When does he start school?

[boymama82]

My son is 3, his birthday is the 15th of June, he currently goes to nursery 15 hours a week in the afternoons, funded childcare. My mum keeps saying I need to get his name down for school but he doesn't start until September 2025 does he? I though they started when they are 5?

You will need to apply from this September for him to start next Sept 2024 when he is four, that's if you're in England.

He’ll start in September 2024 unless you defer him. You can’t put his name down yet but the application window will open later this year. You have until sometime in January 24 to get your application in.

Apply this autumn for him to start September 2024. They start school in the academic year when they will turn 5 - all children starting reception will be 5 by the end of reception.

I think you only need to put his name down if you are looking at private or independent schools, although some friends discovered that for their local private school you had to have had them on the list from about 18 months!

Are you in England? If so then he would be due to start reception in September 2024 a few months after turning 4. You apply by roughly December/January of this year/2024.

Which country? The rules are different in the four UK nations

They start when they're 4 (unless a very early September birthday or deferred start).

As he is June, you will have the option to defer (but IME this is rare).

Is he in nursery? They normally have a reminder poster on the wall or someone will mention it.

If in England he would usually start Reception (first year of school) the September after his 4th birthday so apply this Autumn, unless you’re considering private then they have their own timelines.

It’s not compulsory until they’re 5 so I’ve heard of some August borns deferring and starting reception a year later or in theory he could skip reception and go straight into year 1 but I don’t see why you’d choose to do that as it would put him at a disadvantage.

My son was born July '19 and starts reception class this September. Applications opened last November. So, your son will start school next September and applications will open this coming November (if you're in England).

Where are you living OP?

Great thanks everyone, yes we're in England, I kind of knew I couldn't apply yet but my mum kept saying I should! 🙄

I was in the same boat, mostly everyone has already answered correctly you would be applying for him to start in September 2024 application date varies depending on where you live but usually around the end of this year start of next.

I have a June baby and debated deferring him until the following year but he is bright and capable and so ready I haven't, either way you probably need to start looking at what you'll be doing/where he will be going at the end of this year

You need to apply by January. Find out in April and he will start next September 2024

Check the date with your local authority as they vary. It's a good idea to start thinking about your options from about now

Just turned 3? He starts September 2024. Check with your local authority re dates to apply it's normally around September-January the year before

My DD was born in Sept 2019, she will start school in Sept 2024 a few days off her 5th birthday. Your DS will be only just 4 when he starts, not 5. It would be 2024, not 2025 unless you defer.

The application process has changed since your mum did it. Unless it’s public school you can’t put your name down for any school. You apply this autumn to
the local authority.