Summer-born children - delaying entry to Reception by a full year

Request to start Reception out of the normal age group

If parents/carers decide that they want their child to start school in Reception in the September after their fifth birthday, they have to ask the school’s admission authority if they will admit them out of their normal age group. 

Depending on the type of school, this will be either the local authority, the school’s governing body or the academy trust.

The admission authority will consider the parent/carer’s request to decide whether the child’s needs can best be met in Reception or Year 1.

They may take into account factors such as:

• the parent’s/carer’s views
• information about the child’s academic, social and emotional development
• where relevant, the child’s medical history and views of a medical professional
• whether the child may naturally have fallen into a lower age group if it were not for being born prematurely

They will also consult with the Head teacher at the school.

The admission authority will then write to parents/carers to let them know which year group they have decided it would in their child’s best interests to start at the school in, along with the reasons for their decision. 

Making a formal request

Requests must be made in writing (email is usually sufficient).

It is important for parents/carers to make requests for admission out of the normal age group at all the schools they plan to apply for, in case their preferred school is unable to offer a place. 

In their request, they should provide some information about their child, including their child’s name and date of birth. 

They should state that they are considering delaying their child’s start to school. They should also explain why they think their child should be admitted to Reception out of the normal age group, rather than go straight into Year 1.

Requests can be supported with information from any professionals involved in their child’s care or treatment such as a speech and language therapist, a social worker, a paediatrician or a nursery or childminder. 

However, parents/carers are not expected to get evidence that they do not already have. 

Who formal requests are made to

This depends on the type of school and will be either the local authority, the school’s governing body or the academy trust.

Parents should first find out what type of schools their preferred schools are by checking our prospectus. They can also use the School’s Directory. 

If the preferred school is a Community or Voluntary Controlled School in West Northamptonshire

West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) is the admission authority for these schools.

Parents/carers should make a formal written request with reasons for the request and supporting evidence if available to [email protected]. They should ensure they include the name of the school they want to apply for.

Once a decision is made, School Admissions will write to the parent confirming which year group the child should be admitted to at their preferred school. This will then indicate whether an application will be accepted for Reception out of the normal age group for this school. 

If the preferred school is an Academy, Voluntary Aided, Foundation or Free School, or the preferred school is a Community or Voluntary Controlled school outside West Northamptonshire

WNC is not the admission authority for these schools. Parents/carers should make a formal written request with reasons for the request and supporting evidence if available directly to their preferred school. 

The school will pass the request to their admission authority (either the governing body or academy trust) for consideration. 

Once a decision is made, the school or their admission authority should write to the parent confirming which year group the child should be admitted to. This will then indicate whether an application will be accepted for Reception out of the normal age group at the preferred school. 

Parents/carers must email a copy of this decision to the School Admissions team at [email protected].

Apply for a place in normal Reception year

Parents/carers of summer-born children who could start school in September 2025, but wish to delay their child’s school start, are advised to still make their application for a Reception place for their child’s normal year of entry before the primary application deadline on 15 January. 

If a delay is agreed, this application can be withdrawn.

Deciding to delay a child’s start to school after National Offer Day 

Parents may have made an online application for their child’s normal year of entry and now want to delay their start to school. In this case, parents/carers should first discuss their options with the Head teacher at the allocated school. 

If they then decide they want to delay their child’s start to school and start in Reception out of the normal age group, parents/carers should follow the same procedure outlined above to request admission out of the normal age group. 

The place offered for Reception in the normal year of entry will remain allocated until either a school has agreed to accept an application out of the normal age group, or the parents/carers decide they would prefer their child to wait and start school when they reach compulsory school age, even if that means entering school in Year 1.

In this case, parents should decline their allocated place by emailing School Admissions at [email protected] as outlined in their offer letter.

If a child already has or receives an EHCP

This guidance does not apply to children who already have an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP). So, if a summer-born child has an EHCP and parents would like them to be admitted to school at age 5 to start in Reception, they will need to discuss this with the EHC Team at WNC.

If a child receives an EHCP after parents decide to delay their school start, the plan will override any agreements and will specify the school and year group.

Parents/carers should discuss this with their EHC caseworker to understand the implications and next steps.

Last updated 15 April 2025