Defer or delay your child's school start date

Defer your child's start date

If you’d like your child to start school later in the academic year (not in September) you need to ask to defer their start date.

You need to apply for a school place as normal. When you get your offer of a school place and accept it, you will then need to speak to the school about your child starting reception year later.

Delay your child's start date

If you’d like your child to start school in the next academic year you need to ask to delay their start date.

A delayed start date will be considered if:

• your child was born between 1 April to 31 August
• you think your child is too young to start school in September before their fifth birthday
• your child has a medical condition which prevents them from starting school in September

You must:

• apply for a school place as normal
• write to us at the same time you apply to request a delay
• include any evidence in your request explaining why this is best for your child ( for example a letter from your child’s GP)

We will speak to an educational psychologist to help assess your request.

If your child's start date is delayed

If we grant your request to delay your child’s start date, your child will have to start school the next year in Year 1 and miss reception year.

You’ll also have to reapply for a new place when they start school the following year.