Confused. When does my child start primary School?

[bananainpjs]

Hello,

My child was born September 2018 so he is 3.
I am assuming we apply for primary school in sept 2022 to Jan 2023? For him to start reception in Sept 2023 and he starts year 1 in Sept 2024.

Reception isn’t compulsory? Is it funded?

He is in private pre-school at the moment. So does that mean he has to leave August 2023? Not August 2024? And has to attend reception?

I work Tuesday- Thursday and those are the days my child is in pre-school.

Thank you!

The law states that children must attend school, full time, by the beginning of the September term after their fifth birthday. However, all children are able to start in a reception class in a primary school in the September term following their fourth birthday.

Mine was born in June 2018 and are starting reception this September...school applications closed on 15th January... but you may be able to apply late.

@totallytotalled

Mine was born in June 2018 and are starting reception this September...school applications closed on 15th January... but you may be able to apply late.

June and September are different school years, 1 sep is the new academic year. OP my DC is the same month, at nursery atm but will go to state pre-school in September and then reception sep 2023

My son was born 04/09/2017 and he will start school (reception) this September coming (September 2022)
He will be turn 5 the day before school starts for the year, as they start on 05/09, and he will most probably be the oldest in his year.
That’s not private school though.
Not sure if that helps at all 🤷‍♀️

They’d be starting reception in September 2023. The choices needed to be made by mid Jan 2023.
Assuming you’re in England reception is compulsory from the age they turn 5, so almost immediately for your child.
It’s funded in the respect that every child will have a place in a state school but there is no government funding for private school / wrap around care.

Are you in England? Applications will be roughly between September 2022 and January 2023 to start September 2023. The pre school will likely remind parents with eligible children once the time comes.

Your child will start in reception in September 2023. They will be one of the older children in their year as they will be 5 soon after starting.

They will be compulsory school age from January 2024, so it's not optional from then (unless you opt to home school).

Yes, it's funded by the government.

@Parker231

The law states that children must attend school, full time, by the beginning of the September term after their fifth birthday. However, all children are able to start in a reception class in a primary school in the September term following their fourth birthday.

The law says all children must be educated. This can happen in school or at home. You can choose to home educate rather than doing reception but by the end of reception children in the UK will be able to read and write simple sentences so if you are going done the home ed route for reception and then putting them in school for year 1 then you will need to make sure he keeps up to speed. School nursery is the year which is considered to be optional and this is funded.

Yes, reception full day is funded by government. If you need a breakfast and after school club it will be extra, or you may need a childminder depending on your work hours and how flexible it is.

But you have plenty of time as he won't go to school till next year ie. Sept 2023. I'm sure he'll be more than ready by then.

Your child has to be in school the term after they turn 5. The youngest children in the school year legally don’t have to attend until the beginning of Year 1, however they will miss out on a lot of valuable education if they don’t attend Reception.

In England he would start reception September 2023. If he does not start then he legally needs to be "in education" by January 2024.

If he doesn't start by the start of the summer term, his place may be given to someone else and not available at the start of year 1.

As others have said he needs to be in school in January 2024. If he goes late the school does not have to keep his place open for him. Definitely if you wait until yr 1. He may be in a good nursery but they won't cover the later phonics etc that school will. He will also lose his funding as of January that will go to the school. Is there any reason you want to delay him?

The academic school year is 1 September to 31 August.

My daughter was born June 2018 and will start September 2022 - her cohort will all have been born between 1 September 2017 and 31 August 2018.

Your DC will be the academic year below so will start reception 2023 along with all other children who were born between 1 September 2018 to 31 August 2019.

Thank you all for your help.
I don’t want to delay. It’s more of a case that I don’t want him to grow up and wish I could keep him with his nursery friends forever . His nursery is near my workplace so not near where we live so I’m dreading him starting primary school.

I also assumed pre-school is one head, reception is 1 year then year 1. But it’s actually pre-school for two years and then the above.

*one year not head

As he is September born, he can attend Preschool Nursery the term after he turns 3, and if he does that, will attend the remainder of that year, and the gull following school year.

These years are not compulsory- some choose no nursery, some choose a private day nursery, some choose a school attached nursery. Hours are 15 or 30 per week depending on hours you/the dad works. Term time only for school attached nursery usually.

He will then attend Reception class in his allocated Primary school starting September 2023, at which point (using my own Autumn born dc) he will be desperately ready for the next step.

Assuming you are in the UK...

Sept 2018 birthday will mean he misses the September start and will start school in September 2023 as other above have said.

You will need to make an application for him to attend a local primary school at some point between autumn 2022 and 15th Jan 2023. You will do this on your local authority website - County level. Take a look at your council tax bill if you are unsure as to which council or check gov.uk with your postcode. If you apply within the allotted time frame your child will be allocated a free place at a primary school to start Sept 2023. The primary school hours will be something like 845 to 3pm. The vary slightly school to school. If you wish your child to attend outside of these hours you will need to pay for wrap around care in breakfast and afterschool clubs. These vary alot from school to school and availability might be something you look at when choosing which schools to apply to.

You can school to delay your child starting school - but they are compulsory school age from the start of the term after which they turn 5. Therefore you child would nit be required to be receiving an education until January 2024. However at this point he will go into an established class - which might not be as easy (I believe you still need to apply in the same timescale and ask for a deferred place). You will also need to ask at preschool whether they will keep him for that term as they will assume he will go to school. (If he is able to stay he will retain his current funding).

Your alternative is a fully fee paying school which will have different admission policies and will charge fees for the whole while day.