not registered your child please contact the admissions section on 01475 712850 (please select option 1) before completing the defer entry application form under the Related Links heading.

All defer entry applications must be submitted by 1 February 2024

Entry Age

If a child has not reached the age of 5 years by the last day in February they would not be eligible to register at this time. In exceptional circumstances, a formal request in writing for early entry should be submitted to Education Services for consideration.

Arrangements for pupils with additional support needs

Inverclyde Council has a policy on inclusion and equality which incorporates the assumption that all children will routinely be educated within their own community. Transitional arrangements for children with additional support needs, moving from nursery to primary or primary to secondary, are discussed at a child’s review meeting. Any child or young person with additional support needs who requires more specialist support will be discussed at Inverclyde’s Additional Support Needs Monitoring Forum. The Forum will make recommendations related to resources, support and necessary specialist placements.

Page last updated: 19 October 2023

Useful Links

St Patricks Primary School Website

Whinhill Primary School Website

Inverclyde policy on admissions and pupil placement in mainstream schools

Guide to send child to school