Education, schools and adult learning

How we allocate nursery and childcare places 

We have a  nursery, early learning and childcare admissions policy to make sure places are allocated fairly and transparently:

Renfrewshire is divided into 10 admission panel areas of council-run or council-approved nurseries and childminders.

Priority is given to children who:

• meet certain admissions criteria
• live in their admission panel area.

In each admission panel area, we allocate nursery places in order of priority, starting with priority 1 to priority 5 children.

If there are more applications than places remaining in that that priority group, we’ll have a ballot to allocate these places.  

For children who do not get a place at their preferred nursery, we’ll try our best to offer a place at their 2nd or 3rd choice stated on the application form.

If you apply by 31 January 2026, we’ll let you know about your child's place by the end of April 2026.

If we receive your application after 31 January 2026, it will be considered at the next area admissions panel.

We hold admission panels approximately every 2 months during the school term to allocate places for applications we receive after the closing date.

Let your preferred nursery or childminder know if there are any changes to your circumstances, as this could affect the placement offered by the admissions panel.

Applications for 2-year-olds are reviewed throughout the year at the area admissions panel.

After you’ve applied

When your child is offered an early learning and childcare place, the council-run or council-approved nursery or childminder will write to you to confirm this.  

They’ll also confirm your child’s start date for early learning and childcare.

If you have any questions about your application or the place your child has been offered, you should discuss this with the head or manager of that nursery or the childminder.

If the matter is not resolved, you can contact our Children's Services by:

• email: elc@renfrewshire.gov.uk
• phone: 0300 300 0170

Or by post to:

Children's Services 
Council Headquarters 
Renfrewshire House 
Cotton Street 
Paisley PA1 1TZ

There is no appeal process for nursery placements.

A place at a nursery does not guarantee a place at the primary school that the nursery may be part of.

You’ll need to register your child for a primary school in your local catchment area before they are ready to start Primary 1 (P1).

Find out how to register your child for Primary 1 (P1) at school.

Children aged 3 and 4 can get up to 1140 hours of free early learning and childcare a year, funded by the Scottish Government.

This is:  

• around 30 hours per week if you use it during school term time, or  
• fewer hours spread across more weeks of the year.  

You do not need to pay for these funded hours.

Some 2-year-olds may also be entitled to free early learning and childcare.

You can get free early learning and childcare at nurseries, childminders, or a combination of both.

You can apply to use this at any council-run or council-approved nursery or childminder in Renfrewshire.  

Find out more about:

• Renfrewshire Council nurseries
• council-approved private and voluntary nurseries and childminders.

If you want to send your child to a private nursery or childminder that's not run or approved by us, you will not be able to use your free hours of nursery or childcare and you’ll have to pay for the cost.

Find out more about who can get free nursery or childcare places and when they can start.

Nursery places for the school year 2026 to 2027 start from August 2026.

When your child starts nursery depends on when their 3rd birthday is during the year.

If your child's 3rd birthday is on or before 28 February 2027, you should apply by 31 January 2026 for a free nursery place or childcare.

If your child is aged 2 and you've already applied for their place for when they are 3 years old, you do not need to apply again.

If your child is already 3 or 4 years old and isn't at nursery or a childminder, you should apply for their free place now.  

Find out more about who can get free nursery or childcare places and when they can start this.

Places for two-year olds

If your child is eligible for free early learning and childcare, you can apply just before they are 2 years old. They can start nursery and childcare in the term after their 2nd birthday.  

Find out more about who can get free nursery or childcare places and when they can start this.

Find out how you can use your free nursery and childcare hours.

Preferences you must provide

You can apply to any council-run or council-approved nursery or childminder in Renfrewshire.

When applying for an early learning and childcare place, you’ll need to select 3 different nurseries or childminders.

If you want a place at a private or voluntary nursery or private childminder that isn't approved by us, you'll need to apply to them directly.

You should check with your preferred nursery or childminder that they can accommodate the hours, days, or arrangements that suit you.

Find contact details for:  

• Renfrewshire Council nurseries
• council-approved private and voluntary nurseries and childminders.

You only need to make one application for your child's place, even if you have several choices or preferences. However, you must choose 3 different settings in your application form.

In your application, you must include:

• your preferred days and times
• whether you will use this free nursery or childcare place during school term-time or across the full year
• your 1st, 2nd and 3rd choices for your preferred nursery or childminder.

