School Placement - Early Entry

This page and application is for anyone whose child is not in the DOB range for P1 entry in August (01/03/20 to 28/02/21) but wishes to request early entry.

You can complete this form from 13th January onwards. Here are the key stages of the process:

1. Complete our online application form.
2. You will receive an acknowledgement of your request within 7 working days.
3. You will be invited to attend an assessment interview along with your child at your chosen school.
4. Parents/carers will be informed of the outcome of the Early Entry Assessment as soon as possible thereafter.

1. Physical Development

Is your child physically mature enough to cope with a full-time programme of education?

School places physical demands on children for approximately five hours each day. If a child is not physically mature enough to deal with the school situation, problems may arise in relation to:-

1. Concentration on a task.
2. Mastery of basic learning skills.
3. Acceptance by other children in relation to the demands of both classroom and playground activities.

2. Emotional/Social Development

Is your child emotionally and socially mature enough to cope with a full-time programme of education?

As a consequence of early admission to school the child would be younger than the other pupils in the class. Difficulties may arise for the child in relation to:-
i. Separating from parent.
ii. Making friends with others within the class group.
iii. Play activities within the classroom and the playground.
iv. Behavioural problems due to lack of maturity.

3. Learning Development

Has your child developed sufficiently to cope with the learning programme in a school?

The child learns informally through play and through other individual, social and family experiences in the pre-school period. Early entry to school may deprive the child of such activities and experiences, which prepare them for the more formal learning situation.

4. Long-Term Implications

Have you considered the long-term implications for your child throughout their career?

1. At the end of P1, when it may be felt that the child is not ready to proceed to P2, because of difficulty in adjusting to the school learning environment.
2. At the end of secondary education when the child will be too young to leave school along with their class group and when there may therefore be difficulties with entrance to a desired form of higher education.

Contact Details

Address: Head of Education
Argyll House
Alexandra Parade
Dunoon, PA23 8AJ

Tel: 01369 704000

Useful Information

• Placement Guidance  
• Early Entry   
• Application Process  
• Home Education  
• Additional Support Needs