Strong Start, Nursery, Primary and Secondary
Strong Start
From August 2020, eligible 2 year olds across Scotland will be entitled to 1140 hours per year of funded (free) early learning and childcare in a number of local authority and funded provider nurseries where provision is available.
For August 2023/24 session please check your eligibility and apply online.
ELC (Nursery) Registration
Families should register their child for ELC when online registration opens in January-February of each year. If your child already attends our ELC, you must still complete an online registration form to confirm their place for this next session.
ELC online registration for August 2024/25 dates have not yet been published. Applications received after the cut off date will be considered following the initial allocation of places.
For new online applications you will need to upload:
- your child’s Birth certificate
- your 2023/24 Council Tax demand notice
- recent utility bill with the same permanent address
For returning online applications you will not need to provide these documents unless you wish to change your placement.
PKC issue letters of a placement offer in March each year.
P1 Registration
Families should register their child for Primary 1 when online registration opens in January of each year.
P1 Online registration for August 2024/25 session will be open from 8th – 12th January 2024. All children who are 5 years old on or before 14 August 2024 should start their primary education on that date. Please check this PKC web page during the above noted dates to complete the online registration form.
When you register your child online you will need to upload:
- your child’s Birth certificate
- your 2023/24 Council Tax demand notice
- recent utility bill with the same permanent address
- Baptismal certificate for baptised children
A photograph of each of the above documents, taken from your smart phone is acceptable.
Additional Year – Deferred Entry
From August 2023 all children, whose 5th birthday is on or between the day after the school commencement date and the end of February the following year (2025), will be automatically entitled to an additional year of 1140 hours of funded ELC.
This means that all children who defer entry to primary school will be automatically entitled to an additional year of funded ELC from August 2023. Families must complete the online ELC registration form to ensure a place in ELC provision if they choose for their child not to go to school, this will be available in the New Year.
If you are undecided please complete both a P1 and an ELC online registration form – you can accept/decline your offer up until enrolment in August.
Free School Transport
Families are asked to also apply for free school transport when registering for school. More information regarding free school transport eligibility, including the application form can be found here.
For P7 Pupils
Families of children who are transferring to secondary school education on Wednesday 14 August 2024 will be advised by letter in January that their child will be allocated a place in their local catchment area secondary school.
Should families wish their child to attend a secondary school other than their local catchment area secondary school, they must submit a placing request even if their child already attends an associated primary school of the chosen secondary school.
St John’s Academy is the Catholic high school for our catchment area.
Or locally, the non-denominational high schools for our catchment area is Crieff High School and The Community School of Auchterarder.
Placing Requests
Families who wish to make a placing request for their child to attend a school other than their local catchment school for August 2024 must submit an online placing request application by a date in March 2024 – yet to be released.
Families will be advised of the outcome by 30 April 2024.
Parents who submitted a placing request for their child to commence P1 in August 2024 should not register at their catchment school . Therefore please be aware that if your placing request is unsuccessful a place is not guaranteed at your catchment school
Schools Support Team Contact Information
Email: ecsschools@pkc.gov.uk