How to enrol your child

Enrol your child for school

The new school session for pupils starts on 19 August 2025.

If your child will be five years old on or before 28 February 2026, they are eligible to enrol for Primary 1 in the 2025 to 2026 session.

If you wish to enrol your child for Primary 1, please do so during enrolment week.

Enrolment week for Primary 1 pupils is from Monday 27 January to Friday 31 January 2025.

To enrol your child if our school is within your catchment area please complete the online enrolment form which can be found here:

Enrol your child in school or early learning and childcare setting - The Highland Council 

Parents with no access to the online process can request a paper copy of the enrolment form from their catchment school during enrolment week.

Enrolment in a school outside your catchment area

As a parent you have the right to ask for your child to be educated in a school other than the local school. We welcome children from all faiths and backgrounds - so if you wish your child to come to our school community but they have not been baptised you just need to complete a placing request form. This applies only to primary and secondary school and not to Early Learning and Childcare provision.

If you wish to make a placing request you must complete the online placing request application form. Your child must first be enrolled in their catchment primary school for the placing request to be assessed. 

If a placing request is granted, transport is the responsibility of the parents or guardians. which can be accessed from here: Enrolment in a school outside your catchment area | Enrol your child for school | The Highland Council 

Early Learning and Childcare

Children born between 1 March 2021 and 28 February 2023 are entitled to a funded Early Learning and Childcare place.

For Early Learning and Childcare places, enrolment week commences Monday 10 February and concludes on Friday 14 February 2025.

What is ELC all about and is it for us?

For Early Learning and Childcare places, enrolment week commences Monday 10 February and concludes on Friday 14 February 2025.

ELC stands for Early Learning and Childcare and includes providers like nurseries, playgroups and commissioned childminders. In those early years ELC can make a huge difference to families with young children. In an Early Learning and Childcare setting children can learn together through playing and having fun. It is a great way to learn skills for the future. However, ELC is not statutory, and it is for you to decide whether you want your child to participate and for how many hours from those available.

Can my child have a place?

All children are eligible to an ELC place after they reach 3 years old until they start school, with start dates as follows:

What about 2 year olds?

The Scottish Government offers funded places for some 2-year old children: If you have a 2-year old child and receive certain benefits you could be entitled to free childcare. The hours become available within the eligibility dates after you, the parent, start receiving one of the following benefits:

• Income Support

• Job Seekers Allowance (Income based)

• Any income related element of Employment and Support Allowance

• Child Tax Credit, but not in receipt of Working Tax Credit, and an income below £19,995

• Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit, and an income below £9,552

• Support under Part VI of the immigration and Asylum Act 1999

• Universal Credit with an earned household income below £796 per month

• Incapacity Benefit or Severe Disablement Allowance

• Pension Credit

• Care experienced parent who has been in care under a UK local Authority.

In addition, children aged two or over who are (or have been at any point since turning two) looked after by a local Council, the subject of a kinship care or guardianship order are eligible for a funded place.

How do I apply for a funded 2 year old place?

Apply using our 2 year old funding application

How do I choose an ELC setting or Childminder?

In parts of Highland you may have a choice of different types of settings. The main thing is that you feel comfortable with the setting/s you choose and that your child will be happy there.
In Highland there are different types of early learning and childcare with parents able to choose one or a mix of service provision to suit your needs:

• Nurseries: Can be either commissioned partner providers or settings run by the Highland Council.

• Outdoor Nurseries: They focus on outdoor learning experiences where either some of the day or the full day’s activities are delivered outdoors. Can be commissioned partner providers or run by the Highland Council.

• Commissioned childminders look after children in their own home and follow the same curriculum as nurseries.

All children are entitled to a funded meal if their session is 4 or more hours. You may wish to enquire how this works in the setting/s you are interested in.
The interactive map that can be accessed from the following link will provide you with an over view of the different provision in your area.