All children offered a Reception place for 2025/26 can start school in September 2025.

By law, children must start school at the beginning of the school term that follows their fifth birthday.

If you are concerned that your child may not be ready to start school in September 2025, you could discuss your concerns with their nursery or preschool teacher or with the school where your child has been offered a place. If you wish, you can ask to delay your child’s start in school until January or Easter 2026, depending on the date of their fifth birthday, or ask for part-time education for a period of time.

If your child turns five in the summer term 2025 and has not already started school, you can request that he or she start in reception in September 2026 rather than Year 1. However, this is not an automatic right for a school to accept.

Parents requesting a summer-born deferral should submit an online application and accompany that application with a letter setting out their reasons for the request along with any relevant evidence.

The decision will be made by the admission authority of the school where your child has been offered a place. All your concerns will be taken into account, but the admission authority does not have to agree to the request. If the request is not agreed, your child will have to apply for a place in Year 1 in September 2026.