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<p>Most children start school in the September following their 4<sup>th</sup> birthday.
The department has not made an assessment of the effect of deferring school entry
on children who were born in August.</p><p> </p><p>In September 2020 the department
published guidance for local authorities and advice for parents on delaying entry
to school for summer born children. This includes guidance on transition to secondary
school for children who delayed their start at school. The guidance helps admission
authorities to understand the framework within which they must operate when responding
to parental requests for summer born children to be admitted out of their normal age
group. Admission authorities must make decisions based on the circumstances of each
case and in the best interests of the child concerned. Survey data shows that almost
9 in 10 requests were approved in 2020.</p><p> </p><p>Any change allowing the parents
of summer born children the automatic right to delay their child’s entry to reception,
and for the child to remain with that cohort throughout their education, would require
primary legislation.</p>
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