School admission arrangements for four-year-olds in Carmarthenshire are set to change.
Full-time education for children will now start the term after they turn four, rather than the term in which they celebrate their fourth birthday.
A decision which followed a public consultation and an official decision by cabinet
The changes, announced to take effect from September 2025, will result in pupils attending 3-11 schools and in part-time education staying there for an extra term longer than the current policy stipulates.
These updates only apply to children born on or after 1 September 2021.
No changes will occur for children starting part-time or full-time education before September 1, 2025.
Parents, regardless of when their child will start full-time education, are asked to submit a separate application for a full-time four-year-old place by January 31, 2025.
Even where children are applying for part-time attendance, parents must also submit a separate application for a full-time place.
For those parents who have already applied for a full-time school place from September 1, 2025, there will be no need to submit a new application.
The School Admissions Team will reach out to those affected by the changes, and they shall adjust the child's start date in line with the new policy.
Parents may potentially benefit from the Welsh Governments’ childcare offer, providing up to 30-hours funded combined education and childcare for eligible three to four-year-olds.
Additional information is available via the Carmarthenshire Family Information Service.
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