Category Archives: EXAMPLE CASES
Twins ‘Belong’ in Two Different Year Groups
Last month, I stumbled upon an article about London-based model Caprice’s biological twin boys Jax and Jett who, according to this report, were “born within weeks of each other in August and September” of 2013. This makes one of the boys ‘autumn born‘ … Continue reading
One 4-year-old who won’t be starting school early
Rosie Dutton, mother of a summer born child, wrote today: “In your face David Cameron and your Department of Education. We wrote you a poem…” You wanted me in school today, I should be on my way. But I’m fast asleep in … Continue reading
Norfolk Gets the Law Wrong – Again
Regular readers will recall that last month, a Norfolk County Council staff newsletter incorrectly advised that, “Legally… children must start school in the academic year after they become 4“. The Summer Born Campaign contacted the council, which to be fair, said, … Continue reading
Norfolk staff newsletter says CSA is 4 – unless the law changes!?!?
You couldn’t make this stuff up. Norfolk County Council, in its May 21, 2014 aptly titled “Improving Times – Children’s Services” staff newsletter, has laid down the law on school admissions for children – without realising that the real law (primary legislation) says something … Continue reading
Moving House could Cost summer born children a Whole Year of Education
Parents who have been fortunate enough to have their request for Reception class entry at compulsory school age agreed to are being warned about the risk of moving house. The implications are real and serious (we already know children who have … Continue reading
3 year-olds to start school in summer term for September 2014 induction
It’s not enough that summer born are now ‘expected‘ to start school early, in the term following their 4th birthday rather than at compulsory school age, but now parents are being told their child must cease their nursery education early – in the middle … Continue reading
Gove loves Alberta’s school system – Well here’s how they do Admissions…
In a January 2011 speech, Michael Gove cited Alberta as being among the “world leaders” in education in, and in June 2011 and September 2010 speeches, he espoused, “In Canada, and specifically in Alberta, a diverse range of autonomous schools offer professionals freedom and … Continue reading
Gove wants ALL schools to be more like private schools… so why not allow Reception entry at age 5?
It’s true that there are some private schools that warn parents their summer born child must enter Reception class before compulsory school age, but for the most part, private schools are incredibly amenable to children at compulsory school age having … Continue reading
Summer born children with Down’s Sydrome refused Reception class at age 5
When you’ve been working on a campaign like this one long enough, hearing stories weekly – sometimes daily – about parents’ requests for their compulsory school age child’s entry into Reception class being denied, children forced to start in Year 1 and … Continue reading
DfE Mumsnet Mystery
On January 24, 2014 the Department for Education wrote on their Facebook page: “We’re often asked what the policy is on summer-born children starting school. Here’s a useful article on Mumsnet where we set out our views.” It posted a link to … Continue reading
Massachusetts schools RAISE school age to 5
While here in the UK successive governments have been keen to enrol children in school at ever earlier ages, news from the USA today reports on a School Committee decision for children entering Pittsfield schools to be at least 5 years … Continue reading
BBC Look North report on summer born battle
The BBC’s Ian Wight reported on the battle that parents of summer born children are facing with admission authorities when they request a reception class place for their compulsory school age child.
Why can’t summer-born children start school later?
On February 26, journalist Sarah Cassidy published an excellent article in The Independent titled, “An age-old problem: Why can’t summer-born children start school later?“. Her report included the experiences of parents of summer born children who are facing a year 1 entry for … Continue reading
New website launched for Scottish parents
A new website Taking Parents Seriously launched in Scotland this week with the aim of offering advice to parents and guardians on their rights and on how to get heard. The impetus for the site’s creation was the experience of two parents who … Continue reading
Sir Ken Robinson today on BBC Radio 4
On Desert Island Discs this morning, Kirsty Young’s castaway was the educationalist Sir Ken Robinson. A must listen if you have the time! Also see Sir Ken’s own reflection on his interview here.
Summer born irony in China
This week, the article ‘Schooling policy brings about a C-section rush‘ describes how August has become a highly sought after month for children to be born in China – so that they won’t have to wait an extra year before starting school. … Continue reading
These admission authorities HAVE allowed flexibility
There wouldn’t be a campaign for greater admissions flexibility if countless parents were not facing strong opposition to enrolling their 5 year old summer born children into reception classes. However, there is also some very good news to report too; a number of admission authorities … Continue reading
Parent fights for full-time flexibility of age 4 school start
The article below appears in The Observer today, in which journalist Paul Gallagher explains how a parent who WANTS her child to begin school in Reception class age 4 (so the very opposite of parents in our summer born facebook … Continue reading
Changing Education Paradigms
Fellow campaigner Stefan Richter told me about this video; it contains part of a presentation by Sir Ken Robinson and includes an observation that is very relevant to summer born children: ““We still educate children by batches… we put them through … Continue reading
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