What age to start primary

[auspreg]

I know children can start once they turn 4, and have to start by the time they are 6, but I'm just wondering what the most common cut off months are these days? When I school age (90's and 00's), the birthdays usually ranged from around March to February. So you were usually between 4.5 and 5.5 starting school in September. Is this still about the same?

That's still my experience @auspreg.
My youngest is a March baby and I started him at 4. I could have waited a year, but thought he was ready.
I know plenty who didn't go until 5, including a few that turned 5 in the January. The school may have their own rules, as in our school you have to be 4 before 01 May but with the other school in the village as long as you're 4 before new school year starts then you can start.

My son is October born, he was 4 & 10 mths when he started. The youngest in his class is January born. The places are allocated by age so as the school is oversubscribed, sometimes the younger kids don’t get an offer. For example the year after my son started, the cut off was November born kids. I think as close to 5 is ideal. I don’t think the older the better (closer to 6). Might be ok in JI, but being 13 for the majority of 6th class is too old imo.

The ECCE scheme has slightly altered the oldest/youngest months. They are eligible for the first year of the ECCE scheme the year they turn three. So it follows on for those doing the two years that they will be 5 or nearly 5 when starting.
So the age range is roughly eldest in class is January and younger ones are born in December. I have a January born and was talking to school and crèche about it and they both said the last couple years the January born are starting at 5 instead of 4 like they used to. They put it down to the ECCE scheme.
‘Twas different with my eldest DC he is July so has been at older age group all the way through. He is now JC.

If your school is oversubscribed they generally prioritise older children for JI.

We go to a very average suburban primary school and very few people defer. My daughter started school about 5 days after her 4th birthday and my son is April born so was 4.5. I'll be honest, there wasn't much between them. They both settled in well and are academically and socially doing fine.

I'll be honest, part of our decision was financial as it would have crippled us to have another year of two children in nursery but it has worked out well.

Like @Crunchingleaf has said the ecce scheme has made a difference to the age children start. My DC was 3 years 6 months starting ecce so after two years of Montessori she is 5years 6 months starting school. Most children we know who are starting are already 5 or about to turn 5. She would have been absolutely fine to start last year at 4 years 6 months but I'm delighted i waited the extra year and she is so excited now to start school. A lot of people say their child is bored in pre school but I reckon that's a sign of a poor pre school setting rather than their child actually being bored.

Thanks so much for all the replies! My kids will be around the 5 year old mark starting, so looks like they will very much be average age, which is great!