Category Archives: EDUCATION COMMITTEE EVIDENCE
Why does the Education Secretary’s Definition of ‘Summer Born’ Differ..?
On September 14, the issue of summer born children was raised by Michelle Donelan MP during an Education Committee public evidence session, as part of its inquiry into the responsibilities of the Education Secretary. In response, Ms Justine Greening referred to summer born children as those born … 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
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
DfE Promised Flexibility but Look what it Chose to Change in the Code
DfE Ministers (very likely because they have limited detailed knowledge of what DfE officials are actually doing behind the scenes – though this is no excuse) keep stating publicly that “the key thing is flexibility“; we want to “empower parents” and we “will … Continue reading
Institute of Education Researcher Supports Flexibility But Not Current Process
Tammy Campbell, researcher at the University of London’s Institute of Education, and one of the witnesses at the recent Education Committee Evidence Check, is quoted in Nel Staveley’s April 20 article, “8 reasons why summer babies face an uphill battle at school and in … Continue reading
Investigation of SEN misdiagnosis should include DfE’s role in ‘Correct but Avoidable’ diagnosis of Summer Born children
We’ve known for a long time that summer born children are more likely to be diagnosed with special educational needs (SEN), and now the Education Committee has asked the government to “Undertake an analysis of the additional cost of summer born children … Continue reading
Cost of DfE’s Code Continues: Repeating Reception is the Latest Summer Born Scandal
The Summer Born Campaign group is aware of increasing numbers of parents (whose summer born children were forced to start school early and against their wishes), fighting for their struggling child to be allowed to repeat their Reception class year. Some … Continue reading
Money Talks: Could the publication of SEN costs FINALLY mean Fairness for Summer Born Admissions?
Two significant things happened in the past week for parents of summer born children with special educational needs (SEN); one culminating in a demonstration to take place in London tomorrow. Firstly, there was Joanna Kent’s excellent report; the BBC South … Continue reading
Kent: Boy Forced to Miss Year of School with Devastating Consequences and Unnecessary SEN
Please read this whole post – it’s more than one mother’s story – it exposes what this council said to the DfE in 2014, and what the DfE did as a result… Three days ago, the mother of a summer born child … Continue reading
Why a Right of Appeal is so Wrong – it still Means NO Right to a FULL Education for ALL Summer Born Children
The Education Committee’s recommendation for the government to consider a Right of Appeal in all summer born admissions is NOT EVIDENCE BASED. Suggesting a Right of Appeal means the Committee accepts that for some children, it is in their best interests to miss … Continue reading
Education Committee Recommendations Miss the Mark – 2014 DfE Code and Advice ARE the Problem so Why Recommend Further Implementation?
The number 1 message the Summer Born Campaign has sought to communicate over the past two years is how the 2012 & 2014 School Admissions Codes (plus DfE ‘Advice’) have DIRECTLY resulted in an unfair postcode lottery and missed years of education. Other … Continue reading
Three Ministers in three years Promise us Flexibility – but Actions Speak Louder than Words – will Nick Gibb DO something between now and April Offer Day?
Or will this be a Hat Trick for False Hope? March 4, 2015 – “The key thing is flexibility.” Education Minister, Nick Gibb March 24, 2014 – “we will take action if we find that schools are not paying attention to … Continue reading
Watch Education Committee meeting LIVE
The evidence check begins at 9.30am today, March 4, 2015. You can watch live here. And join the conversation on Twitter using hashtag #StartingSchool Witnesses: – Helen Kirrane, Campaigns and Policy Manager, Bliss – Tammy Campbell, Researcher and Analyst, UCL … Continue reading
Written Submissions Published ahead of March 4th Evidence Session
The Education Committee has published its ‘Evidence Check‘ written submissions on school starting age and summer born children, which were received by the February 23, 2015 deadline. They can be read here and include: Written evidence submitted by the Summer Born Campaign Group
Education Committee Announces Witnesses for March 4th Evidence Session
The Education Committee’s ‘Starting School‘ evidence session begins at 9.30am on Wednesday 4th March, and further information has now been published here, including: Purpose of the Session “This is the second topic selected as part of the ‘Evidence check’ web forum, building on … Continue reading
@CommonsEd tweets @sb_campaign in Call for Comments and Questions for the DfE Next Week
Email educom@parliament.uk (with #startingschool in subject line) Tweet using the hashtag #startingschool Education Committee Chair Graham Stuart (@grahamstuart) said today: “The issues around school starting age and summer born children are complex and controversial.
New Research Suggests DfE’s Policy of Summer Born Children Missing Year of School is an ‘Unnatural’ Social Experiment
‘Today’s BBC News, “Delayed school entry linked with poorer results“, which reports on new research titled, ‘Delayed school entry and academic performance: a natural experiment’, not only demonstrates the fundamental problem with using the word “delay” to describe summer born children starting school AT compulsory school age, but … Continue reading
Education Committee New Call for Submissions on DfE’s Summer Born Policy
The deadline is midday Monday 23 February 2015. Following last year’s ‘Evidence check’ web forum, the Education Committee is now calling for written submissions ahead of a one-off evidence session on the subject of starting school on Wednesday 4 March 2015. … Continue reading
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