Admission to School - Information for Parents 2026-2027
In this section
- Introduction
- SECTION A - Admissions to Carmarthenshire Schools
- When to Apply
- At what age can children start Primary school?
- Admission to secondary schools and sixth form
- Choosing a School and Catchment Areas
- How to Apply
- Awarding Places – Oversubscription Criteria
- Moving / Changing Schools outside the normal admissions arrangements (Mid/in Year Transfers)
- Notification of Offer of a Place at a School
- Appeals Regarding Admission of Pupils to Community / Voluntary Controlled Primary or Secondary Schools
- Admission to Voluntary Aided Schools
- SECTION B - Information on Education and Learning
- Learning Experiences
- The Teaching of Welsh and English in Carmarthenshire Schools
- Public Examinations
- Exclusion of Pupils
- School Activities
- School Leaving Date
- School Governing Bodies
- SECTION C – Services to Pupils
- Carmarthenshire County Council – School Transport Policy
- School Meals & School Essentials Grant
- Educational Maintenance Allowance (EMA)
- School Safeguarding and Attendance Team
- Trust Funds
- The Careers Service
- Carmarthenshire Family Information Service
- The Childcare Offer
- Health & Well-being Promoting Schools Programme
- Sustainable Development and Global Citizenship Education
- SECTION D – Schools and Pupil Summary
- SECTION E - Carmarthenshire Schools: Nursery Schools
- Carmarthenshire Schools: Community, Voluntary Controlled and Voluntary Aided Primary Schools
- Carmarthenshire Schools: Secondary Schools and Voluntary Aided Secondary Schools
- Carmarthenshire Schools: Special Schools
At what age can children start Primary school?
Early Years – 3-Year-Old Provision
What is Early Years?
Early Years education is a non-statutory provision available to 3-year-olds. An application for admission to provision within a school must be made to Carmarthenshire schools i. and ii. below i by the closing date.
- See Admissions Application Timetable.
Where is part-time education available?
All 3-year-olds are entitled to 10 hours per week free placement, at a registered setting, through the Early Entitlement Group from the term following their third birthday. Wherever practical the Authority allows non-maintained providers to use school premises.
There are various forms of provision:
- Nursery School - Ammanford Nursery School is the only nursery school in the County.
- Nursery/Early Years classes in Primary Schools (3-11 age schools)
- Provision by the non-maintained sector who are partners in the Early Entitlement Group, such as Early Years Wales, Mudiad Meithrin (MM) and private providers. Find more information under the Carmarthenshire Family Information Service in this booklet.
When can a pupil start part-time education?
Children will normally be admitted to Early Years provision in schools where it is available on a part-time basis at the beginning of the term following their third birthday.
| Child’s 3rd Birthday | Admission Term |
| 1 September to 31 December | Spring Term |
| 1 January to 31 March | Summer Term |
| 1 April to 31 August | Autumn Term |
Parents / guardians do not have a right to appeal if a place is not offered at an Early Years setting of their choice.
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS FOR PART-TIME NURSERY PLACE IS 31 JULY 2026
There is no automatic right to continue into full time education if you have been offered a part-time education place. A formal application must be made to the correct admissions authority – see admissions timetable.
If there are more applications than places available, the Authority will prioritise applications in accordance with its over-subscription criteria detailed in this document.
Full time Education – 4 & 5 Year Olds
Where there is no Early Years provision in a maintained setting, full-time learners can be admitted to primary schools in the school term following their fourth birthday as a result of the decision to remove the rising 4s policy.
Please see Admissions Application Timetable for start dates and application closing date based on date of birth.
| Child’s 4th Birthday | Admission Term |
| 1 September to 31 December | Spring Term |
| 1 January to 31 March | Summer Term |
| 1 April to 31 August | Autumn Term |
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS FOR FULL-TIME PRIMARY PLACE IS 31 JANUARY 2026
The Nursery school and Early years provider which the pupil is attending is not a factor which is considered when allocating places. Applications are based on a pupil’s home address.
If there are more applications than places available, the Authority will prioritise applications in accordance with its over-subscription criteria as detailed in this document.
All applications received after the prescribed closing date will not be considered until those received before the deadline date have been allocated places. These will be considered as Late Applications as detailed in this document.
In accordance with the School Standards and Framework Act 1998, a limit of 30 pupils per qualified teacher is placed on Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 classes. This is known as Infant Class Size Legislation.
Legal requirement to start school - Term Following 5th Birthday
By law parents must arrange for their children to receive full-time education at the beginning of the following terms
| Child’s 5th Birthday | Admission Term |
| 1 September to 31 December | Spring Term |
| 1 January to 31 March | Summer Term |
| 1 April to 31 August | Autumn Term |
Applications received after the application closing deadline will not be considered until those received before the deadline have been awarded.
A parent may defer the admission of a child to school until the beginning of the term following the child’s fifth birthday as long as that date is in the same school year for which they applied.
