A parent has been told by her council that the DfE said it would be publishing ‘new’ summer born advice shortly, and another parent’s head teacher told her that she would have to await the outcome of her summer born request until after the Head of Admissions at Kent County Council’s meeting with the DfE next week.
This was Kent’s response to the DfE’s 2014 Code consultation:
“KCC’s preferred solution which would provide far greater clarity to process would be for children (without a statement or Education Health & Care Plan) to be required to apply at the correct time associated with their chronological age group regardless of their individual needs.”
Note: “correct” time, above. Kent has a notorious record for warning parents that a CSAge start could mean risking access to Grammar school, skipping a year of primary school later on, having their application processed only after 4 year-olds are allocated places, and insisting on ‘medical reports’ in support of ‘request’ to enter Reception class.
And the council clearly has the ear of DfE officials – especially when you consider changes made in the 2014 Code and Advice. The question is, will Education Minister Nick Gibb get involved and ensure that HE has the ear of his department officials too?
summerbornchildren 
why does it all have to be made so difficult? why not let a just-turned-four year old enjoy just playing for a little bit longer???
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Reblogged this on wackywebbsworld and commented:
So I have an August born child. Two weeks early; had she been two weeks late she might have made it into the following year group at school. Doesn’t quite seem right and I have worried since finding out that I was pregnant….having taught secondary for years and knowing how the lack of maturity, self-esteem or simply being less developed in every way: socially, emotionally and physically, never mind academically, can impact for years on how a child achieves at school – and outside….
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