| The compulsory school age for children Child's birthday is on or between: | Compulsory school age |
|---|---|
| 1 September and 31 December | January following their 5th birthday |
| 1 January and 31 March | April following their 5th birthday |
| 1 April and 31 August (summer-born children) | September following their 5th birthday |
1 September and 31 December
If your child’s birthday is between 1 September and 31 December, they will become of compulsory school age the January following their fifth birthday. This is defined as the start of the spring term.
They will start in Reception where they will spend 2 terms. The following September they will start in Year 1.
1 January and 31 March
If your child’s birthday is between 1 January and 31 March, they will become of compulsory school age the April following their fifth birthday. This is defined as the start of the summer term.
They will start in Reception where they will spend 1 term. The following September they will start in Year 1.
1 April and 31 August (summer-born children)
If your child’s birthday is between 1 April and 31 August, they will become of compulsory school age the September following their fifth birthday. This is defined as the start of the autumn term. It is important to note that this could mean that your child will start in Year 1 and miss the Reception year of education. If you wish to do this, any application or offer made for a Reception place will be withdrawn and you will need to make an In-Year Application for a Year 1 place the summer before your child’s fifth birthday. The offer of a place in Reception cannot be transferred to a Year 1 place.
This is the parents right.
Deferred entry for children to start school
This process only applies to children starting the Reception year of education.
The normal age for a child to start school is in the September following their fourth birthday.
If parents feel their child is not ready to start school, they can defer their child’s start until they are of compulsory school age. This is the start of the term following their fifth birthday.
How to defer your child's start to school
If you feel your child is not ready to start school, you can defer your child's start date until they are of compulsory school age. This is the start of the term following their fifth birthday.
If you want to defer your child’s entry you will need to make your application at the normal time for a school place. For more details, see our starting primary school page.
Then, once an offer of a school place has been made and accepted, you need to meet with the headteacher of the school to discuss and agree your child’s start at the school.
For summer born children, you can defer your child's start date until the start of terms in either January or April following their fourth birthday. If you wish to start your child when they are compulsory school age, then the school place offered for Reception will be withdrawn and you will need to re-apply using an in-year application for a Year 1 school place. This process will open the July before your child becomes compulsory school age.
This is the parent right.
As this procedure is required to be arranged between the parent and the school, we are unable to assist in such requests over the course of term breaks. This includes the 6 week summer break. You will be required to wait until the school returns to make this arrangement.
For summer born children only
Alternatively, you can request to delay your child's entry into Reception. See our delayed entry into Reception for summer-born children page. This must be requested - this is not the parents right and you do not have the right to appeal against the decision made by the admissions authority.