Author Archives: Caesarean Birth
Education Committee Wants YOUR VIEWS on Govt Summer Born Policy
With a deadline of midday December 12, 2014, the Education Committee is inviting your views, via an online forum, on the strength of the evidence in relation to the DfE’s current policy on Summer Born Children (among others). In order to identify … Continue reading
DfE reports EYFSP Attainment Gap Between Summer and Autumn Born Children
The Department for Education has published its Early years foundation stage profile (EYFSP) attainment by pupil characteristics in England for the academic year 2013 to 2014. No real summer born surprises given that these children’s level of development was measured while … Continue reading
Vital Link Between Improving Mental Health, Delaying School Start of Youngest Children and Reducing NHS Costs
On November 18, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) called on politicians to “develop an action plan… focussing on prevention and early intervention to ensure parity of esteem for children and young people” because “1 in 10 children (that’s around 3 … Continue reading
DfE’s New Code will Exacerbate Gap Between Rich and Poor
The new 2014 draft School Admissions Code remains unclear, unfair and subjective for the admission and continued education of summer born children. But it’s even worse for summer born children from poor or socially disadvantaged backgrounds, and for children from homes with English as … Continue reading
Commissioner promises to “relentlessly champion the interests and rights of children”
Last Tuesday, the pre-appointment hearing for the next Children’s Commissioner in England took place, with Anne Longfield OBE, Chief Executive, 4Children, answering questions posed by the Chair of the Education Select Committee. The issue of summer born children was mentioned briefly … Continue reading
Education MPs have a Blind Spot for School Starting Age
Education Minister Nick Gibb ‘tells schools to copy China‘ in the Daily Mail, demonstrating how readily MPs can isolate single aspects of other countries’ education practices – without uttering one single word about when those children start school (also see former Education Secretary Michael Gove’s high praise of Canadian … Continue reading
Key Priority for new Children’s Commissioner – Have Your Say Today
Up until midday today (Monday 10 November) you can send your views on what the 2015 Children’s Commissioner’s key priority should be via Twitter, using the hashtag #OCCintray. With the term of office of the current Children’s Commissioner coming to an end early next year, … Continue reading
One 4-year-old who won’t be starting school early
Rosie Dutton, mother of a summer born child, wrote today: “In your face David Cameron and your Department of Education. We wrote you a poem…” You wanted me in school today, I should be on my way. But I’m fast asleep in … Continue reading
3 year-olds started school in England this week
Due to the outrageous situation that exists in England’s schools (i.e. children forced to start school prior to compulsory school age, against their parents’ wishes), and the strictly imposed chronological batch cut off for each year group, in schools that opened … Continue reading
School Admissions Code Consultation – Have Your Say!
The School Admissions Code is going to change – and the Department for Education is seeking YOUR views on its proposals for new revisions by September 29, 2014. Consultation is OPEN TO ALL – you just need to read the proposed Draft Document and submit your comments. … Continue reading
‘The Educators’ on BBC Radio 4
In the new 8-part radio series of interviews, The Educators, Sarah Montague interviews the people whose ideas are challenging the future of education (e.g. Sir Ken Robinson and John Hattie). Links to all episodes are here. Most if not all these interviews may now … Continue reading
Starting School for Summer Born Children
Earlier this year, the Gentle Parenting website kindly published a special guest article written and edited by Michelle Melson and Pauline Hull. With the school start just around the corner, you can read it again here: Starting School for Summer Born Children
Gove’s Gone
But what will it mean for the chances of compulsory school age summer born children being allowed to access a whole education and a full curriculum? It’s too soon to say, but like countless others with education issues, summer born parents … Continue reading
MP Graham Stuart: It’s worth examining Giving Parents the Right
In an April 2014 summer born interview, Conservative MP and current Chair of the Education Select Committee, told trainee journalist Fayrouz Shehrezade Essack, “Personally I think that giving parents the right, so that they don’t lose their positions in terms of gaining … Continue reading
DfE U-Turn on Summer Born Admissions
In October 2013, in correspondence to a parent, the Department for Education wrote, “It is the government’s view that there should not need to be any exceptional reasons for a summer born child to be admitted to the reception class rather … Continue reading
2014 June LGO Press Release
On June 15, 2014, Pauline Hull and Michelle Melson published the following Press Release: ‘FINAL DECISION’ by Local Government Ombudsman Condones Discriminatory Admissions Practices for Summer Born children In a controversial Final Decision published on May 14, 2014 (in a complaint that was … Continue reading
Norfolk Gets the Law Wrong – Again
Regular readers will recall that last month, a Norfolk County Council staff newsletter incorrectly advised that, “Legally… children must start school in the academic year after they become 4“. The Summer Born Campaign contacted the council, which to be fair, said, … Continue reading
Support for Summer Borns in Parliament tonight
More details to follow soon, but the feedback so far from a Parliamentary seminar in the House of Commons this evening is very positive for summer born children. The seminar asked, “What is the future for Early Years Education?” and … Continue reading
Norfolk staff newsletter says CSA is 4 – unless the law changes!?!?
You couldn’t make this stuff up. Norfolk County Council, in its May 21, 2014 aptly titled “Improving Times – Children’s Services” staff newsletter, has laid down the law on school admissions for children – without realising that the real law (primary legislation) says something … Continue reading
DfE warns: Schools can legally sort children by any age THEY choose
A rather interesting update appeared in a DfE document in May (see actual document for date), ensuring everyone understands a child’s rights – or rather lack of them – in a very pertinent area of the Equality Act, given the summer born … Continue reading
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