September babies when do they start reception

[loulabella1013]

My little one turns 4 September 2025 when does she start reception. Gov website is confusing saying she will go straight into Yr 1 when she turns 5 but must start reception at age 4. Another website is saying she will start reception in 2026. I'm so confused. Any help with this would be great many thanks x

They start the school year they turn 5 in England.

Start reception Sept 2026

She'll start reception in September 2026

Ds had 2 years in nursery from the week he turned 3...16th September birthday
. Then reception just about 5 and year 1 just before he was 6...an astonishingly bright boy!

What matters is their age on 31st August. If they are 4 on the 31st August, they are due to start school in that September

Are you sure youve read the government we site correctly? Children start school in the year they are 4 on 1 September so 2026 for you

eta just seen above, 31 August is right, my mistake I should have said before 1 September

You've misunderstood it as she definitely won't go straight into Year 1. She'll start Reception in September 2026 and will be one of the oldest in the year.

The school year runs from 1st September-31st August. They start school the September after they turn 4 and will turn 5 at some point during that accademic year (some may even be 5 already on their first day, if born very early September and have already had their 5th birthday before the first day of term). If your daughter turns 4 in September 2025 she'll have to wait until the following September to start Reception as that's the September after her 4th birthday. She doesn't automatically start Reception when she turns 4, she has to wait until the next accademic year as she will only be 3 on 31st August 2025. The following year she will be 4 on 31st August and ready to start school September 2026.

As everyone says above, all children are due to start reception just after the 31st August on which they are age 4. So for yours, she's 4 on 31st August in 2026.

For a few born in early September, this means they actually start reception aged 5.

It's the September after their 4th Birthday for Reception. That's going from 1st September.
So a child that turns 4 from this coming 1st September to August 31st next year (2025) they will start Reception in September 2025.
Your daughter will start in September 2026.
She will be one of the eldest in the year group.

DD has a very similar birthday and will start school this year (in reception) as she is 5 after 31 August.

Your DC will be the oldest in their year (reception class starting in Sept 2026) , which is a massive advantage in many ways.

Thank you everyone I thought she was starting 2026 it's been a very long time since I last signed a little one up to primary school.