Enrolment Information

Enrolling your Child in School

In line with local and national policy children who reach the age of 5 on or before the last day of February of the same school session are entitled to start their formal education in August of that year. Enrolment takes place in January each year. Enrolment dates are published in the local press and notices will be displayed on school and nursery noticeboards. Parents/Carers who wish to enrol their children in Holy Family should apply online at www.aberdeencity.gov.uk and follow the links. Please note you will need to upload your child’s Birth Certificate and proof of address. As Holy Family is a denominational school your child’s Baptismal Certificate is required also unless you are applying for an out of zone place.

All children are admitted to primary school on a phased basis.

Deferred entry to school

Children who are 4 in January or February and whose parents request that their entry to primary school is deferred are entitled to an additional year of publicly funded part time pre-school education. Parents should apply directly to the school. Parents of children born between the start of the school year and the last day of December are able to request an additional of publicly funded part time pre-school education but these requests are at the discretion of the local authority. Decisions about these deferred entry requests are made by a multi-agency panel in February each year.

All other classes

Pupils can be accepted for all other classes at any time throughout the year, whether or not they live within the catchment area of the school, provided there is a place available at that stage. Those not resident in the catchment area must complete an out-of-zone placing request.

At Holy Family we ensure that children enrolling during the year are introduced in a caring and sensitive way. A visit will be arranged if possible before your child’s starting day in order to familiarise your child with the school and meet their new teacher and classmates.

Visits of Prospective Parents

All prospective parents are welcome to visit the school/ nursery. After making a Placing Request parents are invited into the school and/or nursery where they will meet with the Senior Leadership team and be given a tour of the school. This would be an opportunity to ask any questions and discuss any particular needs of your children.

A start date will be provided once all relevant paperwork and forms have been completed.

Pre-school Education Entitlement

At Holy Family we have one nursery class with a capacity of 20.

Entry into our nursery can be made in line with Aberdeen City Council Nursery Admissions Policy and states a child may start nursery in the school term after his/her third birthday.

The Standards in Scotland’s Schools Act 2000 defines the three school terms as follows:

Autumn Term: August to December.

Spring Term: January-March

Summer Term: April to July

Children in their immediate pre-school year are entitled to a whole year of pre-school education. Children in their ante-pre-school year are entitled to a place in the school term following their third birthday.

Applying for a Nursery Place

If you wish your child to attend a local authority nursery class, a place be applied for directly to the school of your choice. Applications for session 2021/22 will be available from January 2021.

Applications received before the deadline in February, will be included in the main round of allocations in March. If you miss the deadline for the first round of allocations, you may still apply for a place before the start or during the school year.

The council also commissions pre-school education from private independent and voluntary sector pre-school education providers. If you wish to access a place at one of these pre-school centres, you should contact the provider of your choice to negotiate a place.