Most children born between 1 September 2021 and 31 August 2022 will be joining Reception in September 2026. However, children do not have to be in full-time education until the term after their fifth birthday.
Delayed entry to Reception only applies to those children who are ‘summer-born’ and whose birthdates fall between 1 April 2022 and 31 August 2022.
Children Born between 1 September 2021 to 31 December 2021 can start school in September 2025, but they must be receiving full-time education by January 2026, as this is the term after their 5th birthday and when they will be statutory school age.
Children Born between 1 January 2022 to 31 March 2022 can start school in September 2025 or January 2026, but they must be receiving full-time education by April 2026 as this is the term after their 5th birthday and when they will be statutory school age.
Parents of children born between 1 September 2021 and 31 March 2022 cannot defer entry to full-time education for September 2027.
Children Born between 1 April 2022 - 31 August 2022 (Summer Born) can start school in September 2026, January 2027 or April 2027, but they must be receiving full-time education by September 2027 as this is the term after their 5th birthday and when they will be statutory school age.
In addition the parent/carer of a summer born child may decide that their child should not start school until they are chronologically of Year 1 age (in September 2027). However, any place offered for entry in September 2026 cannot be deferred to September 2027. The parent/carer would need to re-apply for a place for their child for entry in September 2027 and unless the parent would like their child to enter Year 1, they need to request an Admission Authority’s permission for their child to be considered for a place in Reception (Delayed Entry).
How to make an application for Delayed Entry
All families should make an application for a reception place for the September after a child’s 4th birthday.
Families may decide that they want their child, who is born after the 1st April, to start school in the Reception Class the September after their fifth birthday. This is referred to as delayed entry (Summer Born).
If the parent intends to apply for a delayed entry they must then get agreement from the school or schools that they intend to apply to and fill the form at the end of this guidance (Appendix 2) prior to withdrawing their original application. One form (FORM A) for each school applied for is required. They will then have to make a further new application for the new intended year of entry subject to the timelines in the Co-ordinated Scheme for that entry cycle.
Once the parent/carer and school agree to the delayed entry into reception, the form FORM A at the back of this guidance should be completed by the parent and signed by them and the head teacher to confirm the arrangement.
Once a summer born child has delayed entry in reception in September following their fifth birthday – the ability to engage in a part-time timetable or graduated start will not be available as it would be to a 4 year–old as once a child has reached 5, they are required to attend full time.
If all or some of the schools reject the request for a September start in Reception after their 5th birthday, the family has the following options:
- Withdrawing the current Reception application and resubmitting an application the following year to those schools that have agreed the Reception start after their 5th birthday.
- Withdraw the current Reception application stating that they intend to submit an application the following year for a Year 1 place.
- Allow the existing Reception application for a place after their 4th birthday to go ahead and be processed for all preferences.
If none of the preference schools agrees to the September Reception start after their 5th birthday – the Local Authority will continue to process the application for a Reception start after their 4th birthday unless the family withdraws the application and intends to submit an in year application for Year 1, after the child turns 5.
In deciding whether the request for a summer-born entry will be granted the Admissions Authority must take in to account the views of the Headteacher of the school concerned.
Factors that may be considered by an Admission Authority are:
- the views of the parent
- the needs of the child and the possible impact of entering Year 1 without having first attended the Reception class
- if a child has been born prematurely, the fact that they may have naturally fallen into the lower age group if they had been born on their expected date of birth
- the extent to which a child’s delayed social, emotional or physical development is adversely affecting their readiness for school
- any relevant research into the outcomes of summer born and premature children
- where relevant, the child’s medical history and the views of a medical professional if made available
If it is agreed that an application can be processed for Reception for the September following a child’s fifth birthday, no weight may be added to the application owing to the application being delayed.
Similarly, Dorset Council will not give a lower priority for admission on the basis that the child is not of the correct age. If Dorset Council refuses a parent or carer’s request for a child to be considered for admission to Reception a year later than is usual, it is open to the parent to make a complaint using the Council’s complaints procedure.