Parents of summer born children can request that their child starts school a year later than usual. This applies for children born between 1 April and 31 August in any year. The parents can request that their child is admitted to Reception in the September after they turn five.
Deciding to request delayed entry
Please refer to the Department for Education guidance:
Making a request to delay entry
You will need to put a request in writing to your preferred school/s.
You should also apply for a school place as normal – as if your child were going to start school at age 4 – even if you think you want to delay their start until age 5.
How your request will be considered
The admission authority (see below) must make a decision based on the individual circumstances. They should refer to the Department for Education guidance:
Guidance on handling admissions requests for summer born children
Type of school | Admission authority (decision-maker) |
|---|---|
Academy | The academy trust |
Community | Cornwall Council |
Foundation trust | The governing body |
Voluntary-aided | The governing body |
Voluntary-controlled | Cornwall Council |
You can find out a school's type on the Get Information About Schools site.
What happens next
If your request is agreed by the relevant admission authority:
Agreement does not guarantee a place at the school even if you have been offered a place for your child's chronological year group. You will still need to apply (or reapply) for a place at the school for the next year. Your child's application will be considered alongside all other applications for Reception in that year.
If you applied for a place in your child's normal age group you can withdraw this application (or decline the place if one has already been offered) - you should contact us to do this.
You will then need to make an application as part of the main admissions round for the following year. To do this you will need to contact us in September for an application form and provide evidence of the school's agreement.
Your application will be considered alongside all other applications. The school's published admission criteria will be applied in the usual way.
If your request is refused:
You can accept the offer of (or apply for) a place in Reception for your child's normal age group. You could then request part-time entry or delay your child’s school start until later in the school year. The latest that they can start is the beginning of the summer term.
You can refuse the offer of a place in Reception in the normal age group and make an in-year application later in the school year for Year 1 in the September following their fifth birthday.
You can make a request to other schools.
If you are not happy with the response to your request, you can make a complaint to the relevant Admission Authority for the school. You do not have the right of appeal. If you are still not happy following the complaint process, see the Department for Education guidance.