Education Committee Wants YOUR VIEWS on Govt Summer Born Policy

Posted on November 21, 2014 by Caesarean Birth

11-Oct-25-27 cj rocking chair face paint magic show cakes pix 017With a deadline of midday December 12, 2014, the Education Committee is inviting your views, via an online forum, on the strength of the evidence in relation to the DfE’s current policy on Summer Born Children (among others).

In order to identify areas for scrutiny in early 2015, the Committee asked the DfE to provide a two-page note answering the questions ‘What’s the policy?’ and ‘What’s the evidence for this policy?’ for nine topics, and is now asking members of the public to evaluate the DfE’s evidence and submit comments via an ‘Evidence check’ forum.

The nine topics covered are: Continue reading →

Posted in EDUCATION COMMITTEE EVIDENCE | 2 Comments

DfE reports EYFSP Attainment Gap Between Summer and Autumn Born Children

Posted on November 21, 2014 by Caesarean Birth

charlie and lolaThe Department for Education has published its Early years foundation stage profile (EYFSP) attainment by pupil characteristics in England for the academic year 2013 to 2014.

No real summer born surprises given that these children’s level of development was measured while most of them were still only 4 years old and had not even yet reached CSA:

“Of pupils born in the autumn term, 71% achieved a GLD [Good Level of Development] compared with 49% of those pupils born in the summer, a 22 percentage point attainment gap, marginally lower than in 2013.”

Not only does this make it look as though our children are somehow ‘failing’ (which they are not), it also reflects badly on our teaching profession and national standard of education, which is quite ludicrous. Why is everyone being set up to fail here? Continue reading →

Posted in THE DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION | 3 Comments

Vital Link Between Improving Mental Health, Delaying School Start of Youngest Children and Reducing NHS Costs

Posted on November 20, 2014 by Caesarean Birth

smiley faceOn November 18, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) called on politicians to “develop an action plan… focussing on prevention and early intervention to ensure parity of esteem for children and young people” because “1 in 10 children (that’s around 3 in every classroom) have a diagnosable mental health condition“.

Coincidentally, the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry just this month published ‘Children’s relative age in class and use of medication for ADHD: a Danish Nationwide Study‘, which suggests a simple and effective action plan for the improvement of summer born children’s mental health – allowing the holding back of “relatively young children” for one year.

Existing research shows that “Summer babies ‘more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD‘“(Telegraph, 18/09/10), “disproportionately identified as having special educational needs” (02/09), and “wrongly classed as having special needs” (28/12/12), and the Danish researchers were aware of this phenomenon too: Continue reading →

Posted in CAMPAIGN UPDATES | 12 Comments

DfE’s New Code will Exacerbate Gap Between Rich and Poor

Posted on November 19, 2014 by Caesarean Birth

100_3152The new 2014 draft School Admissions Code remains unclear, unfair and subjective for the admission and continued education of summer born children.

But it’s even worse for summer born children from poor or socially disadvantaged backgrounds, and for children from homes with English as a second language.

Millions of pounds have been spent on government attempts to close the educational attainment gap between the richest and poorest in our society, only for the DfE to rubber stamp a postcode lottery admissions process for summer born children that pits parents against schools and LEAs in which only the luckiest and/or most articulate and educated parents have a chance of winning the battle. Here’s why: Continue reading →

Posted in CAMPAIGN UPDATES, THE DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION | 8 Comments

Commissioner promises to “relentlessly champion the interests and rights of children”

Posted on November 19, 2014 by Caesarean Birth

anne longfieldLast Tuesday, the pre-appointment hearing for the next Children’s Commissioner in England took place, with Anne Longfield OBE, Chief Executive, 4Children, answering questions posed by the Chair of the Education Select Committee.

The issue of summer born children was mentioned briefly at the start, and you can listen to the whole hearing here or read extracts below. Continue reading →

Posted in CAMPAIGN UPDATES, MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT, THE DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION | 4 Comments

Education MPs have a Blind Spot for School Starting Age

Posted on November 17, 2014 by Caesarean Birth

number 7Education Minister Nick Gibb ‘tells schools to copy China‘ in the Daily Mail, demonstrating how readily MPs can isolate single aspects of other countries’ education practices – without uttering one single word about when those children start school (also see former Education Secretary Michael Gove’s high praise of Canadian schools).

Mr Gibb for example, doesn’t appear to espouse China’s school starting age of 6 or 7 nor its primary school pupil-teacher ratio of 16.8 (and 15.5 at secondary school, according to WorldBank Indicator), both of which could be having an impact on learning…

Instead, after researchers ‘found that children in China achieve marks in maths up to 30 per cent higher than English pupils of the same age‘, Mr. Gibb put it down to one thing: Continue reading →

Posted in MEDIA COVERAGE, MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT | 1 Comment

Key Priority for new Children’s Commissioner – Have Your Say Today

Posted on November 10, 2014 by Caesarean Birth

anne longfieldUp until midday today (Monday 10 November) you can send your views  on what the 2015 Children’s Commissioner’s  key priority should be via Twitter, using the hashtag #OCCintray.

