When do they start Primary School?

[DemiDo]

First of all, hi :) I'm new and this is my first post.

Moving on... My daughter is my first child so tbh I don't really know that much about when they start education. I've heard that schools like the child to have their 5th birthday in reception, is this right?
My little girl was born in November 2010 and I'm wondering if anyone can tell me when she might start full time education.

Also, when should I get her a place in a school? Should I call them now to make sure she gets a place in time? A problem with doing this is that I finish university in 2 years and I'm hoping to move to a different town after this. This should be just before her 4th birthday, so if I'm right that she won't start school until she's 5 I should have enough time to get her a school in our new town.

Should I still call the schools in the area we are in now, or should I call the schools in the area I'm hoping to move to? Any help would be great, and sorry for so many questions and it being so long.

Thank You :D

Legally they start in the first school term following the child's fifth birthday.

But children are invited to start anything up to a year before that (depending on when the child is born in relation to when the Autumn term starts,) in a settle into being in school year known as Reception.

they legally have to be educated after 5 years old

As i understand it your child would be due a free school Nursery place from the september after her 3rd birthday - maybe full time if you're still studying then, or otherwise part-time.

She would then start the reception year at school the september after her 4th birthday

And then year 1 at school the september after her 5th birthday

It only becomes a legal requirement for them to start school the september after her 5th birthday (I think)

Around here entry to the free nursery place at a school is done by application to the school the spring before you want to take a place. Appliation for the Reception year intake is done through your LEA/Council - assuming you're looking at state education - or direct to the school if you're doing private education.

Wow, didn't think I'd get such great reply's so quickly.
SchoolsNightmare - I understood your first message prefectly.

Thanks everyone, I understand it all now :-)

Hi DemiDo:

Agree with all Schoolsnightmare said, but would add that you should look up information on the education web pages for your city or county council. This should give you a lot of information and help you understand when you'll need to register your choices with the LEA.

The other thing is to look at the local primary school websites - they usually have open days for prospective parents in the start of the school year (before your send your your primary places application). These are really useful to go along to both to learn more about the school, but to get a feel for the different styles of the schools in your area and what might suit your child best.

But in short Demi - you don't need to be worrying about this until Sept 2014 (a year before she starts school) - around then start to look at your city council/ county council education web-site and they'll have deadlines and information for your area.

HTH

DemiDo:

Forgot to say if your DD is in nursery - they usually will be helpful in advising you about when all this kind of thing will apply to you and your DD.

Just one thought about nursery places.

In our borough all pre-schools and nurseries are privat, you enrol your child and they claim the free hours from the council.

Most pre-schools have a waiting list starting when the child is 18 months.

I would always check with the council regarding the way they handle or don't handle pre-schools.

Also in England you apply to the LA not the school, even if the school is an academy, although they may also have a supplementary form.

They start school at the beginning of the academic year in which they become five,so Sept 2015 for you. Legally they must start at the beginning of the term in which they turn five. In your case that is still the same date. Had she been born in May she could defer till after Easter 2016 although she would have been eligible to start in September 2015.