Category Archives: CAMPAIGN UPDATES
Returning Expats Told Summer Born Children Must Skip Whole Year of School
Thamira Andrews’ summer born children began their education at the age of 5 in India. But when the family returned home to England in July, Thamira says she was told in no uncertain terms by both her local London admission authority … Continue reading
Summer Born Shake Up Front Page News
“School shake up to help pupils born in summer” is the headline on the front page of today’s Sunday Express newspaper (report inside by Political Editor Caroline Wheeler). This is the second time that the issue of rights and best interests of summer born children has … Continue reading
Bradford Council Seeks Headteacher Volunteers to Process Summer Born Requests
This morning, Michelle Melson’s eagle eye spotted this very interesting ‘Opportunity‘ being advertised by Bradford Council’s Admissions Team: “Panel Members for Deferred or Offset Children starting Reception – The Admissions Team are looking for Primary Headteachers to volunteer to be part of … Continue reading
Liverpool City Council Formally Supports the Summer Born Campaign
Following last week’s Liverpool news, today the Summer Born Campaign received a formal “supporting statement” from Councillor Lana Orr in the office of the Mayor of Liverpool, Joe Anderson. We are very grateful to this council for listening to us and doing what … Continue reading
Postcode Lottery Winners: 2015 Summer Born 4 Year-Olds happy to have One More Year before school
SEE MORE Postcode Lottery Winners here. …and the Postcode Lottery Losers here.
New Leaf for Liverpool as Council says: ‘All Summer Born Requests Will Be Granted’
Excellent news this week from Liverpool City Council: “All summer born children whose parents request a deferral will automatically be granted…“* This was something Summer Born Campaign member Lauryn Douglas, mum of four year-old Isabella, thought she might never hear following a … Continue reading
Prematurity Is Not The (only) Point – Legislation Covers All Summer Born Children
Summer Born is Summer Born is Summer Born If a child is born between April 1 and August 31, they do not reach compulsory school age until the term following their 5th birthday. And if a child is born prematurely during … Continue reading
School Exclusions Report Suggests Summer Born Children May Be Adversely Affected
I read the DfE’s latest report on school exclusions in England (2013-14) in the knowledge that summer born children are significantly more likely to be diagnosed with SEN than any other group. Interestingly, the report, published yesterday, links to another, 2012 Research Report (A profile … Continue reading
DfE Official Confirms Minister’s Commitment to Changing the Code
In email correspondence with the Summer Born Campaign group member Gemma Adams, an official from the DfE’s School Organisation and Admissions Division has said: “The Government recognises that this has been problematic in a number of cases… …children are still being admitted to … Continue reading
Minister Nick Gibb Confirms ‘Missed Year’ Concerns in BBC South Today Interview
Callum Gafford is yet another summer born child who faces losing a year of his education as penalty for starting school at CSAge, and his mother Natalie was interviewed by reporter Sean Killick on BBC South Today (02:58-07:59) During today’s report, member of the Education Select … Continue reading
NGA Deserves Praise for its Position on Summer Born Admissions
A member of the National Governors’ Association has told the Summer Born Campaign that its June 5, 2015 newsletter reads: “The NGA encourages governing boards who are the admissions authority for their school to allow summer-born children to defer and begin reception a … Continue reading
England’s Summer Born Scandal Reported in Australian News
The Sydney Morning Herald has reported on the Summer Born Campaign in England in its special July 19 feature: When should children start school? Answer differs around the world. Colleen Ricci writes, “The age at which children compulsorily begin their … Continue reading
Good Schools Guide Advises Women to Avoid Conceiving Summer Born Babies
The 2013 edition of the Good Schools Guide warns women: “So avoid getting pregnant between July and November inclusive!” When the Telegraph’s Economics Correspondent Peter Spence tweeted his concerns about a potential middle-class advantage of planning a child’s DOB, it reminded me I’d … Continue reading
Summer Born Solution is Simple: Change the Code to Stop ‘Contentious Cases’
The Summer Born Campaign‘s Rosie Dutton has been interviewed on ITV’s Good Morning Britain as part of wide media coverage following today’s press release from the Education Committee: ‘MPs are promised action on summer born admissions‘. Rosie says, “There needs to be a change … Continue reading
Many Ministers have Talked the Talk – Could Nick Gibb Actually Walk the Walk?
The House of Commons Education Committee has today published ‘MPs are promised action on summer born admissions‘ alongside a letter from Minister of State for Schools, Nick Gibb, wrote to its Chair, Neil Carmichael, earlier this month. The letter acknowledges that recent changes … Continue reading
Education Minister Nick Gibb to Review Summer Born Issue at ‘Earliest Opportunity’
This month, one of the Summer Born Campaign leaders, Michelle Melson, had the privilege of meeting with the Minister of State for Schools, Nick Gibb, following her submission of oral evidence on Summer Born Children at the Education Select Committee meeting in March. … Continue reading
Steve Biddulph Formally Supports the Summer Born Campaign
I am delighted to report that Steve Biddulph, one of the world’s best known parent educators, and a retired psychologist, has lent his full support to our campaign. He has asked me to publish the following statement: “What the Summer Born … Continue reading
Cameron Found Pre-Compulsory School Age ‘Challenging’ for Florence
The Prime Minister was quoted in the Daily Mail yesterday talking about how a good early years experience can have “the best chance of transforming a child’s life“. However, the Summer Born Campaign is very troubled by talk of “services targeted at … Continue reading
Rosie Dutton Standing Up for Summer Born Children at Cambridge Seminar
Changing Curriculum Doesn’t Change Compulsory School Age – New Research
New research published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry today (‘Younger children experience lower levels of language competence and academic progress in the first year of school: evidence from a population study‘) further confirms what is already … Continue reading
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