What’s the difference between “registering” and “enrolling” my child?

“Registering” your child with an Education Authority is the general action you need to take: this simply lets the Education Authority  know how many children there are and where.  “Enrolling” your child is an action of choice that you take when deciding how and where your child will be educated.

Either

• when you move to Moray from some other area, in which case you should register your school age children immediately at the local school,

or

•   when your child reaches school age (see below)

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In January each year an advert appears in the local paper inviting parents to register their children at their local school for admission to Primary School in August of that year. You should register your child if either

• he/she will be 5years old on or before the last day of February that year and has not already registered

or

• he/she will be 5years old on or before the last day of February in the following calendar year

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My child misses the deadline by a bit but is very bright and active: can he/she be assessed for early entry to Primary School?

Request can be made by the parents of a child under the age of 4yrs 6mths that their child access school education.  These requests will be dealt with by an officer of the authority together with the Head Teacher of the school who will assess the child and make a recommendation as to whether school education is suitable for the child.

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When and how do I enrol my child at school?

When you register your child for education in Moray you will also be expected to state which of the following options you wish to take:

• enrol your child at your local school
• make a placing request (ie ask to attend another school)
• provide education by other means (eg educating your child at home)
• (P1 entry) defer entry to school for a year

For most parents, the choice is simply to enrol children at their local school.

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I want to make a Placing Request.  What do I do?

You must still register your child at the local school but you can state on your registration form your intention to make a Placing Request and ask for the appropriate form.  Placing Requests for admission to P1 in August should be returned by 15 March.  (see the “Information for Parents” leaflet entitled “School Placings” for further information.)

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You must still register your child.  You must also satisfy the Education Authority that the plans you have made to educate your child are adequate. (see the 'Information for Parents' leaflet entitled “Education at Home” for further information.)

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If your child’s 5^th birthday falls between the date that the school term begins in August and the last day of the following February you can choose either to enrol your child for the August before he/she reaches the age of 5 or to delay his/her enrolment in school until the following August.  Taking the choice to delay enrolment for a year is known as “deferring entry”.

The Moray Council considers that provision made for 4year olds in Moray should ensure that only in exceptional circumstances should a child’s entry to school be deferred.  (More details are available in the leaflet entitled “Deferred Entry to Primary School”) 

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Contact Details

Your Headteacher

or

Educational Services
The Moray Council
High Street
Elgin
IV30 1BX
Tel. 01343 563397

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