Delayed admission for summer born children

Parents of summer born children can request to be admitted to Year R in the September after they turn five - a year later than they would usually start school

Summer born children have birthdays between 1 April and 31 August, inclusive.

Deciding to delay your child’s admission
  • Read the DfE's guidance Summer Born Children – Starting School Advice for Parents.
  • Visit the school(s) you are interested in applying for to discuss any concerns about your child starting school and the options available.
  • Speak to your child’s pre-school or any other professionals involved with your child.
Request to delay your child's admission
  • You should make a main round application for your child’s normal age group before the closing date.
  • At the same time, you can submit your request to make an application for Year R in the following September:
    • for all Community and Voluntary Controlled schools in Hampshire, email [email protected] for a delayed admission request form
    • for all other schools, you must make your request in writing direct to the school.

The admission authority for each type of school is:

Type of School Admission Authority
Academy Academy Trust
Community School Local Authority
Foundation School Governing Body
Voluntary Aided School Governing Body
Voluntary Controlled School Local Authority

You can find the school's status on the school's detail page.

You may provide evidence to support your request but it is not compulsory.

How your request is considered

A decision will be made based on the circumstances of the case and in the best interests of the child. The view of the headteacher of the school(s) concerned must be taken into account. You will be notified in writing of the outcome of your request before the national offer date.

Note that one admission authority cannot be required to honour a decision made by another which means where multiple applications are being made to different schools, you may receive differing outcomes.

What happens next

If your request is approved:

  • your application for the normal age group may be withdrawn
  • you will then need to make a new application as part of the main admission round for the following year
  • your application will be considered alongside all other applications in accordance with the school’s published admission criteria.

If your request is refused:

  • you can either accept the offer of a Year R place for your child in the school year following their child’s fourth birthday
  • or refuse the offer of a Year R place and make an in-year application later in the school year for Year 1 in the September following their fifth birthday.