Apply for a full-time primary school place (4-years olds)

Page updated on: 23/04/2024

This page is for full time Primary (4-year old) applications only. We only accept applications for schools in Carmarthenshire, if you are applying for a school in another County, please contact them directly.

At the age of 4-years old your child is eligible to attend primary school full time. However, you do not have to send your children to school until they are 5-years old, but many parents find this early start beneficial. We recommend that you contact the school you’d like your child to attend before you apply. Contacting the school and speaking to the teachers is a great way of knowing if you’re making the right choice for you and your child. Only once you have made an application and had confirmation from us that your child has been accepted, can your child start school.

Find a primary school.

If you are considering sending your child to one of the Voluntary Aided (faith) primary schools, (Model, Penboyr, Pentip, St Mary’s Carmarthen, St Mary’s Llanelli) in addition to applying via this website, parents will be asked to complete the school paper application form as well.

Important information: Children Born before 1st September 2021

Children born before the 1st of September 2021 can start full time education at the beginning of the term of a child’s 4th Birthday should their application be successful.

Date of Birth range	Starting school	Deadline for application	Notification date	Appeals closing date
1st September 2020 to 31 August 2021	September 2024, January or April 2025	31 January 2024	16 April 2024 or the next working day	30 May 2024

Children Born on or after 1st September 2021

Following consultation, the decision was made to remove the rising 4’s policy and admit full time learners to primary schools in the school term following their fourth birthday, starting in September 2025. Children born on or after 1st September 2021 can apply for full time primary education and start in the term following their 4th birthday.

Date of Birth range	Starting school	Deadline for application	Notification date	Appeals closing date
1st September 2021 to 31 August 2022	January, April, September 2026	31 January 2025	16 April 2025 or the next working day	14 May 2025

For more information on the change to full time education start dates Click here! (link to Primary full time page)

When to apply

Important information: Children Born before 1st September 2021

Children born before the 1st of September 2021 can start full time education at the beginning of the term of a child’s 4th Birthday should their application be successful.

Date of Birth range	Starting school	Deadline for application	Notification date	Appeals closing date
1st September 2020 to 31 August 2021	September 2024, January or April 2025	31 January 2024	16 April 2024 or the next working day	30 May 2024

Children Born on or after 1st September 2021

Following consultation, the decision was made to remove the rising 4’s policy and admit full time learners to primary schools in the school term following their fourth birthday, starting in September 2025. Children born on or after 1st September 2021 are apply for a Full time Primary education and start in the term following their 4th birthday.

Date of Birth range	Starting school	Deadline for application	Notification date	Appeals closing date
1st September 2021 to 31 August 2022	January, April, September 2026	31 January 2025	16 April 2025 or the next working day	14 May 2025

For more information on the change to full time education start dates Click here! (link to Primary full time page)

Late applications

If you've missed the deadline, you can still make a late application, but it may affect your chances of getting a place.

Provision	Born between	School start date	Application deadline	Notification date
Primary education (4 to 11 years)	1 September 2019 to 31 August 2020	September 2023 or January/April 2024	31 January 2023	April 2023

How to apply

We only accept applications for Carmarthenshire schools, and you can only apply online. You will need to provide the following information:

Parent / guardians name* and address
Parent / guardians email**
Childs name, address and date of birth
Choice of school – you can choose up to three schools in order of preference

* Anyone with parental responsibility must agree to this application before you submit it.
** If you don’t have an e-mail address you cannot apply. Please visit your local school and they will assist you with your online application.

What happens next?

You will receive an e-mail acknowledgement of your application where you can print a copy of the completed form for your records. All correspondence about your application will be sent via e-mail.

If your application is submitted on time, you will be notified on April 16th or the next working day e.g. Term starts in September 2024 you will be notified on April 16th 2024 or the next working day.

If your application was late, it reduces your chances of getting a place and we can’t guarantee your child will start at the beginning of term. We will notify you as soon as possible but the application process can take up to six weeks.

If you are offered a place, you must accept or decline the place you’ve been offered by the date noted on the e-mail. If you don’t your place may be withdrawn. Once you’ve accepted your child’s place you MUST contact the school to agree a start date.

We only refuse a child’s school place if the year you are applying for is full. However, if your child is refused a school place to any of your chosen Primary schools, there is a right to appeal against this decision. Please see the Appeals page for more information. You will also need to inform us in writing if you wish your child's name to be kept on a waiting list until 30th September and if a place becomes available, we’ll let you know. You can make a late application for other schools.

Apply for a full-time primary school place (4-year olds)

Education & Schools

Children's rights promise

Apply for a full-time primary school place (4-years olds)

Provision

Born between

School start date

Application deadline

Notification date

Primary education (4 to 11 years)

1 September 2019 to 31 August 2020

September 2023 or January/April 2024

31 January 2023

April 2023

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