Right to start school later for summer borns

Schools Minister Nick Gibb said that admission rulings must be changed so that children born between 1 April and 31 August would not be forced to go straight into Year 1 if they wait to start school until they turn five.

Children usually start school in the September after they turn four but parents of summer-born children can ask to delay entry to reception for a year.

The government believes parents and teachers are best placed to decide what is right for their child, and summer-born children should have the same opportunity to excel at school as their peers - even if that means starting reception a year later.

The changes are designed to give parents and teachers flexibility, and the majority of summer-born children will still start school when they turn four rather than waiting. If they do start school later, the children will be able to remain with the same age group as they progress, including into secondary school.

A consultation will now be carried out now and the reforms will have to be approved by Parliament.

Schools Minister Nick Gibb said: “As part of our plan to extend social justice and opportunity, we want all children to have an equal chance to excel in school regardless of when they are born.

“Parents know their children best and we want to make sure summer-born children can start reception at the age of five, if their parents think it is in their best interests.

“We are going to make changes to admission rules - but we want councils and academies to take immediate action.”

The school admissions code currently requires the admission authority to make a decision on the year group a summer-born five-year-old should be admitted to on the basis of the circumstances of the case and in the best interests of the child.

Parents also have the right to send their child to school on a part-time basis before they reach the compulsory school age.

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