Pre-School Registration Week

Registration Week for pre-school places            

Registration Week for pre-school is held in February each year by the Schools Service in order to try and identify the need for places for the next session beginning in August. Parents and carers are encouraged to complete Registration Forms and return them to Schools Service at Hayfield House, Hayfield Lane, Lerwick.

The Government is pledged to support pre-school education and at the moment funds 2.5 hours each day at registered centres for 3 and 4 year olds.

In some cases parents might want to defer their child’s entry to school. If a child’s 4th birthday falls in January or February, then they are entitled to defer entry to a P1 class until the following year. Children who have their 4th birthday before January are not entitled to defer entry, but can be considered if it is in their best interests. Parents should always consult with the pre-school centre staff and the receiving primary school if they would like their child to be considered for deferred entry to P1.

Pre-school education places are not allocated in catchment areas. Parents can choose which of the 28 centres they would like their child to attend. These centres are made up of 22 nursery classes attached to Primary or Junior High schools, and 6 partner providers including playgroups and a nursery run by Shetland College. Pre-school education in all of these centres is of a high standard and regularly inspected by the Care Commission and HMIE.

Times of opening vary with each provider and parents should enquire with the provider of their choice or refer to the Booklet about Registration Week. This booklet contains a map of Shetland, indicating where the pre-school centres can be found, what their opening times are, and contact details. Most providers offer the 2.5 hours funded by the government, but some offer extended sessions for which the parents pay additional charges. Details of these extended sessions can be found in the booklet, on the list of pre-school centres, or by contacting individual providers.

All providers have a maximum number of places that they can offer in any one session and some of them are not able to accept every child that has registered for that centre. This is particularly so in Lerwick. Parents should always contact the provider of their choice to ensure that a place is available, and also consider an alternative provider.

If parents need further information they should call the Schools Service at Hayfield House on 01595 743842.

The Registration Booklet including frequently asked questions, map of provision and Registration Form can be accessed just below:
Pre-School Registration Booklet in pdf (557kb).

A Registration Form can be accessed and completed here:
in pdf (167kb)

Pdf documents may open automatically on your computer but you may need to download the free Adobe Acrobat reader software to complete the registration form.