Category Archives: CAMPAIGN UPDATES
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
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’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
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
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
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