Before reading this page, make sure you have read the first 2 pages of this guide:
If your child is born between April and August, they are classed as summer born.
Summer born children reach compulsory school age the September after their fifth birthday, at the start of the autumn term. At this stage the children in their year group will be starting year 1.
Parents of summer born children have 4 options to consider:
- Start reception in September.
- Start reception later in the year - either January or April.
- Miss reception and start school in year 1.
- Start reception the following year - this can be requested but is not a parental right.
Start reception in September
This is a parental right.
Your child can start reception from the September after their fourth birthday. They can attend full-time or part-time.
Start reception in January or April – deferred entry
This is a parental right.
Your child can start reception later in the academic year.
They can either start in the spring term (January) or the summer term (April).
They can attend full-time or part-time.
Start school from year 1
This is a parental right.
Your child can start school in year 1, in the September after their fifth birthday.
However, this means they will miss the reception year of education.
If you choose to do this, any school place previously offered will be withdrawn. You will need to re-apply for a school place using the in-year application process for the new academic year. This process opens in the July before your child reaches compulsory school age.
Start reception the following year – delayed entry
This can be requested but is not a parental right.
You can request that your child starts reception in the September following their fifth birthday. This is called delayed entry.
If your request is agreed, your child will start reception in a group of children younger than them. They will be taught outside their age group.
Read our delayed entry into reception page for more details.