Author Archives: Caesarean Birth
Chaos on Jan.15 Deadline Day as Parents Scramble to Apply for 2015 Places They Don’t Actually Want
The Summer Born Campaign Facebook Group has seen a flurry of desperate and anxious posts in recent days and weeks as the primary school admissions application deadline approached. There’s much confusion, anger and frustration as PARENTS OF 3-YEAR OLD CHILDREN … Continue reading
Second Summer Born Report Looks Inevitable as Compulsory School ‘Age 4’ Start Continues
We genuinely thought primary legislation would count for something – and ironically the Code actually says it should. But the Department for Education’s failure to make necessary amendments to its 2014 School Admissions Code, to ensure that a summer born … Continue reading
The Times: Parents lose right to decide summer child’s school start
The headline says it all – compulsory school age LEGISLATIVE RIGHTS have in practice been eroded, just as our January 2014 Summer Born report exposed. And as Neil Leitch, chief executive of the Pre-school Learning Alliance, and one of this campaign’s supporters, … Continue reading
Christmas Code Continues to Cause Controversy
Santa’s SAC (School Admissions Code) delivers a big disappointment to summer born children today. The government’s ‘explanatory note‘, says it “clarifies the provisions relating to the admission of summer born children who wish to delay entry into reception” but our press release and recent … Continue reading
Summer Born Campaign group submits Evidence to the Education Committee
In response to the Education Committee’s invitation for views on the strength of evidence for the DfE’s policy on summer born children, the Summer Born Campaign has submitted the evidence below in response to the DfE’s ‘Evidence Check’ memorandum: 1. Important relevant research … Continue reading
Important Research Papers for the Education Committee’s ‘Evidence Check’
Below a list of additional evidence submitted to the Education Committee following their invitation for views on the strength of the evidence in relation to the current policy on Summer Born Children and the effect of birth date on student achievement (my … Continue reading
Response to the DfE’s ‘Summer Born Children’ Evidence Check for the Education Committee
The DfE’s ‘Evidence Check’ memorandum can be read here, and the numbers in our response below relate to this. POLICY 1. Re: “the point at which the other children in their year group are moving up from the reception class to year one“. … Continue reading
Education Committee ‘Summer Born’ Comments by Michelle Melson
Michelle Melson has also submitted the comments below to the Education Committee’s ‘Evidence check’ forum on Summer Born Children: PART 1 – “… the point at which the other children in their year group are moving up from the reception class to year one.” … Continue reading
Education Committee ‘School Starting Age’ Comments by Michelle Melson
One of the authors of the January 2014 Summer Born report, Michelle Melson, has submitted these comments to the Education Committee’s ‘Evidence check’ forum on School Starting Age: PART 1 – DfE paragraph 2 “Parents who feel their child is not … Continue reading
Education Committee ‘Phonics’ Comments by Pauline Hull
For me, both as a parent and former teacher, one of the worse aspects of intense and excessive phonics teaching over a period of two years is that it can have an adverse effect on children who are actually progressing … Continue reading
Education Committee ‘Summer Born’ Comments by Pauline Hull
I have also submitted the comments below to the Education Committee’s ‘Evidence check’ forum on Summer Born Children: PART 1 – The main point with regards the DfE’s strength of evidence is this – it’s most relevant to the wrong questions, and … Continue reading
Education Committee ‘School Starting Age’ Comments by Pauline Hull
One of the authors of the January 2014 Summer Born report, Pauline Hull, has submitted these comments to the Education Committee’s ‘Evidence check’ forum on School Starting Age: PART 1 – Principally the Committee should be concerned that in its evidence … Continue reading
BBC South Coverage of Summer Born Postcode Lottery
On Thursday 4th December, this BBC News report highlighted the inconsistency between different admissions authorities in how they interpret the School Admissions Code in relation to summer born children starting school at compulsory school age – ironically referred to as … Continue reading
Research Doctor’s Criticises DfE in Submission to the Education Committee
Dr. David Ockwell very kindly contacted the Summer Born Campaign group and gave us permission to publish his submission: I am a Senior Lecturer at the University of Sussex and Deputy Director of Research at a £10m Economic and Social Research … Continue reading
LibDem MP Formally Objects to School Admissions Code
Annette Brooke MP has submitted a formal motion objecting to the revised School Admissions Code (The Code is issued under S 84(3) of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998, as amended), praying: “That the draft School Admission Code, which … Continue reading
OSA Comments on 2014 Draft Code Confirm Confusion and Chaos Ahead
The Office of the School Adjudicator’s (OSA) response to the DfE’s draft revised Schools Admission Code is the latest document to demonstrate just how UNCLEAR the CODE really is. Responses from different local authorities, members of the public, and now the OSA, all prove … Continue reading
Should teachers boycott baseline tests for four-year-olds?
That is the question being posed in a new online poll on the Day Nurseries website. Arguing “Yes” is Dr Richard House, Co-founder of Early Childhood Action, education campaigner, trained Steiner Kindergarten and class teacher. And arguing “No” is David … Continue reading
FOI by Summer Born Campaign group reveals Local Authority Disagreement, Confusion & Postcode Lottery
In response to a Freedom of Information request (Nov.6) by a member of the Summer Born Campaign group, Gemma Adams received (Nov.27) a copy of local authority and public responses to the DfE’s consultation of proposed changes to its School Admissions Code (closed Sep.29). … Continue reading
When You’re Born Matters But now WHERE YOU LIVE Matters More
The challenges faced by many children born in the summer months is well documented, but since the Department for Education published its updated advice on the school admissions process for summer born children, and a new draft Code, the biggest influential factor and newest life … Continue reading
Illogical Policy: No Warnings, Fines or Imprisonment for us – our Summer Born children ‘MUST’ miss a Year of Education
The irony is breath taking. While other parents are being arrested and jailed for allowing their children to miss school, summer born children are being forced to skip a whole year of their education, against their parents’ wishes (not to mention … Continue reading
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