When does my child start school?

[ConcernedParent1988]

Hi, my child turned 4 on sept 4th this year (2025) DOB 4/9/2021.

Does she start school September 2026 or should she already be in school?

I have not received any letters from he council etc.

I keep getting conflicting information from people and its unsettled me. Could anyone confirm which is correct?

September 2026 I think

2026 so you need to apply this term (if England)

Reception entry 2026.

Which country do you live in?

if England then she starts September 2026 and you apply by mid January 2026.

i think if Scotland then August 2026.

Dont know about Wales, Ireland or other countries

No, the deadline is in January (15th I think)

Sept 2026 if you are in England. Our primary applications are open now for next year. Our LEA doesn't write to you, nursery should tell you.

Well yes ok, "you need to apply this term or within the first 2 weeks of next term"

Correct.

@ConcernedParent1988 yes September 2026 for Reception Year.
She is currently entitled to at least 15 free hours of nursery/pre school and some primary schools have a nursery attached to them.
That could be why some people might think she should be at school already.
Look on your local council website for all the information of how to apply.

She will be one of the eldest in her year with a Sept 4th birthday, which is great for her!

Sept 2026 entry. Why are you expecting letters from the council? Is she in preschool/daycare? The applications for September next year will open shortly with a January deadline. The application system is online or a booklet from local library.

Yes, we live in England

Nursery did not inform us though. She is already in receipt of the free hours (currently 30 and i believe this will continue) and we have been making use of that.

In regards to actually apply for school. Do the schools at the open day go through the process? So following an open day do you go through to council to make the application?

Also can you apply to multiple schools at same time and then pick? Sorry its first child so don't know process.

Thank you so far for the replies

As everyone has said, it does depend where you are but in England she would start September 2026. Children in England start school the September after they turn 4. She has turned 4 this September, so she starts next September just as she's about to turn 5. Had she been born 5 days earlier, on 31st August, she could have started this September.

I imagine those questioning you on why she isn't in school already just assume you start school when you're 4 (and a lot of schools won't have started this new academic year until after her 4th birthday). It doesn't work like that, it's always the next September after they turn 4 (if they are September born, they have to wait until the following year).

Applications are now open in England to apply for a Reception place next year. Keep an eye out, as schools around you will be advertising open sessions very soon (usually October/November time). Your application needs to be in by 15th January. No rush, it's not first come first served. Each application will be ranked against the school's admissions criteria, which can be found on their website.

Does she attend a pre-school/nursery? They will be able to give you information on applying for primary school. If not, I advise getting her into one. It will really help prepare her for school, when the time comes, by getting her use to separating from you, making friends, gaining independence and learning new skills etc.

School admissions: How to apply - GOV.UK https://share.google/89ZQWXOH7yAtHmqRP
No primary's here have open days but might be different where you are. It is very area dependent

2026

@ConcernedParent1988 to apply you do it via a online form from your council/borough.
You get to name several schools as choices (depending on where you live that might be between 3 - 6 choices).
You put them in order of preference with the school you like most at number 1.
You can apply for any schools not just ones in your area (but if you live a large distance away it's unlikely you will be offered a place).
Schools will start doing open mornings and tours in the next few weeks so go to those.
You have until January 15th to apply and then in April you will find out which school has offered you place.
If your choice schools are oversubscribed and you don't get a place you may be offered a school that wasn't on your list.

Yes you apply through your local authority website. Nursery probably haven't informed you about the process yet as applications have only just opened, but they will be able to help if you ask. You can visit different schools, see which you prefer etc. Then you'll be asked to choose the schools you'd like to apply for on the form, ranking them in order of preference. It depends where you are how many preferences you get to pick. Here it is 3 but some areas it's 5 or even more.

The schools publish their admissions criteria on their website and all of their applications are considered against it. If they have more spaces than applications, everyone who ranks it first choice will be offered it. If more people apply than they have spaces for, the admissions criteria comes into play to decide who gets the places. If you don't get your first choice, you'll be considered for your second, then third etc until they find a school for you. If none of your preference schools have space for your child, you'll be offended a place at the nearest school with spaces.

Speak to nursery. They will be well use to dealing with Reception application queries.

You apply for schools (The council does not write to you, you have to apply for yourself)
They then write back and tell you if you have a place or not

Your best bet is looking at the government site

The internet will tell you everything you need to know

In some areas you get to request 5, others 3 listed in the order you would prefer. You need to read the admissions criteria for each school and how places were allocation this year to determine which category your dc would be placed in and the likelihood of getting a place at that school. Some schools, especially faith related, request a specific form in addition and you need to submit that on time as specified as well as your application form. Best advice is to include at least one close to home that you would be happy with, even if not your first preference. Listing popular oversubscribed ones far away from your address may result in a random allocation of a less popular one some distance away.

Thank you all for the replies. I have a much better understanding now and put things in motion.

I have had a look on the LEA website and applications open 1st Nov and checked Deadline 15th jan as others have stated.

I did have a school or two in mind and cross referenced them and where they sit on the priority maps for where we live now.

I have also checked ofsted ratings in local area for schools. Have a list of at least 3 schools noted.

I have now checked for open dates and will be attending these soon and then go from there.

Thank you all again ❤