A lack of awareness about the option to delay school start for summer-born children persists among parents, with misinformation and regional disparities influencing decisions, despite clear government guidance advocating for the child’s best interests.
Some parents of summer-born children are still unaware that they can delay school entry until the September after a child turns five, even though the option exists under Department for Education guidance. Families who have gone through the process say the rules are often misunderstood, and that misinformation can make an already difficult decision harder.
Parents of children born between 1 April and 31 August can ask for admission outside the normal age group, which may allow a child to begin Reception a year later than usual. The government says such requests should be judged according to the child’s best interests, but parents often need to make the case themselves to the relevant admissions authority.
Victoria, from Swindon, said she only learned the option existed after doing her own research before her son Jacob was due to start school. She said many people told her he would be fine starting with his peers, but she felt an extra year would help him, and that decision had worked out well. Maria, a reception teacher in Swindon, said there was a great deal of false information around the process, including the mistaken belief that a child who defers must then go straight into Year 1.
The issue has drawn growing attention because studies by the Institute for Fiscal Studies and others have repeatedly found that children born later in the academic year tend to do less well on average than older classmates. That has led a small number of parents to seek a later start, although evidence is less clear on whether deferring school entry removes the summer-born disadvantage altogether.
Louise, from Bristol, said she spent time reading research on school readiness before deciding to delay her daughter Elise’s start. She concluded that older children generally do better and saw few disadvantages in giving a summer-born child an extra year before moving into primary school.
Even so, specialists caution that delay is not the right answer for every child. A University of Bristol review found that some summer-born children may benefit from starting Reception at five, but others do well by beginning at four and progressing more quickly in a structured setting. Maxime Perrott, one of the researchers involved, said the system can vary sharply by area, with some authorities more willing than others to approve requests.
Practitioners working with young children say the transition can be helped by stronger links between nurseries and schools. Jessica Nicolaou, deputy manager and special educational needs lead at Little Smarties Nursery in Bishops Cleeve, said close relationships with nearby schools had allowed staff to support families more effectively, including arranging extra visits for a child with physical needs.
Others stressed that being born in the summer does not automatically mean a child is not ready. Ruth Richardson of the Early Years Alliance said Reception is play-based and children learn at different rates. Gee Eltringham, a Bristol-based children’s psychotherapist and SEND specialist, said some children with additional needs may benefit from more time to develop executive functioning and confidence before starting school.
The Department for Education advises parents to discuss concerns with nurseries, early years settings and prospective schools before deciding. It also says families who want a child to start in Reception after deferring need to apply for admission outside the normal age group, otherwise the child will usually move straight into Year 1.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
