When does my child start school in England?

Most children in England start school full-time in Reception in the September after their fourth birthday, which is the school year in which they turn 5. They do not legally have to be in full-time education until compulsory school age, the start of the term after they turn 5, so you can choose a part-time or later start. Summer-born children, born between 1 April and 31 August, can wait a full year, and you can ask for them to start in Reception rather than Year 1. You apply the year before, by 15 January.

When does my child start school? Check by date of birth

Enter your child's date of birth to see the September they start (or started) Reception, the school year that covers, and the date to apply by.

When does my child start school?

Enter your child's date of birth to see when they start (or started) Reception in England and the application deadline.

Child's date of birth

England only. The national Reception application deadline is 15 January of the year of entry; your local authority sets the exact process.

The school year runs from 1 September to 31 August, and children born in the same school year start Reception together. If you are applying now, these are the dates that matter:

So a child born in June 2023 is due to start in September 2027, and a child born in October 2023 in September 2028. Your council sets the exact opening date and closing time for its online form.

School starting age and compulsory school age

There are two different ages here. The first is the usual starting age. GOV.UK puts it simply: "Most children start reception full-time in September after their fourth birthday." Every admission authority must offer a full-time Reception place from that September.

The second is compulsory school age, when a child must be in full-time education by law. A child reaches it on 31 December, 31 March or 31 August following their fifth birthday, whichever comes first, or on the birthday itself if it falls on one of those dates. In practice it means the start of the next term:

That gap between the usual start and the legal requirement is what gives parents room to choose.

Does my child have to start school at 4?

No. GOV.UK sets out three alternatives to a full-time September start:

• Start part-time until your child reaches compulsory school age.
• Start part-way through the school year rather than in September.
• Wait and start in the next school year, in the September after your child turns 5.

The School Admissions Code sets the limits. Part-time attendance can last until your child reaches compulsory school age. A deferred start can run until later in the school year, but not beyond compulsory school age and not beyond the start of the summer term. The admission authority cannot make you send your child before compulsory school age: DfE guidance says that is the parent's decision.

For a part-time or later start in the same year, you still apply at the normal time and ask for the later start when you apply, then agree the pattern with the school. A place offered for Reception cannot be held over to the following September. If you want to wait a full year, that is the summer-born route below.

If you defer, your child can keep taking their funded early education hours at a nursery, childminder or school nursery class (if the school allows it) until they take up their Reception place or reach compulsory school age, according to the early education statutory guidance. A place in a school's nursery class does not guarantee a Reception place there, so you still need to apply.

Summer-born children: starting Reception at 5

Children born between 1 April and 31 August are summer-born. As the GOV.UK advice for parents explains, they "do not need to start school until the September after their fifth birthday, a year after they could first have started school."

If you simply wait a year, your child normally joins Year 1 with their age group and misses Reception. To start in Reception at 5 instead, you ask the school's admission authority to admit them out of their normal age group. The admission authority is usually the council for community and voluntary controlled schools, the academy trust for academies and free schools, and the governing body for foundation and voluntary aided schools.

How to make the request

1. Decide in the autumn after your child's third birthday, when applications open for the September after they turn 4.
2. Apply for a place in the normal year group by 15 January, as everyone else does.
3. At the same time, send a request to the admission authority of each school you are applying to, in case your first choice cannot offer a place. Each admission authority must publish how to do this in its admission arrangements.
4. Give your reasons. You can include views from your child's nursery or a health professional, but the guidance for admission authorities says they should not expect evidence you do not already have, and you do not need exceptional circumstances, a medical need or special educational needs.

The authority must decide based on your child's circumstances and best interests, take account of your views and the headteacher's, and explain its reasons. It should aim to reply before primary offer day on 16 April. The same guidance says "It should be rare for an authority to refuse a parent's request."

What happens next

• If it is agreed: withdraw your application for the normal year group before offers are made, then apply again in the following year's admissions round. The agreement settles the year group, not the place. Your application is ranked under the school's normal oversubscription criteria and must not be given lower priority.
• If it is refused: you can accept the Reception place at 4, or turn it down and apply for a Year 1 place at 5 through an in-year application. There is no statutory right of appeal against the year group decision, but you can use the admission authority's complaints process.
• Later moves: if you change school or move to secondary, you need to make a new request to the new school's admission authority. The guidance says the assumption should be that your child stays out of their normal year group, unless there are sound educational reasons otherwise.

The Department for Education says it "no longer intends to change the law on the admission of summer-born children", because the system is working much better than in the past. The rules above, from the School Admissions Code 2021 and guidance updated in November 2024, are the ones that apply.

If your child has an education, health and care (EHC) plan, the summer-born guidance does not apply. Talk to your local authority if you would like your child to start Reception at 5.

How and when to apply for a Reception place

You apply the year before your child starts, through your local council, on one form that lists your preferred schools in order. You apply to the council even for academies, free schools and faith schools, although some faith schools also ask for a supplementary form. You must apply even if your child already attends the school's nursery.

• Applications open in September, on a date set by each council.
• The national deadline is 15 January of the year your child starts. For September 2027 entry, that is Friday 15 January 2027.
• Offers go out on national primary offer day, 16 April, or the next working day. For September 2027 entry, that is Friday 16 April 2027.

Apply on time: GOV.UK warns that your child is less likely to be offered a place at your chosen schools if you miss the deadline. Listing only one school does not improve your chances there, so use your preferences. Our primary school admissions timeline walks through each step, and our guide to catchment areas explains how places are decided.

How FindMySchool helps

Once you know the September your child starts, the next job is deciding where to apply. FindMySchool has profiles for about 25,000 schools in England, with an FMS Inspection score for inspected schools and the last distance offered where we have the data.

• Browse primary schools near you and see how far each one is.
• Try School Match for a personalised starting point. It needs a free account, and your top match on your first search is free.
• If you are deferring, find nurseries near you for the extra time before school.
• Plan the first term with the 2026/27 term dates, and check what school year your child is in if you are unsure about the 1 September cut-off.

Frequently asked questions

What age do children start school in England?

Most children start Reception full-time in the September after their fourth birthday, so they are 4 when they start and turn 5 during the year. A child born between 1 September 2022 and 31 August 2023 is due to start in September 2027.

When does my child legally have to start school?

If my child is born in August, when will they start school?

Can a summer-born child start Reception at 5?

Can my child keep their funded nursery hours if I defer school?

When do I apply for a Reception place?