Category Archives: THE DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION
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
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
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:
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
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
DfE ‘Remains Committed to Summer Born CSAge Reception Class Admission’
This was a Q&A on summer born admissions in Parliament yesterday (Hansard HC Deb, 4 June 2018, cW): Tracy Brabin Shadow Minister (Education) “To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the reasons for the increase in the … 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
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
Headteachers Complain of Cuts but Untold Amounts of Time and Money Spent on Summer Born Admissions
On the very same day I read this in the Guardian – Cuts, cuts, cuts. Headteachers tell of school system ‘that could implode’ – a parent in our Summer Born Campaign group described how no fewer than three head teachers … Continue reading
MP Requests Update on Cost Assessment – Campaign Suggests Useful Links
Stephen Hammond, Conservative MP for Wimbledon To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what progress the Minister of State for School Standards has made on assessing the potential costs of changing the Schools Admissions Code to provide more flexibility for … Continue reading
DfE Disappoints and Digresses – Again
Despite the valiant efforts by MPs who fully support the Summer Born Campaign (thank you @S_Hammond, @JimShannonMP and @timloughton), Nick Gibb MP delivered a disappointing (and for many parents, devastating) response to their questions about when the DfE’s promised new Code consultation will … Continue reading
Summer Born Adjournment Debate in Parliament Tonight
Thank you to Stephen Hammond, Conservative MP for Wimbledon, who has arranged an adjournment debate tonight on the subject of the School Admissions Code for summer born children and children born prematurely. Mr. Hammond says he “will be raising the postcode lottery … Continue reading
Important News: Lord Nash now Responsible for Admissions in DfE Ministerial Update
Following Theresa May becoming Prime Minister, the DfE has announced its final ministerial team, and moved responsibility for admissions to Lord Nash. In February 2016, Lord Nash wrote this in answer to a Parliamentary question on admissions, which the Summer Born Campaign agrees … Continue reading
Have Your Say at DfE Meetings This Month
Parents of summer born children: Your chance to tell the Department for Education what you think… LONDON – Tue 16th August – 11.30 – 13.00 SHEFFIELD – Wed 17th August – 11.30 -13.30 DARLINGTON – Tue 23rd August – 12.00 … Continue reading
Campaign Update and MP Support
One month ago, on July 6, Michelle Melson wrote to the Chair of the Education Committee, while I wrote to the Schools Minister, Nick Gibb, and the DfE, to ask a number of questions related to the long delay in announcing the promised School Admissions Code … Continue reading
Nick Gibb to Remain Schools Minister
Good news for the Summer Born Campaign. It’s been confirmed today that Nick Gibb will retain his position as Minister of State for Schools in Prime Minister Theresa May’s cabinet shuffle. You can read more in the TES and Schools Week reports.
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