Reception class admissions for September

Deferred entry and born in summer

Summer born - delayed admission

If your child is born between 1 April and 31 August, you can ask for them to start school in Reception the September after their fifth birthday, instead of starting in Year 1.

Before you make a request

How to make a request

  • Apply online for your child’s actual age group
  • At the same time, send a written request asking for delayed admission
  • Include any supporting documents that explain why you’re making the request

What to include in your request

You should include:

  • the parents’ views
  • recent information about your child’s academic, social and emotional development
  • recent medical history and the views of a medical professional
  • whether they may naturally have fallen into a lower age group if it were not for being born prematurely

The views of the headteacher will be important. We may also ask for information from professionals who know your child, such as:

  • nursery staff
  • educational psychologists

We will consider:

  • whether your child shows significant delay in intellectual development / education skills, across all subject areas, to an extent that curriculum differentiation (with appropriate SEN resources) is not reasonable
  • whether your child’s physical maturity places them in a position of being developmentally different from their peer group
  • whether your child shows an equivalent delay in emotional development and social skills, appropriate for a younger peer group

What happens next

  • Your child will still be given a school place for their normal age group
  • If your request is approved:
    • the application for your child's actual age group will be withdrawn;
    • you must then apply again the following year for a Reception place, and this will be considered along with all the applicants for admission in that year

It is not possible to reserve a place for the following year. There’s no guarantee of a place at your preferred school.

This decision will be reviewed after your child starts school, at intervals agreed with you and the school.

If your request is not approved, you can:

  • accept the place in your child’s normal age group, or
  • refuse it and apply for a Year 1 place after their fifth birthday

You have a statutory right of appeal if your child is refused a place at a school you applied for. You cannot appeal if your child is offered a place, but not in your preferred year group.

Deferred admission

You can delay your child’s start at school until they reach compulsory school age. You must still apply online as usual.

Once your child has a school place, write to the headteacher to agree a deferred start.

Options by birth date

Child’s fifth birthday Compulsory school age Options Notes
1 September to 31 December (autumn born) January after their fifth birthday Start in September or defer to January The school place that your child has been allocated will be held once you have agreed a start date with the school.
1 January to 31 March (spring born) April after their fifth birthday Start in September or defer to January or April The school place that your child has been allocated will be held once you have agreed a start date with the school.
1 April to 31 August (summer born) September after their fifth birthday (Year 1) Start in September before their fifth birth year, or defer to January or April Your child must take up the school place that has been allocated within this year group.  If you do not take up the place, you will need to reapply again, and your child will be allocated a place in Year 1 (not Reception.)

More Information