If we cannot provide your child a place at your 1st choice, we’ll do our best to offer you a place at your 2nd or 3rd choice. 

If you currently have a child at a nursery or childminder and want their sibling to attend the same one, you should state the names and ages of other children in your family on the application form. We’ll take this into consideration when allocating places.

Evidence you must provide

When applying for a free nursery or childcare place at one of our council-run or council-approved nurseries or childminders, you must provide:

• your name
• proof of your address, such as a utility or council tax bill
• your child's original birth certificate.

If you're applying for a 2-year-old who is eligible for free early learning and childcare, because you or someone in your household gets a qualifying benefit, you'll need to provide evidence such as:

• a confirmation letter of your benefit from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP)
• a tax credit award letter from HM Revenue and Customs.

You can see what qualifying benefits apply (Scottish Government website).  

You can upload scans or photos of your original documents with your online application. Make sure the image is clear enough to read the text.

You must provide original documents if we ask for them.

You can apply online for a nursery or childcare place at one of our council-run or council-approved nurseries or council-approved childminders: 

Apply online

You can download and fill in our free nursery and childcare places application form and return it to your chosen nursery or childminder by post or email:

If you want to email your completed form to your preferred nursery or childminder, you'll need to include photos or scans of your evidence.

If you want to return it by post, you'll need to return the completed application and your documents to the nursery or childminder’s address. We recommend you send your original documents by recorded delivery for added security.

You can also phone your local nursery or childminder and ask them to send you a form.

How free early learning and childcare hours work

All children entitled to free early learning or childcare places can get up to 1140 hours of nursery or childcare.  

It is based on the school year, which starts in August.  

This is:  

• around 30 hours per week if you use it during school term time, or
• fewer hours spread across more weeks of the year.

When your child starts nursery depends on when their 3rd birthday is during the year.  

You should check with your preferred nursery or childminder if they can accommodate the hours, days, or arrangements that suit you.

Find out who can get free nursery places or childcare and when they can start it.  

Apply for a free nursery or childcare place.

How you can use your free nursery and childcare hours

You have different options for how you can use your 1140 hours of free nursery or childcare, depending on what is available locally.

You may choose to arrange your child's nursery or childcare for school term time only or use the hours across the whole year.

You may also be able to access shorter or longer sessions and create a pattern that fits around work or family life.

For example, you could have:

• 6 hours from Monday to Friday during school term time (38 weeks)
• a morning or afternoon only session across the whole year (48 weeks)
• 2.5 days a week over the whole year (48 weeks)
• up to 10 hours extended day care for just some of the year.

You could also combine your nursery and childcare arrangements, where your child goes to a nursery for part of the week and a childminder for the rest of the week.  

The maximum number of free nursery or childcare hours that a child is entitled to per week is 30 hours.

You can apply to use your 1140 hours of free early learning and childcare a year at council-run or council-approved nurseries or childminders.

Find out more about:

• Renfrewshire Council nurseries
• council-approved private and voluntary nurseries and childminders.

If you want to send your child to a private nursery or childminder that's not run or approved by us, you will not be able to use your free hours of nursery or childcare and you will have to pay for the cost.

Apply for a free nursery or childcare place.

Additional (wraparound) childcare

You may be able to buy additional childcare hours (known as wrapround care) at your child's nursery or childminder.

You may be able to do this if:

• you would like more nursery or childcare hours outside of the free 1140 hours your child gets
• your nursery or childminder can accommodate the additional hours.

Find out more on how to pay for additional hours of nursery or childcare (wraparound care).

Find out how you can use your free hours of nursery or childcare during school term time, or across the whole year.

Nursery and childcare places for 3 and 4-year-olds

Children's entitlement of up to 1140 hours of free nursery or childcare is based on the school year, which starts in August.

Usually, children in the same school year are born between the beginning of March one year and the end of February the following year.

When your child can start nursery depends on when their 3rd birthday is during the year: 

Children who turn 3 years of age between March and August are entitled to an early learning and childcare place when the new school year begins in August.

Children aged 3 who were born between September and February can get a free early learning and childcare place from the month after their 3rd birthday.

The same schedule will apply each year.

