Let summer babies start school at five, says minister

THE Government has urged schools to allow summer-born children the right to start reception at the age of five.

The call follows research that showed that children born in August were 50 per cent more likely to be labelled as having “special needs”, when they might only be young for their year.

Children usually start school in the September after they turn four, but parents of children born between April 1 and August 31 can ask to delay entry to reception for a year.

But schools and councils, which are responsible for admissions, often say summer-born pupils must go straight into year one and miss out on the reception year altogether.

As a result, parents can feel pressured to send their child to school before they are ready.

Nick Gibb, the schools minister, said children should not be forced to go straight into year one if they wait to start school until they turn five, or later made to miss a year and move up against their wishes.

In an open letter to schools and local authorities, Mr Gibb wrote: “The code (School Admissions Code) requires the admission authority to make a decision on the basis of the circumstances of the case and in the best interests of the child,” he wrote.

“It is clear, however, that this system is flawed, with parents and admission authorities often failing to agree on what is in the child’s best interests.”

He said the number of parents who request their child is admitted out of their normal age group is small, “but for these parents the issue will have serious implications”.

“It also takes up a disproportionate amount of time for the local authorities and schools concerned,” he added.

The code currently requires the admission authority to make a decision on the year group a summer-born fiveyear-old should be admitted to on the basis of the circumstances of the case and in the best interests of the child.