With the term of office of the current Children’s Commissioner coming to an end early next year, the Government has invited the Education Committee to give its view tomorrow on the suitability of the Government’s preferred candidate, Anne Longfield OBE. Continue reading →

Posted in MEDIA COVERAGE, MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT, THE DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION | 2 Comments

One 4-year-old who won’t be starting school early

Posted on September 3, 2014 by Caesarean Birth

rosie dutton daughter picRosie 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 bed, you see
I’m not going, we’re not having it your way.

I’m only 4, I want to play,
That’s all I’m doing today.
Another year to grow and shine,
A chance to be a child

For days of fun and freedom,
Out playing in the wild.

When I’m five I think I’ll thrive
And be ready for that day,
But as you see me with my teddy,
Please remember…

At just turned 4,
I’m not quite ready…

Posted in EXAMPLE CASES | 6 Comments

3 year-olds started school in England this week

Posted on August 31, 2014 by Caesarean Birth

charlie and lolaDue to the outrageous situation that exists in England’s schools (i.e. children forced to start school prior to compulsory school age, against their parents’ wishes), and the strictly imposed chronological batch cut off for each year group, in schools that opened their doors for the autumn term this week, summer born children aged just 3 years-old were entering Reception class for the first time.

Why? Because the cut off date is today, August 31st, but some school terms begin earlier than this. Continue reading →

Posted in CAMPAIGN UPDATES | 1 Comment

School Admissions Code Consultation – Have Your Say!

Posted on August 23, 2014 by Caesarean Birth

IMG_3865The School Admissions Code is going to change – and the Department for Education is seeking YOUR views on its proposals for new revisions by September 29, 2014.

Consultation is OPEN TO ALL – you just need to read the proposed Draft Document and submit your comments.

The Summer Born campaign group has repeatedly pointed to problems within the current School Admissions Code. For example:

*Ambiguity in the School Admissions Code has reduced the Compulsory School Age in England to 4 for Summer Born children
*It’s the Code, Stupid
*The Complex Web our Admissions System Weaves

To prevent the subjective, biased and discriminatory process that exists now, this is what we’d like to see in the Code:

“Parents who wish their summer born (April 1st – August 31st inclusive) child to enter Reception class at compulsory school age must submit an application for the relevant academic year. The application must be treated equitably with children starting school prior to compulsory school age, and the child can remain with that year group cohort for the remainder of their education.”

Posted in CAMPAIGN UPDATES | 2 Comments

‘The Educators’ on BBC Radio 4

Posted on August 23, 2014 by Caesarean Birth

bbc radio 4In the new 8-part radio series of interviews, The Educators, Sarah Montague interviews the people whose ideas are challenging the future of education (e.g. Sir Ken Robinson and John Hattie). Links to all episodes are here.

Most if not all these interviews may now be completed, but just in case Sarah Montague is not aware of one of the greatest educational challenges facing summer born children who start school at compulsory school age – – – simply being able to access a full 7-year primary school curriculum – – – the tweets below might be of interest in any future series. Continue reading →

Posted in MEDIA COVERAGE | 1 Comment

Starting School for Summer Born Children

Posted on August 23, 2014 by Caesarean Birth

gentle parenting picEarlier this year, the Gentle Parenting website kindly published a special guest article written and edited by Michelle Melson and Pauline Hull.

With the school start just around the corner, you can read it again here:
Starting School for Summer Born Children

Posted in CAMPAIGN UPDATES, MEDIA COVERAGE | Leave a comment

Gove’s Gone

Posted on July 15, 2014 by Caesarean Birth

IMG_2294But what will it mean for the chances of compulsory school age summer born children being allowed to access a whole education and a full curriculum?

It’s too soon to say, but like countless others with education issues, summer born parents will have their eyes peeled and ears to the ground for any shred of hope that the new Education Secretary, Nicky Morgan, will understand that forcing children to start school early or miss an entire year of their education later on is not in their best interests. Continue reading →

Posted in MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT | Leave a comment

MP Graham Stuart: It’s worth examining Giving Parents the Right

Posted on June 15, 2014 by Caesarean Birth

Graham Stuart MPIn an April 2014 summer born interview, Conservative MP and current Chair of the Education Select Committee, told trainee journalist Fayrouz Shehrezade Essack, “Personally I think that giving parents the right, so that they don’t lose their positions in terms of gaining access to the school by putting them in at five is something worth examining.” Continue reading →

Posted in CAMPAIGN UPDATES, EDUCATION COMMITTEE EVIDENCE, MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT | 1 Comment

DfE U-Turn on Summer Born Admissions

Posted on June 14, 2014 by Caesarean Birth

IMG_3512In October 2013, in correspondence to a parent, the Department for Education wrote, “It is the government’s view that there should not need to be any exceptional reasons for a summer born child to be admitted to the reception class rather than year one at age 5.”

