Summer-Born Reception at 5 Checker
From your child's birth date: full-time Reception at 4, a part-time or later start, or a request for Reception at 5 in England, and what to ask in writing.
In England a summer-born child (born 1 April to 31 August) can start Reception full-time at 4, part-time or later until the summer term, or the parents can ask for Reception at 5 instead of Year 1. Under the 2021 Admissions Code that is a request the admission authority decides, not a right.
Summer-Born Reception at 5 Checker
Frequently asked
Is starting Reception at 5 a right for summer-born children?
No. Parents can choose not to send a summer-born child until the September after their fifth birthday, but whether the child joins Reception or Year 1 is decided by the school's admission authority, in the child's best interests. DfE guidance says refusals should be rare.
When do I ask for Reception at 5?
With the normal Reception application, which closes on 15 January of the year your child would usually start. Ask at every school you list, because each admission authority decides separately.
Will my child have to skip Year 7 if they started Reception at 5?
Not if the secondary school agrees to keep them in their year group, but you must ask again. DfE says to ask by 31 October of the year your child starts Year 5, when their normal year group is applying.
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