Author Archives: Caesarean Birth
New National Birth Cohort Study Could Support Summer Born Research
A report published in The Financial, ‘Researchers Pilot Plans for New National Birth Cohort Study‘, provides information about a new UK-wide study that aims to follow babies born in the 2020s for more than 70 years, beginning in 2024. The … Continue reading
DfE Reiterates Guidance on Post-Primary School Transfers
On March 23, Darren Jones, Labour MP for Bristol North West, and Chair of the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee asked the Secretary of State for Education: “whether his Department has plans for summer-born children to be given automatic … Continue reading
Schools Adjudicator Upholds Objection Against Wakefield Council Summer Born Admissions
The Office of the Schools Adjudicator determination can be read in full here. In brief, the “objection refers specifically to explanatory note 16.9 in the arrangements which says that: • there is an “expectation” that, where parents of summer born … Continue reading
Summer Born Admissions and A New Normal Post-Coronavirus
Before the COVID-19 crisis, many parents of summer born children had unanswered questions, unresolved battles, ongoing concerns about their children’s education, and worries about their children’s social and emotional well being. With the government’s effective closure of schools and nurseries, … Continue reading
Sports Initiative Helps Young Players Overcome Birth Month Disadvantage
The Summer Born Campaign was contacted about this initiative in Surrey, and is happy to share it here. With thanks to the Late Birthday Project: Surrey-based sports initiative helping young players overcome the ‘late birthdate’ disadvantage
MP Requests Debate on Changes to School Admissions Code
On March 12th, Stephen Hammond, Conservative MP for Wimbledon asked: “The Government are rightly committed to levelling up and creating opportunities. Two small changes to the admissions code would change the life chances of so many summer-born children. Could we … Continue reading
Summer Born Children in the News
There have been numerous media reports today about a new book aimed at teachers that reportedly says headteachers should not allow parents to enrol their summer born child in school at CSAge, and adjust their test scores later on instead. … Continue reading
School Start Summer Born Poem
It’s School Today Dry your eyes, be brave, I say. You’ve just turned 4 but it’s school today. Let’s roll up your trousers, they’ll fit one day. Now dry your eyes, be brave, I pray.
What are the “unintended consequences” of CSAge entry?
An exchange between Stephen Hammond MP and Schools Minister Nick Gibb, during a House of Commons debate on Monday, highlighted their shared concern that flexibility for summer born children entering school Reception class at CSAge might have “unintended consequences”.
DfE Publishes New Data on Summer Born Admissions
The DfE has published a new report this week: “Delayed school admissions for summer born pupils Research report (September 2019)” This follows its 2018 report, which the Summer Born Campaign reviewed here. The 2019 report conclusion confirms an ongoing postcode lottery:
New NICE Guidance to Include CSAge Summer Born Children
In January this year, I registered the Summer Born Campaign as a Stakeholder for an update of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guideline: Social and emotional well-being in primary and secondary education of guideline In May, I submitted comments … Continue reading
School Admissions Code Consultation Launches Autumn 2019
In answer to a DfE written question on July 8th, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education, Lord Agnew of Oulton, said “a public consultation… will be launched in the autumn.” It has been almost 4 years since Nick Gibb, … Continue reading
Mumsnet Summer Born Guest Post
The Summer Born Campaign‘s Rosie Dutton provided an update on her daughter’s progress after starting school at age 5, instead of age 4. In this week’s Guest Post, A later start can be the best thing for many children, Rosie says … Continue reading
LGO Publishes Guidance on Summer Born Admissions
Following years of complaints from parents of summer born children, the Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman has published new ‘Guidance for practitioners‘. Unfortunately, the LGO supports the practice of parents applying one year early, for a school place they do … Continue reading
BBC report – Summer baby school delays: Parents face postcode lottery
Parents who want to delay their child’s first year of school have varying success rates depending on where they live, a BBC investigation has found. The Summer Born Campaign’s Rosie Dutton is quoted in the BBC’s article: “It has been … Continue reading
DfE ‘Remains Committed to Summer Born CSAge Reception Class Admission’
This was a Q&A on summer born admissions in Parliament yesterday (Hansard HC Deb, 4 June 2018, cW): Tracy Brabin Shadow Minister (Education) “To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the reasons for the increase in the … Continue reading
DfE’s New Report on Summer Born Admissions Excludes SEN Benefits
The Summer Born Campaign welcomes the DfE’s Delayed school admissions for summer born pupils report, as it confirms: – the DfE is fully aware of the admissions postcode lottery – the DfE knows children are being forced to miss a year of school … Continue reading
DfE Stalls on Summer Born Admissions – Again
In recent weeks, parents of summer born children have been receiving correspondence confirming whether or not their child can enter Reception at CSAge without further battle. “‘I’ve got a yes!” “Mine’s a no.” The educational fate of these children is … Continue reading
Nick Gibb MP Repeats 2015 Admissions Assurances But Parents Awaiting Action
Numerous media outlets are reporting the Schools Minister Nick Gibb’s comments at the British Library this week; e.g. The Telegraph’s Parents of summer born children will be allowed to start school aged five, minister says Education Editor Camilla Turner reports that he said, … Continue reading
summerbornchildren 