Can someone explain how starting reception/school works in the UK?

[ICanTotallyDance]

Before I start, I must say that I don't need this information, I am just curious. I am living in New Zealand at the moment, where children usually start in Year Zero on their fifth birthdays and progress to Year One the january after (start of the new school year).

I am curious about how reception works in the UK as I have seen many threads posting about starting school at four and having to start part way through the year etc.

Children start in reception the school year after try start 4
This could be if their birthday (turning 4) is 31st August, they are just 4 or if their birthday is 1st September (turning 5 on the 1st day of the school year)
These children all start school at the same time
For example September to December 2014 born children and January to August 2015 children will all be in the same school year at school

Legally children should be in school the term after they turn 5
School terms run from
Sept-dec jan-march/April (Easter)
April- July

Anything I've missed just shout

Oh the above is about England. It is different in Scotland, and I think Wales too, and I have no idea on Northern Ireland.

(Just before we get slatted for English bias.)

The main difference between the UK and NZ is that in the UK the school year starts in September rather than January.
There always have been differences between the education systems in England and Scotland regarding admissions and the exam system.
Most threads of MN probably refer to England though.
The MN world isn't always the same as real life though.
In reality nearly all pupils would start school in September aged 4 and these children would have their fifth birthdays during this Reception Year.
It is possible for parents to delay entry to reception for 4 year olds, so these children would start midway through the year, but it is unusual.
It tends to be middle class parents with children who have birthdays in July or August who are most likely to request to defer though and this group do seem to be fairly vocal on MN.

Right, thanks everyone for clearing it up. I was just curious how it all worked.

Why only middle class parents catslife?

When DD started school in 2005 the LEA had a tiered system, so that children with Sept - Dec birthdays started in September and children with Jan - August birthdays started in January. This was changed a couple of years ago to a September intake for all.

Well in my predominantly middle class area, most parents push to start their children at school ASAP. I've even heard one mother complain that children weren't doing full days at pre-school. Of course it is so middle class that most of those who don't want their children starting school at 4 choose to home educate instead.

So I think our reception year is the same as your year 0 except that all our kids start 1st sep and your kids start throughout the year the day they turn 5.

Used to be a staggered start here where kids started each term but now everyone pretty much starts in sep.

However reception is very similar to nursery. Not sure if that's the same as your year 0?

I think some schools still offer the chance to start reception in the January following your 4th birthday. It is also common for younger children to do half days.

However, they would be in the same class as children who had started school full time in September.