We have a nursery, early learning and childcare admissions policy to make sure places are allocated fairly and transparently:

Children who meet priority 1 or 2 of the admissions policy will start earlier than the dates listed in the table above. We’ll agree the exact date with you. 

Find out how you can use your free nursery or childcare hours.

Find out how to apply for a free nursery or childcare place and when to apply.

Nursery and childcare places for 2-year-olds

Children aged 2 can get a free nursery or childcare place if they:

• are, or have been, looked after by a council,  
• are subject to a supervision order,  
• are in kinship or foster care,  
• are with an appointed guardian
• are the child of a care-experienced parent
• live in a  household that gets a qualifying benefit.

Find out who can get funded nursery or childcare places for two-year-olds (mygov.scot).

If your child is eligible for a free nursery place or childcare, they can start nursery or childcare at the beginning of one of the school terms.

When your 2-year-old will start nursery depends on when their birthday is during the year: 

Find out how you can use your free nursery or childcare hours.

Find out how to apply for a free nursery or childcare place and when to apply.

Nursery and childcare places for children aged 0 to 2 years

There are some nursery or childcare places available for children aged 0 to 2 years.  

However, children aged 0 to 2 years are not entitled to 1140 hours of free nursery and childcare.

These placements are limited and prioritised for children who meet certain criteria, as outlined in our early learning and childcare admissions policy:

Some private and voluntary nurseries and childminders may provide places for children aged 2 or under.  

You can contact the individual nurseries or childminders to see what they offer.

This guide explains who can get a free nursery or childcare place and what age they should start nursery.

Why we might not grant a placing request

It’s not always possible for us to grant every placing request for a particular school.  

Factors we consider when receiving a placing request include:

• the size of the school
• the current number attending the school
• the number of children who already live in the catchment area.

Once you’ve told us that you want your child to go to a particular school, we can only refuse your request for certain reasons set out by law in the Education (Scotland) Act 1980.

Examples of where we may not grant a placing request include if:  

• the school would need to employ an extra teacher or spend a lot of money, for example, if we would have to provide an extra classroom
• your child’s education would suffer as a result of changing school
• education in the school would not be suitable to the age or ability of your child
• the school you have requested is an additional support needs school and your child does not require the education or special facilities provided at that school
• we think your child would be likely to disturb the order and discipline in that school, or the educational wellbeing of other pupils at the school
• accepting the request would prevent us from reserving a place at the school for a child who is likely to move into the catchment area of the school that year
• accepting the request would make it necessary for us to create an extra class or employ another teacher at a future stage of your child’s primary education
• accepting the request could lead to the pupil numbers exceeding the school capacity at a future stage.

Before you make a placing request

You must read our sending your child to school booklet before you complete a placing request:

If you're applying for your child to start school in a Primary 1 (P1) class in August, you'll need to:

1. register your child at their local school before you apply for a place at a school outside their catchment area
2. tell the head teacher at your catchment school that you’re making a placing request.

If you’re applying for your child to change schools after the school year has started in August, you will only have to complete the placing request form.

How to apply for a place at another school

Apply for a place at another school online

If you’re applying for more than one child to change school, you must fill in one form for each child.  

You must submit your application before 15 March for the new school year starting in August. 

After you’ve applied

We’ll let you know we have received your placing request within 5 working days.

We’ll review your application and contact you by letter to let you know if your placing request has been successful.

After we’ve decided all catchment allocations, we’ll make decisions about placing requests we’ve received for the new school year starting in August.  

Applications submitted by 15 March will receive a decision by 30 April.

Applications submitted after 15 March will have a decision made within 2 months of the date submitted.  

For applications in the current school year, we’ll respond to you in writing within 2 months.

If there are more requests than places available for a particular school, we’ll make decisions based on our placing request priorities.

You can see our placing request priorities in our sending your child to school booklet.

If we grant a place to one child, this does not automatically reserve spots for their brothers or sisters at the same school, if you apply again later.

You can only submit one placing request application at a time. If your request is refused, you can then submit a second placing request to another school.

Appeal process

If we refuse your placing request, or if we have not given you a decision by 30 April for the new academic year (or within 2 months for requests made at other times of the year or for new session other stages applications), you may make an appeal to the appeal committee.  

You can only make one appeal in a 12-month period.  

This does not mean that you cannot make another placing request during this period.  

