Author Archives: Caesarean Birth
Still No Word from DfE on Summer Born Children ‘Losing Out’
In the latest issue of ‘Teach Early Years‘, early years campaigner Richard House interviews co-leader of the Summer Born Campaign, Michelle Melson, about why the DfE is dragging its feet over promised changes for summer born children, and the seriously … Continue reading
Summer Born Campaign’s Michelle Melson Presenting at Education Event in Wales
Michelle Melson, co-leader of the Summer Born Campaign, will be speaking at the latest CPE Learning Exchange (LEX) event: Educational Difference – Flexing and Personalising Education. It takes place on Saturday 4 November 2017 (10am – 4.20pm) in Conwy, Wales and promises a … Continue reading
Solutions to Summer Born SEN Discussed in Schools Week Article
In a Schools Week article this weekend, Stephen Gorard, professor of public policy at Durham University, says we must Stop labelling summer-born pupils as SEN! He makes some excellent points, but on the subject of “age-standardisation of all results”, we disagree. … Continue reading
BBC Radio 4’s Whodunnit? Investigates Summer Born Issue
The Summer Born Campaign‘s Michelle Melson is interviewed in episode 4 of a new BBC Radio 4 five-part series asking, Whodunnit?, The Calendar Conspiracy Presenter: Michael Blastland Producer: Katherine Godfrey A Whistledown production for BBC Radio 4 “Children born in summer … Continue reading
Campaign Coverage on BBC Radio 5 Live
BBC Radio 5 Live’s presenter Sam Walker hosted an excellent discussion on the Summer Born Campaign this morning, with guests including Michelle Melson (campaign leader) and Fiona McGuckin (parent of a summer born child). You can listen to it here (at … Continue reading
Not the First Time? Summer Born Adults Recall Being Made to Miss a Year of School in the 1970s
Anyone else miss out on a year of primary school? A few years ago, I came across the discussion forum above. It describes a chronological reorganisation of children in school, which does not appear to have considered their individual best interests, and includes the … Continue reading
Campaign Leader To Discuss Educational Change at ‘Learning Exchange’ Event in London
The Summer Born Campaign‘s Michelle Melson has been invited to participate in a special Learning Exchange (LEX) event in London this month, where she will discuss campaigning for change in education. Re-imagining School is on June 24th and the topic … Continue reading
Leicestershire County Council’s Financial Settlement Following Summer Born Admissions Fight
In today’s Leicester Mercury, Fiona Dryden describes Stephanie Walsgrove’s fight with Leicestershire County Council to allow her daughter, Amelia, to enter Reception class at CSAge in September 2017: Leicestershire mum wins battle to delay her daughter’s school start. The article refers … Continue reading
Headteachers Complain of Cuts but Untold Amounts of Time and Money Spent on Summer Born Admissions
On the very same day I read this in the Guardian – Cuts, cuts, cuts. Headteachers tell of school system ‘that could implode’ – a parent in our Summer Born Campaign group described how no fewer than three head teachers … Continue reading
MP Requests Update on Cost Assessment – Campaign Suggests Useful Links
Stephen Hammond, Conservative MP for Wimbledon To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what progress the Minister of State for School Standards has made on assessing the potential costs of changing the Schools Admissions Code to provide more flexibility for … Continue reading
Stress Spikes as Deadline for Admissions Application Approaches
With many of the 7,200 members in the Summer Born Campaign group busy preparing admissions applications for primary school places this week, the shocking postcode lottery and differences in admissions authorities’ positions is more stark and stressful than than ever. Copious letters, emails and … Continue reading
Simple Summer Born Admissions Process Publicised in Hertfordshire
In this week’s Watford Observer article (Everything you need to know about applying for school places in Hertfordshire this year) Matthew Lennon highlights just how simple and straightforward some admission authorities are making the summer born application process. Lennon reports: “In line … Continue reading
Education Professionals Support Summer Born Campaign
Head of Drama and English teacher at an Independent Preparatory School, Joanna Britland (Kingston) There is a long standing obsession with keeping children taught in chronological age groups without looking at what is best for individual children. This needs to change. … Continue reading
Headteacher Suggests Pregnancy Plan to Solve Summer Born Problem
In 2013, the Good Schools Guide advised parents to avoid getting pregnant between July and November, and this week headteacher Steve Woodhouse has given summer born pregnancy advice too. Mr. Woodhouse emphasises how he has only very recently learned just how educationally disadvantaged summer born children … Continue reading
Early Years Expert Supports the Summer Born Campaign
After reading this guest blog by Mine Conkbayir, author of ‘Early Childhood Theories and Contemporary Issues’ and early years lecturer, researcher and NEYTCO training coordinator, I contacted Mine and asked her what she thinks about the issues so many summer born children are … Continue reading
Admissions Authorities with Automatic Summer Born Admission to Reception Class at CSAge
Here is a list of some of the councils and schools that now allow summer born children the automatic right to enter Reception class at CSAge – without any costly, combative and time-consuming requirements for parents to provide arbitrary reasons and evidence. … Continue reading
Irony as Lancashire Issues Most Fines For Children Missing School
This week (October 19), the Lancashire Evening Post reported that ‘Lancashire tops chart for issuing fines to parents if kids miss school’. The irony of this is not lost on parents of summer born children, many of whom are fighting for their children’s access … Continue reading
LGO Finds Fault with Lancashire County Council’s Summer Born Admissions Process
The Local Government Ombudsman has upheld a complaint against Lancashire County Council, which was made by a parent member of the Summer Born Campaign. In summary, the LGO concluded: “There was fault in the way the Council considered Mrs X’s request for delayed … Continue reading
Year of School Removed from Summer Born’s EHCP in Surrey as Ofsted and CQC Commence Joint SEND Inspection
When even a summer born child with special educational needs (SEN) can be made to miss a year of school – against her parents’ wishes – it’s clear that the DfE urgently needs to protect the educational rights of EVERY summer born child. In … Continue reading
DfE Disappoints and Digresses – Again
Despite the valiant efforts by MPs who fully support the Summer Born Campaign (thank you @S_Hammond, @JimShannonMP and @timloughton), Nick Gibb MP delivered a disappointing (and for many parents, devastating) response to their questions about when the DfE’s promised new Code consultation will … Continue reading
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