Apply for a nursery/school place

Register for P1

  • Your child can start school in August 2026 if they turn 5 between 01 March 2026 and 28 February 2027.
  • P1 notification letters confirming your catchment schools will be sent out at the beginning of November 2025 for children who attend a Midlothian Council funded Early Learning and Childcare setting or childminder.
  • You must register your child at one of your catchment schools. You can do this online from 9.00am on 17 November to 23 November 2025.
  • If you do not receive a P1 notification letter email pupil.placement@midlothian.gov.uk with your child's full name, date of birth, address and their Early Years setting or childminder.
  • If you move to Midlothian after the November registration period you can still register your child. If you register by 15 March, you will be notified from 30 April. If you register after 15 March, you will be notified within 2 months

Defer a place

Most children attend school as soon as they are eligible to start. However you may apply to start a year later.  

  • You must register your child at one of your catchment schools. You can do this online from 9.00am on 17 November to 23 November 2025.
  • Once you have registered your child at their catchment school you can submit a deferral form.
  • You must make your deferral application by 15 March 2026.
  • More information about deferred entry to P1

Apply for a non-catchment school

We will try to accommodate your request but it may not be possible, even if your other children attend the requested out of catchment school.

  • You must register your child at one of your catchment schools. You can do this online from 9.00am on 17 November to 23 November 2025.
  • You can then submit a placing request from the 17 November 2025. Requests must be submitted by 15 December 2025.
  • To withdraw your request email Pupil Placement Team by 15 March 2026. After this date, the main round of placing decisions will take place and this may mean that a space will not be available at your child’s catchment school, and your child may be placed at an alternative school.
  • More information on placing in schools (PDF).

Moving house

Moving house before registering your child for P1

Please contact your child's current setting directly and provide acceptable proof of your new address to change your address details. 

Accepted as proof of residency:

  • Council Tax letter – current tax year
  • Gas, electric or telephone landline bill – within the last 3 months
  • Tenancy agreement, which must be signed and dated by tenant/s and landlord (accepted 4 weeks before entry date)
  • Scottish Government Benefit letter
  • MOD Assignment Order and March-In date letter

Not accepted as proof of residency:

  • Solicitors’ letters
  • Concluded Missives
  • Plot reservation letters/documents
  • Court Letters
  • Witness Citation’s
  • Electoral Letters / Voting Cards
  • Bank Statements
  • Household Insurance documents
  • Hospital Letters

Moving house after registering your child for P1

Please contact pupil.placement@midlothian.gov.uk with:

  • Child’s name and date of birth
  • Old address
  • New address

We will inform you of relevant catchment changes.

Moving house once your child has started school

If you move house once your child has started school, they can stay at the same school. We don’t withdraw school places after a child has started school, but you will be responsible for transporting your child or children to and from school.

Temporary Address

If you are moving into temporary accommodation, contact the Pupil Placement Team.

Moving into Midlothian

If you move into Midlothian after the November’s registration, you can still register your child.

  • If you register by 15 March 2026 you will be notified from 30 April 2026.
  • If you register after 15 March 2026 you will be notified within 2 months.

 

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