To appeal a decision, you can email the Director of Children’s Services at admissionsandtransfers@renfrewshire.gov.uk.  

You can also make your appeal in writing to:

Director of Children’s Services - Renfrewshire Council 
Renfrewshire House 
Cotton Street 
Paisley 
PA1 1LE.  

Your appeal must include:

• your name
• address
• contact telephone number
• email address, if available
• name of your child the appeal is being made for
• name and address of the school of your choice
• date and reference of the letter of refusal  
• a statement indicating why you wish to appeal against this decision.

If you make an appeal, we’ll contact you by email, if that’s your preference, or telephone to confirm that we have received it within 5 working days.

If the appeal committee agree that we were right to refuse your child a place in the school you requested, you have 28 days from receiving the appeal committee’s decision to appeal to the Sheriff Court.  

We’ll keep your request open until 31 August of the year you submitted your application, in case places become available in the school you requested.

We’ll do this unless you tell us you want to change your request to another school.

More information

If you need more information, you can contact us by:  

• email admissionsandtransfers@renfrewshire.gov.uk
• phone 0300 300 0170.

Usually, when it’s time to register your child for Primary 1 (P1) at school, you’ll register them at their local school. This is called the local catchment area school.  

Any children who live in a catchment area are given priority for places at that school.

If you want your child to go to another school, you can ask for a 'placing request.'

You can also make a placing request if your child is already at school in Renfrewshire and you want to apply for a place at a different:  

• primary school
• secondary school  
• additional support needs (ASN) school.

See what schools there are in Renfrewshire:

• map of schools and catchment areas in Renfrewshire
• list of primary schools in Renfrewshire
• list of secondary schools in Renfrewshire
• Additional Support Needs (ASN) schools in Renfrewshire.

When to register your child for Primary 1 (P1) at school

The registration period takes place in November before the next school year.

If your child reaches the age of 5 between 1 March 2026 and 28 February 2027, you should register them to start primary school in August 2026.  

Before you register

When registering your child for a Primary 1 class at school, you must provide:

• evidence of your child's age
• proof that your family lives in the catchment area of the school.

You’ll also need to provide a copy of:

• your child's full birth certificate
• your most recent council tax bill
• a Child Benefit Statement
• a Roman Catholic baptismal certificate, for denominational schools only.

If you do not have a Child Benefit Statement, you’ll need to provide us with a copy of one of these other documents:

• driving licence
• bank statement
• a utility bill, such as a gas or electricity bill, dated within the last 3 months and showing your current address
• a court order, looked after child or foster carer documents.

We may ask you for more evidence if we need more proof of where you live.  

The easiest way to upload proof is to take a photo of the document using a device with a camera, such as a smartphone.

How to register your child for Primary 1 (P1) at school

The registration period for the school year starting in August 2026 is now closed.

If you missed the registration period, contact your local catchment primary school and make an appointment to register your child in person.

If you miss the registration period, your child might not be able to get a place at their nearest school.

After you’ve applied

We’ll review your application and the school will contact you by email or post to let you know if  your child has been given a place.

Home education

You must register your child to start primary school, unless you’re planning for them to be educated at home.

Find out more about home education.

Applying for school in another catchment area

If you want your child to go to another school outside of your catchment area, you’ll need to:

1. register your child at a school in your catchment area first
2. apply for a place at another school outside your catchment area (placing request).

Moving to Renfrewshire

If you’re moving into Renfrewshire and want to register your child for school, you should contact your new catchment school directly.

You’ll need to provide the school with evidence of your child’s age and that you live within the catchment area.

If you're not living at your new address yet, you’ll need to provide either a completed contract or a signed and witnessed tenancy agreement or lease.

Early entry to school

You might want to ask for your child to start school early if their 5th birthday falls after the last day of February.  

Find out more about applying for early entry to school.

Defer entry to school

If you want to defer your child’s start date at primary school for a year, you’ll still need to register them at their local school first.

Find out more about applying to defer your child’s entry to school.

Children who need additional support

If your child needs additional support at school, or you’re looking to make a placing request for an independent additional support needs school, you should contact us first by:

More information

If you’re not sure which school you should register your child for, or you need more information, contact us by: 

• email admissionsandtransfers@renfrewshire.gov.uk
• phone 0300 300 0170
• speaking to a school directly.

