Starting school

Your child can start school on a full-time basis from the September after they turn 4:

Children do not reach compulsory school age until the term after their fifth birthday.

This means they are not legally required to receive full-time education until that point.

Deferred entry into reception

Parents can choose to defer their child’s start at school until later in the school year, but not beyond the point when they reach compulsory school age or the beginning of the final term of that school year.

If you prefer, your child can also attend part-time for a while, but again, this cannot continue beyond the point when they reach compulsory school age.

Before making a decision, we recommend visiting your preferred school(s) to see how they support the youngest children in reception and how their needs are met as they progress through the school.

Summer-born children (dates of birth between 1 April and 31 August)

Parents of summer-born children (born between 1 April and 31 August) who choose not to start school until their child reaches compulsory school age can request that their child joins reception a year later. You can find further guidance for parents on the Department for Education website.

If you wish to delay your summer born child’s entry to reception for a year, parents should apply at the normal time and provide reasons in support of the request. Applications should be submitted by the closing date, 15 January. It is important to check the admission arrangements for your preferred school(s) to see how these requests will be considered.

For community and voluntary controlled schools, these requests are considered by the Local Authority together with the school’s headteacher. For academies, foundation, and voluntary aided schools, the decision is usually made by the school’s governing body or trustees in conjunction with the Headteacher.

A place cannot be held open in the usual age group for a whole academic year.  Should your request be agreed, you will need to make a new application for the following academic year.

Transition to junior, middle, or secondary school  

If you delay entry to reception, or your child is taught outside of their chronological age group, there is no automatic right to remain in the same year group when your child is of age to transfer to the next phase of education. You will need to apply again and explain why your child should stay in their current year group, following the same process as described above.

Early admission

If you want your child to start school or transfer to the next phase of education earlier than the usual age, you’ll need to apply at the same time as other parents and provide reasons in support of your request explaining why an exception should be made. For community or voluntary controlled schools, early admission is only agreed in very exceptional circumstances by the Local Authority together with the school’s headteacher.

For academies, foundation, or voluntary aided schools, the decision is made by the school’s governing body or trustees in conjunction with the Headteacher.

In-year application for outside the normal age range

If you want your child to join a year group outside their normal age range during the school year, you must apply directly to the school by completing an in year application form and explain your reasons. This may include professional evidence showing why this is in your child’s best interests. 

For community and voluntary controlled schools, the Local Authority will decide after considering your case and the headteacher’s views.

For academies, foundation, or voluntary aided schools, the decision is made by the school’s governing body or trustees in conjunction with the Headteacher.

Parents cannot insist on their child’s admission to a particular year group, and there is no right to appeal if a request is refused.