Has she missed reception year?

[Havetheleavesturnedyet]

Currently live abroad but considering returning to the U.K. next summer. My Dd is a summer born child and has just turned 4. She started at a pre school here. If we were to return in summer, next September would she then go into reception or Year 1?
She would have just turned 5. Ideally I’d prefer her not to be one of the youngest in the class so would love her to go into reception, does it work like that?

You can apply and ask for her to be educated in the year below. Many local authorities and headteacher would agree to this anyway because she is a summer born but the fact she hasn’t been in U.K. so missed the chance of going to reception increases the argument. Don’t send her straight to year 1 if you can avoid it.

The school year in the UK goes from September to August birthdays, so if she is 5 before 1st September she will go in to year 1 I would have thought.

It’s possible for Summerborn children to start in reception at age 5 (we chose this for our DS as we didn’t feel he was ready at just turned 4). You would need to ask the admissions authority. A fmFacebook group called Flexible Admissions For Summerborn Children is a brilliant resource, so many knowledgable people on there and you will probably find people who have experience in the area you are looking to move to

You need to apply for her to start in reception at 5 as a summer born child. some schools/areas like it, some are less keen. You have a good justification for it, however be aware that depending in where you live, the preschool may be rather similar to UK reception. Reception is play based and part of the same EYFS as preschool in the UK, its not part of Key Stage 1.

Is her birthday in September

@5zeds End of July

Summer born as in she was 4 in august? Then yes, she would have started reception this September and would be ready to go unto year 1 next academic year.

however, you could apply for her to be educated out of year. I don’t know whether you needed to have done that this year and then deferred the place. There must be a mechanism for people who come into the country / join the system late to do that.

There is no "UK" for school education. It's England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland. Each have their own system.

(PPs are assuming it is English system with their answers just in case you are coming to another part of UK)

You can absolutely apply for her to start in reception. Join the fb group Flexible school admissions for summer borns - everything you need to know is there. My dd just turned 4 and will be starting reception next year.

it’s really common for summer born children where I live in England to delay starting school for a year. In fact my DD said the other day that she wished she had an august birthday so she would be the oldest in the class! I don’t think she’s twigged that some kids in her class are 14/15 months older than the very youngest! The oldest in her class was born in May of the previous academic year. Anyway, yes, it’s done and certainly round here, it’s now seen as the norm.

The Facebook group mentioned above is excellent. Oh yes and be aware that school applications for primary school close in January the year before. Do you have a house already? If you know what local authority you’ll be in, you can research their summer born policy and ask them if they’ll allow her to be in the year below even if you apply late. In some areas you can still get good school places when applying late (particularly with low birth rate for that year group) but in other places you really need to apply on time. So you may want to factor that into your timescale.

What do you mean UK? There are a few countries covered by this and all have their own education system. Therefore difficult to advise.

If she is young for chronological age then I can see why but I have an august born who did fine. July is in the last sixth of the year but there will be lots of summer babies.

🙄

I struggle with this approach s there has to be a cut-off point somewhere. If all August-born children are held back a year, then the July-born children would be the youngest with children 13 months older than them in the class. Should they be held back too? Where does it stop?

Yes she can start reception shortly after she’s turned 5, but think carefully. I think people often think solely about when the child is very young and does as the parent wishes re school and less about how as a teenager (with arguably less common sense than they had when they were 5) can end their formal education when they come of age, regardless of whether or not they have finished it.

They have to be in education or training until 18, so they can’t just leave after year 10 with no plan and colleges require GCSEs to get onto level 3 courses or will make them to do a lower level first. Either way they have to keep doing English and Maths GCSE/equivalent until they pass or turn 18. I don’t think it’s a major concern honestly.

It is a major concern

Research shows that too many children out of chronological age do drop out without gaining qualifications

There is very little process to keep post 16 pupils in education, whatever the legislation may say, if they want to leave school at 16 without taking GCSEs then they can. They just cant claim benefits. They can get a job which is meant to have a training element but lots don't and many of those that do tend to be poor quality. Or they can just stay at home and do nothing.

Checks are non existent in reality.

In the real world they can and do
There is no system to keep them in education.

It’s not about being the youngest, it’s about whether they are ready for full-time education at just-turned 4.

If she turns 5 by end of August year 1 if her birthday is say September 1st then reception.

I can’t find the stats but I just skimmed an article that said in 2013 and 2015 July was the most common month to be born in. Maybe do a proper look at the stats and see what proportion will be starting at the same age.