You can also find out about schools in Scotland and information about learning and education on the Parentzone Scotland website.

You can also see a guide for parents on choosing a school and the placing request system (Scottish Government website).

If your child reaches the age of 5 between 1 March 2026 and 28 February 2027, they should start primary school in August 2026.

You’ll need to register your child for a place in a Primary 1 (P1) class at school in advance.

When registering, you’ll be given the option to register your child at a primary school in your local catchment area or for Gaelic Medium Education at West Primary School.

A catchment area is an area around each school. Any children who live in a catchment area are given priority for places at that school.  

There are normally 2 schools in each catchment area where you live – a denominational school (Roman Catholic) and a non-denominational school.  

You can only register your child at 1 school in your catchment area or for Gaelic Medium Education at West Primary School.

You can see:

• a list of primary schools in Renfrewshire
• each school’s catchment area on the map of schools and catchment areas in Renfrewshire.

If there are more children registered at a school than available places, we may have to assign some pupils to another local school.

We’ll use a ballot to choose which pupils are assigned to another school. If we need to do this, we’ll let parents and carers know as soon as possible.

See our admissions to schools and placing request policy:

Mar a chlàraicheas sibh ur clann airson foghlam Gàidhlig

Clann a’ tòiseachadh na bunsgoile

Ma tha sibh a’ fuireach ann an Siorrachd Rinn Friù agus ma tha dùil ann gun tòisich ur pàiste ann an Clas 1 (C1), dh’fhaodadh sibh clàradh airson Foghlam tro Mheadhan na Gàidhlig aig Bunsgoil an Iar.

’S urrainn dhuibh seo a dhèanamh air-loidhne aig àm a’ chlàraidh.

Faighibh a-mach barrachd mu chlàradh airson Clas 1 aig an sgoil.

Ma tha sibh a’ gluasad a Shiorrachd Rinn Friù

Ma tha sibh a’ gluasad a Shiorrachd Rinn Friù agus ma tha ur pàiste ann am Foghlam tro Mheadhan na Gàidhlig mar-thà ann an sgìre eile, bu chòir dhuibh greim fhaighinn air Bunsgoil an Iar gus còmhradh a ghabhail mu ur pàiste a’ gluasad don sgoil.  

Gheibh sibh greim air a’ cheannard le:

Às dèidh ur clàradh airson Foghlam tro Mheadhan na Gàidhlig

Gheibh Bunsgoil an Iar greim oirbh le cuireadh gu sèisean fiosrachaidh agus tachartasan eile gus taic a thoirt do ur pàiste ag eadar-gluasad don sgoil.  

Bidh cothrom ann tadhal air an sgoil agus coinneachadh ri na luchd-obrach, coimhead air na clasaichean agus sgoil san fharsaingeachd.  Faodaidh sibh ceistean sam bith a tha agaibh fhaighneachd.

Ma tha ur pàiste ann an sgoil-àraich bruidhnidh a’ bhunsgoil ris an sgoil-àraich mu thaic sam bith a dh’fheumar airson na h-eadar-gluasaid.  

Ma tha feumalachdan taice a bharrachd (FTB) aig ur pàiste no ma dh’fheumas sibh taic a bharrachd sam bith a thaobh an eadar-gluasaid, bu chòir dhuibh greim fhaighinn air a’ cheannard le:

Còmhdhail sgoile

Ma tha ur pàiste a’ frithealadh Foghlam tro Mheadhan na Gàidhlig aig Bunsgoil an Iar, bheir sinn còmhdhail dhaibh ma tha iad a’ fuireach nas fhaide na 1 mhìle air falbh bhon sgoile.

Faighibh a-mach cò as urrainn còmhdhail sgoile fhaighinn.

Foghlam tro Mheadhan na Gàidhlig air ìre na h-àrd-Sgoile

Chan eil Foghlam tro Mheadhan na Gàidhlig aig ìre na h-àrd-sgoile aig Siorrachd Rinn Friù an-dràsta.  

Ma tha ur pàiste a’ frithealadh Bunsgoil an Iar agus ma tha iad airson cumail orra le foghlam Gàidhlig anns an àrd-sgoil, feumaidh sibh iarrtas a chuir a-steach gu ùghdarras ionadail eile aig a bheil e.

