Starting at primary school

[Sweetiepetal]

This is probably a very stupid question, but I am confused so I hope someone can help!

My DD was born May 2010. When will she start primary school? Will it be September 2014? I feel like such a bad mother not knowing these things!!

Are you in England?

Most children start the September after they turn 4 in Reception so September 2014. Check with your local authority when applications must be in by - usually January 2014.

Legally they don't have to start until term after they turn 5 but they would need to go into their correct class so a young for their year child would skip reception completely.

(as no doubt someone will add they don't need to start school - can be home educated!)

I am in England, so I was right! Thanks so much for making me less befuddled!

Some schools do have attached pre schools aswell - your DD would be eligible to attend from age 3 so September 2013 usually 3 hours a day. Again do check admission procedures with your LA.

Very few in my area do think it varies around the country.

Also once you have accepted the place, you can defer your daughter's start until later in the year without risk of losing it. Given her birthday, she would have to start by the end of her Reception year in order not to risk losing the place. She can start at any point in the year.

You don't need anyone's permission to defer her start but you do need to ensure you inform the LA of when she will be starting so that they don't assume that you don't want the place when she doesn't turn up in September.

Agree it would be Sept 14 in my LA, but some LAs still do start people after Christmas on a staggered start, so worth chatting to other parents in your locality to see what happens where you live.
Also, our applications have to be in by beginning of December, the previous year, so again, just be aware there are differences between LAs

Thank you. The primary school we hope she will go to doesn't have a preschool, so I am looking at other options. I say 'hope' because even though we live just round the corner, I know there is no guarantee that she will get in at that one.

Just a note on what backforgood says about some schools still doing a staggered entry and starting the younger children In January. It is illegal for them to insist on this. You are legally entitled to a full time school place from the September after your child turns 4. You then have the right to defer entry until the term after the child turns 5 if you so wish although schools can only hold a place open until the summer term so even if you have a summer born child who does not have to legally start school until Y1 in order to retain your allocated school place the child must start school in the reception year.
The simplified way of explaining is that the school and the LEA must provide a full time school place from the September after a child turns 4 but it is then the parents right to choose when that child starts as long as the child's in full time education in the term after their 5th birthday. You do also have the right to home educate.