Start your child at school later
If your child was born between 1 April and 31 August, they are classed as summer born.
They could delay starting school until September after they turn five, a year later than normal.
Your child would either start in year 1 (with other children in their age group) or in reception.
Starting in reception after they turn 5
To start in reception after they turn five, you need to ask for permission from each school you want to apply for.
Things to consider
Before you request for your child to start school a year later, you should consider the impact it may have on them as they grow up. They may:
- not receive the right stimulation if they're taught in a younger year group
- mature sooner or later than others in their class, affecting their friendships and social interactions
- feel worried, upset or embarrassed about being older than other children in their class
- be moved back into their normal age group at some stage
- need to reapply when they move schools or start secondary school
Talk to schools you're applying to
Before you ask for permission for your child to start school later, you should ask the schools you are applying for:
- what support they can offer to help your child progress
- about starting part-time or after Christmas or Easter
GOV.UK has advice for parents of summer born children starting school.
Make a request
If you want to make a request to an academy or faith school, you must contact them directly to find out how they manage this. We cannot take a decision on behalf of these schools.
- apply for a primary school place for your child's normal age group at the usual time they would start school in reception
- complete an admission outside normal age group request at the same time
What you need
To make a request, you need:
- to decide the schools you want to apply for
- your reasons why you think your child should be admitted to reception
- documentation to support your request if you’ve this
Move to secondary school
If your child started in reception a year later and was taught out of year throughout primary school, you'll need to ask for permission to continue to be taught out of year at secondary school.
You would apply for a secondary school place and request permission for an out of year group place when the child is in year 5 (rather than year 6).
Apply to start secondary school
Move up or down a school year
You can request to move your child up or down a school year if:
- your child is gifted and talented
- your child has experienced problems such as ill health
You can only do this if your child is starting reception or secondary school for the first time.
If your child is already attending a school, you should discuss this with your child's headteacher.
You’ll need to tell us why you want your child to move up or down a year at school. The headteacher of the school will also need to let us know their reasons for agreeing or declining your request.
Request to move up or down a school year