’S e ‘Iarrtas àite-sgoile’ a tha seo.  Feumaidh sibh iarrtas àite-sgoile a chuir a-steach leis an ùghdarras ionadail eile.  

Mura h-eil ur pàiste airson cumail orra le foghlam Gàidhlig faodaidh sibh iarraidh air àite aig an àrd-sgoil anns an sgìre-sgoile aca fhèin ann an Siorrachd Rinn Friù.

Mar a bheir sibh taic do ur pàiste ann am foghlam Gàidhlig

Ma tha ur pàiste ann am Foghlam tro Mheadhan na Gàidhlig aig Bunsgoil an Iar, chan eil feum aca air Gàidhlig a bhruidhinn aig an taigh.

Ged nach eil feum air Gàidhlig aig an taigh, bheir e taic mhòr do leasachadh cànain aig ur pàiste ma brosnaicheas sibh iad a’ leughadh, a’ sgrìobhadh, ag èisteachd ri agus a’ bruidhinn na Gàidhlig taobh a-muigh na sgoile.  

Bheir iad buannachd mhòr bhon àrainneachd bhogaidh a tha ann am Foghlam tro Mheadhan na Gàidhlig oir tha fianais ag innse gu bheil e:

• nas fhasa a bhith a’ fàs fileanta ann an Gàidhlig ma thòiseachas iad a h-ionnsachadh aig aois òg.
• nas fhasa cànain eile ionnsachadh.
• a’ leasachadh nan sgìlean cognatach aca leis a bhith a’ bruidhinn nas motha na aon chànan.

Airson cuideachadh a’ lorg cothroman gus na sgìlean Gàidhlig agaibh a leasachadh, cuir post-d gu: cssupport@renfrewshire.gov.uk.

Barrachd fiosrachaidh

Ma tha sibh ag iarraidh barrachd fhiosrachaidh mu Fhoghlam tro Mheadhan na Gàidhlig aig Bunsgoil an Iar, bruidhnibh ris an sgoil le: 

Ma tha ceist agaibh san fharsaingeachd mu Fhoghlam tro Mheadhan na Gàidhlig cuiribh post-d gu education@renfrewshire.gov.uk agus bruidhinn ris an sgioba foghlaim. 

’S e Foghlam tro Mheadhan na Gàidhlig (FMG) a bhios ann nuair a thèid teagasg air adhart, anns a’ chiad dol a-mach, tro cànan na Gàidhlig, le Beurla a’ dol a teagasg mar dàrna cànan.  

Ann am Foghlam tro mheadhan na Gàidhlig, bidh na clasaichean, an t-ionnsachadh, na measaidhean, agus an curraicealam air fad, air an teagasg ann an Gàidhlig a-mhàin eadar Clas 1 agus Clas 3.  

Thig Beurla a-steach eadar Clas 4 agus Clas 7, ach, ’s e Gàidhlig fhathast na prìomh chànan na sgoile.

Thòisich Siorrachd Rinn Friù a’ tabhann Foghlam tro Mheadhan na Gàidhlig ann an Lùnastal 2022 do sgoilearan aig aois na bunsgoile.  

Faodaidh pàrantan an clann a chlàradh airson Foghlam tro Mheadhan na Gàidhlig aig Bunsgoil an Iar ann am Pàislig.

Faighibh a-mach barrachd mu Fhoghlam tro Mheadhan na Gàidhlig aig ìre na Bunsgoil ann an Alba (gaidhlig.scot)  

Chan urrainn do sgoilearan tòiseachadh ann am Foghlam tro Mheadhan na Gàidhlig aig Bunsgoil an Iar ach ann an Clas 1.

Chan urrainn do sgoilearan gluasad a-steach do chlasaichean nas sìne ach nan robh iad ann am Foghlam tro Mheadhan na Gàidhlig roimhe.

How to register your child for Gaelic school

Children starting primary school  

If you live in Renfrewshire and your child is due to start Primary 1 (P1) at school in August, you can register your child for Gaelic Medium Education at West Primary School.

You can do this online during the registration period.

Find out more about registering your child for Primary 1 (P1) at school.

If you’re moving to Renfrewshire

If you’re moving to Renfrewshire and your child is already receiving Gaelic Medium Education at school in another council area, you should contact West Primary School to discuss transferring your child to the school.

