Category Archives: EXAMPLE CASES
An Overseas Perspective – Letter to Stephen Hammond MP
As a former resident of Surrey, I have written the letter below to Stephen Hammond MP, as per his invitation via Twitter yesterday. Dear Stephen Hammond MP, I applied for a Reception class place for my summer born son at … Continue reading
MP Asks For Summer Born Stories
Stephen Hammond, Conservative MP for Wimbledon, Raynes Park, Morden & Motspur Park, has asked parents of summer born children to email him with their experiences of trying to arrange Reception class entry at CSAge (i.e. the Postcode Lottery), ahead of another proposed … Continue reading
Council Cries Poverty While Wasting £££s on Summer Born Admissions
Earlier this month, in the BBC News report ‘Lancashire County Council at ‘cliff edge’, says leader‘, the council’s leader, Jennifer Mein, describes the struggle to balance budgets in the face of steep cuts over the next two years. And yet – the council appears to … Continue reading
Postcode Lottery More Pronounced Than Ever
Literally up until midnight, parents of summer born children were debating whether or not to apply by today for a 2016 school place they do not want, – with many being told they must do this before their 2017 Reception class entry … Continue reading
Follow @sb_campaign for Latest Summer Born News
Every week, the Summer Born Campaign hears from parents whose head teachers and/or admission authorities have responded to their enquiries and requests for Reception class entry at CSAge. Some responses are encouraging and positive while others are defiant and shocking. For all the latest updates, posted … Continue reading
Study: ADHD Dramatically Reduced with Later Kindergarten Enrollment
Stanford’s Graduate School of Education has highlighted a new study titled, The Gift of Time? School Starting Age and Mental Health, which authors Professor Thomas S. Dee and Hans Henrik Sievertsen say “could help parents in viewing the pros and cons of … Continue reading
Why in God’s Name are Catholic Schools so Obsessed with Chronological Age?
Admission authorities’ responses to the Schools Minister’s ‘Take Immediate Action’ letter have been varied, but among those most stubbornly refusing to allow Reception class entry to CSAge summer born children are ‘own admission authority‘ schools within Catholic Dioceses – Why??? The Schools Minister Nick … Continue reading
Pressure to Reduce Compulsory School Age ‘by the Back Door’ Reaches New Punitive Low
In Sunday’s Guardian, Political Editor Patrick Wintour reported on social engineering an parent pressure at its worst: “No pre-school, no child benefit, Tory thinktank says in report on poverty” With flagrant disregard for England’s CSAge and a parent’s legal right to wait … Continue reading
Danish Research Highlights Mental Health Benefits of Later School Start
Rebecca Adams, writing in The Huffington Post (Delaying Kindergarten Could Benefit Kids’ Mental Health) reports on new research from Denmark that is worth reading in the context of summer born children starting school in England. Not because all summer born children should therefore … Continue reading
Parents of Summer Born Happy – or Happier – in Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire County Council has told parents it “has amended its policy regarding summer born children. If your child was born between 1 April and 31 August 2012, and you do not believe they will be ready to start reception in the 2016/17 … Continue reading
London Families Relocated when told Summer Born Children Must Miss Year of School – but now Council Policy is Changing
SW Londoner journalist Sara Oldfield has published an excellent article today, summarising the plight of four families living in the London Borough of Merton, who simply wanted their summer born children to start school ‘on time‘ without penalty. She reports that … Continue reading
Could London be the Litmus Test for Admissions Reaction to DfE’s Decision?
We know the Schools Minister Nick Gibb has today told all admission authorities in England, “We are going to make changes to admission rules – but we want councils and academies to take immediate action.” But while one member of the … Continue reading
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
Scouse Summer Born Story and Poem with a Very Happy Ending
In Lauryn (of Liverpool)’s own words: “We knew from the day Isabella was born (August 20, 2011) the struggles that she may face with early admittance to education due to her summer birthday, and we made a decision early on that we … 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
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
Cambridgeshire Unlawful Blanket Policy in place for 2015/16 Summer Born Admissions
As another example of how easily admission authorities can get information for parents wrong – to the point of being unlawful (underlined below) – and how parents can feel under pressure to enroll their children in school before CSAge, Cambridgeshire County Council’s First … 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
Pre-School says ‘4 Year-Old Theo’ Not Welcome Back After Summer Holidays
Because he ‘should’ be going to school in September… Some parents, including Faye Sturgess in Northampton, face a doubly distressing battle to ensure their summer born children have the best start to their education. Not only has her local school and council refused … Continue reading
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