Dear Class,
Most of the male and some female children will probably be receiving your NS letter around this time period.
You will be told that you have a limited time duration to apply for NS deferment.
For poly EAE hopefuls, yes when you apply for deferment, the Course Commencement should be April (2026) for most poly diploma at your level.
If later on next year, you are unable to get into poly (fail EAE, DAE, JPAE) and fail/never sign up with any of the approved diploma programmes, I believe the rule is you will not be allowed anymore deferment and will begin NS.
You can clarify with CMPB or read up in NS portal for more accurate info.
https://www.cmpb.gov.sg/before-ns/pre-enlistment-process/deferment-for-studies
Please start to bookmark the NS Portal (https://www.ns.gov.sg/web). You will start to use it more in the coming years and well into adulthood.