You can contact the headteacher of West Primary School by:

After you’ve registered for Gaelic school

West Primary School will contact you to attend an induction and events to support your child’s transition to Gaelic Medium Education.

This includes visiting West Primary School to meet the staff, see the classrooms and facilities, and a chance to ask any questions you or your child may have.  

If your child is currently at nursery, the school will also speak with their nursery to discuss transition support.

If your child has additional support needs (ASN) or requires any kind of additional help with their transition, you should contact the headteacher of West Primary by:

School transport

If your child is attending Gaelic Medium Education at West Primary School, we’ll provide transport if they live more than 1 mile away from the school.

See who can get home to school transport.

Gaelic Medium Education at secondary school

Gaelic Medium Education is currently not provided at secondary school in Renfrewshire.  

If your child attends West Primary School and wants to continue Gaelic Medium Education at secondary school, you’ll need to apply for a place at a neighbouring council school that provides this.

This is called a placing request. You’ll need to submit the placing request to the neighbouring council.

If the placing request has been accepted, we’ll arrange and fund transport to the neighbouring council school.

If your child does not want to continue Gaelic Medium Education at secondary school, you can request for them to go to the secondary school in their catchment area in Renfrewshire.

How to support your child's Gaelic education

If your child is having Gaelic Medium Education at West Primary School, they do not need to speak Gaelic at home.  

However, encouraging your child to speak, read, and write in Gaelic outside of school will help them to develop their language skills and fluency.

They’ll also benefit from immersive learning in Gaelic in the classroom as it:

• is easier for them to become fluent in Gaelic the earlier they start learning it
• helps them learn other languages
• improves their cognitive development by speaking more than one language.

For help finding opportunities to further yours or your child’s Gaelic skills outside of school, email cssupport@renfrewshire.gov.uk. 

More information

If you'd like more information about Gaelic Medium Education at West Primary, contact the school directly by:

If you have a general enquiry about Gaelic Medium Education, email education@renfrewshire.gov.uk to speak to our education support team.

Gaelic Medium Education (GME) is where pupils are taught mainly through Gaelic language at primary school, with English being taught as a second language.

In Gaelic Medium Education at primary school, all classes, learning, and assessments (curriculum) will be taught entirely in Gaelic from Primary 1 to 3.

English language skills are brought in more from Primary 4 to 7, but Gaelic is still the main language of teaching for every subject and every part of the curriculum.  

Since August 2022, we have offered Gaelic Medium Education to primary aged pupils in Renfrewshire.

Parents and carers can register their child for Gaelic Medium Education at West Primary School, Paisley.

Find out more about Gaelic Medium Education at primary school in Scotland (gaidhlig.scot). 

Your child can only begin Gaelic Medium Education at West Primary School when they start Primary 1 (P1).

West Primary cannot accept children transferring in older classes unless they previously went to a Gaelic school elsewhere.

Parentsportal.scot is a digital service to enhance communication between parents, carers, and schools through online services.

This portal aims to provide a comprehensive range of tools related to your child's education, making services more efficient and accessible.

To create an account, you should have:

• a child at school in the Renfrewshire council area
• a child at one of the schools that use the portal.

With parentsportal.scot you can:

• view the school calendar
• see your child's class timetable (for secondary school students)
• monitor your child's attendance
• complete the annual data check process
• update you and your child's details anytime
• make online school payments using ParentPay
• book parents' evenings (for primary school students)
• view your child's report card (where available)
• authorize permission slips for trips or clubs
• register for free bus travel for young people aged between 5 and 21.

Join us in using this platform to stay connected with your child's education.

For more information, you can contact your school office directly.

When you create a parentsportal.scot account, you'll need to use the MyGovScot (My Account) service, a secure and trusted service provided by the Scottish Government.

To get started, you'll need an email address. Then:

• download the app for Android and complete your registration via the app
• or download and the app for Apple devices and complete your registration via the app
• or sign up directly online at www.parentsportal.scot.

You can access parentsportal.scot if you already use MyAccount with the council. What MyAccount is and how to sign up.

Log in to parentsportal.scot with the same username and password that you use for MyAccount.

When you start

The first time you log in you'll need to link your account to your child's details.

The details you enter for your child must match what is held in the school records. This includes their name, address, school and class details.

Read guides to help you use parentsportal.scot.