But on June 12, 2014 the DfE published new guidance (this time for free schools) advising them that “deferral may be appropriate in exceptional cases such as where a child has missed a lot of school because of a severe* illness, or if they are extremely gifted“.

And despite assurances by Ministers in the past year (e.g. Elizabeth Truss MP’s promise to ”empower parents‘ and her assertion that “It should be the parents who are the primary decision-makers” on this issue), this new DfE advice says, “it is up to you as the admissions authority to decide whether you accept a request” and “No“, parents cannot appeal against your refusal to allow Reception class at CSA.

And incredibly, the document just gets worse… Continue reading →

Posted in CAMPAIGN UPDATES, THE DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION | 2 Comments

2014 June LGO Press Release

Posted on June 14, 2014 by Caesarean Birth

c artwork for cufflink april 2011On June 15, 2014, Pauline Hull and Michelle Melson published the following Press Release:

‘FINAL DECISION’ by Local Government Ombudsman Condones Discriminatory Admissions Practices for Summer Born children

In a controversial Final Decision published on May 14, 2014 (in a complaint that was ‘Upheld’ against County Durham Council on January 11, 2014), the Local Government Ombudsman (LGO) has determined that primary school applications from parents of summer born children entering Reception class at compulsory school age (CSA) can be left at the bottom of the pile, with theirschool places allocated ONLY AFTER all other 4-year-old children have been allocated Reception class places. The Summer Born Campaign group says this discrimination is just the tip of the iceberg.

Media coverage of the report’s publication can be found in the News section of our site.

Posted in CAMPAIGN UPDATES, MEDIA COVERAGE | Leave a comment

Norfolk Gets the Law Wrong – Again

Posted on June 14, 2014 by Caesarean Birth

100_2277Regular 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, “we’re sorry about this. We’ve recirculated this article to staff and made sure the original version of the newsletter is no longer available… It is a fairly complex system and I know that publishing incorrect information won’t have helped people’s understanding of it“. However, the new information is STILL WRONG:

It says, “children who turn five between April and August must start school full-time, by law, by 31 August – and before the end of the academic year, which is why some summer born four-year-olds are required to take up their reception school place before they turn five.” Continue reading →

Posted in CAMPAIGN UPDATES, EXAMPLE CASES | 4 Comments

Support for Summer Borns in Parliament tonight

Posted on June 10, 2014 by Caesarean Birth
14-Jun-10 annette brook mp at westminster campaign day

Annette Brooke MP (Photo courtesy of @NCE2014)

More details to follow soon, but the feedback so far from a Parliamentary seminar in the House of Commons this evening is very positive for summer born children.

The seminar asked, “What is the future for Early Years Education?” and speakers including Professor Richard House and Annette Brooke MP highlighted the injustice facing the very youngest children in our schools – i.e. our (just) 4 year old boys and girls being forced to embark on their formal education a whole year early or else face losing a whole year of their education later on.

Read more here: Continue reading →

Posted in CAMPAIGN UPDATES, MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT | Leave a comment

Norfolk staff newsletter says CSA is 4 – unless the law changes!?!?

Posted on June 9, 2014 by Caesarean Birth

Norfolk CC on Summer Born Children pg 1You 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 different entirely.

If the following isn’t proof that admission authorities look no further than the School Admissions Code for legislative guidance, I don’t know what is, – and it demonstrates why GOVE’S CODE NEEDS TO BE MUCH CLEARER THAN IT IS.

Norfolk: “Recently we have received challenges from some parents looking to defer the start of school for their summer born children. Legally in England and Wales (not Scotland), children must start school in the academic year after they become 4 – but schools do have the ability to stagger admissions, so that younger children attend part time up until the Easter term. Continue reading →

Posted in CAMPAIGN UPDATES, EXAMPLE CASES | 15 Comments

DfE warns: Schools can legally sort children by any age THEY choose

Posted on June 9, 2014 by Caesarean Birth

IMG_6842A rather interesting update appeared in a DfE document in May (see actual document for date), ensuring everyone understands a child’s rights – or rather lack of them – in a very pertinent area of the Equality Act, given the summer born admissions debate:

“Schools therefore remain free to  admit and organise children in age groups and to treat pupils in ways appropriate to their age and stage of development without risk of legal challenge“, it reminds us all.

And, “The discrimination provisions on age do not extend to anything an LA does in relation to school admissions, so existing approaches in which admissions and transition between schools are determined by a child’s age will not be open to challenge.”

But what’s really odd is this: Continue reading →

Posted in CAMPAIGN UPDATES, THE DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION | 4 Comments