When does your child legally have to start full time at school

[jules12]

Hi all

Just wondered if anyone could give me some advice. My daughter started school in September of this year. Her birthday is February. Her classroom teacher has said that all the class should be full time by January. However, I rang my education authority and they said that she does not legally have to be full time until after Easter. Where do I stand? Can the school say that is our rules and you have to accept them.

Any advice would be very much appreciated. Please note there are very valid reasons why I do not think she should go full time yet and it is not because I am just trying to be unreasonable.

I thought it was the term in which they turn 5

I thought that too.

Hope this helps...

Your child is of "compulsory school age" on the 1st January, 1st April or 1st September following their 5th birthday.

Children becoming 5 years old between 1st January and 31st March are of compulsory school age at the beginning of the term after 1st April.

Children becoming 5 years old between 1st April and 31st August are of compulsory school age from the beginning of the term after 1st September.

Children becoming 5 years old between 1st September and 31st December are of compulsory school age from the beginning of the term after 1st January.

I think it depends on your school, they seem to vary because my sil's DD won't go full time until Easter, although she's not 5 until August, whereas at my DS's school, everyone goes full time after 2 weeks, regardless of age!

BTW, I got that other info from www.home-education.org.uk/legal-csa.htm

Thanks all the information. Well my daughter has been particularly anxious at school and it resulted in a visit to the doctor, who confirmed that the anxiety had to be reduced. So I was hoping I could use this as a reason to go slow. I have spoken to some parents in other years who said that they did that, so I guessing it is possible but I think I may end up going to the head to agree it but whatever it takes. I would rather settle her in slowly then have problems further on down the line.