• Most children start school in the September following their fourth birthday.
• All children must be in full time education by the start of the term following their fifth birthday.
• Parents of summer-born children (born between 1 April and 31 August) may choose to delay entry to school until the September after their child's fifth birthday and request a place in Reception rather than Year 1.

• Deferred admission - Your child starts school later in the same academic year.
• Delayed admission - Your child starts Reception a full year later, at age 5.
• Accelerated admission - Your child starts school a year earlier than normal.

If you are considering either of these options, please read the Milton Keynes City Council’s approach below:

Milton Keynes approach to delayed admission for summer born children and the education of children outside of their normal year group.

We understand that parents may request for their child to be educated outside their normal age group. This can apply, for example, if a child is gifted and talented or has experienced difficulties such as ill health. Parents of summer‑born children (born between 1 April and 31 August) may also choose to delay entry to school until the September after their child’s fifth birthday and request a place in Reception rather than 
Year 1.

In England, most children start school in the September after they turn four. However, summer‑born children do not have to start until 
compulsory school age—the term after their fifth birthday. If you choose to delay your child’s start in this way, you may request that they enter Reception instead of Year 1. This is considered an application for admission outside the normal year group.

When a child starts at compulsory school age, the admission authority must decide whether it is in the child’s best interests to begin in Reception or Year 1. Each request is considered individually, based on the child’s needs and circumstances.

How requests are considered

The admission authority (Local Authority, governing board, or academy trust, depending on the school) must make a decision in the best 
interests of the child, taking into account:

• Parents’ views
• Information about the child’s social, emotional and academic development
• Any relevant medical information already available
• Whether the child would naturally have fallen into a younger year group if born prematurely
• The potential impact of starting in Year 1 without having completed Reception
• The views of the Headteacher of the preferred school(s)

Parents are not required to obtain new professional evidence they do not already have.

Potential considerations for parents when requesting admission outside of a child's normal year group

These general factors may or may not apply to individual children; they are provided to support informed decision making. They do not 
replace the requirement for an individualised best‑interests decision and are not reasons to refuse a request.

1. School transitions

As children transfer between phases (for example, primary to secondary), each future school/admission authority will make its own year‑group placement decision. There is a possibility a future school may place a child back into their chronological year group, which could result in the child effectively missing a year of education.

2. Social and emotional development

Children form friendships and social connections around shared experiences and age‑related development. A child educated outside their 
normal year group may be older or younger than peers, experience milestones at different times, and navigate transitions differently from friends. The impact varies for every child.

  3. Moves between local areas

If a family moves or applies to schools in another local authority, the receiving school/authority will make its own decision about year‑group placement. There is no guarantee an out‑of‑year placement agreed in one area will continue elsewhere.

4. Post‑16 education and training

Some colleges, training providers or courses have age‑based entry criteria. If a young person completes Year 11 at a different age from most peers, this may affect access to certain pathways or eligibility (this varies by provider).

5. Compulsory school age and Year 11 support

A young person ceases to be of compulsory school age on the last Friday in June of the school year in which they turn 16. If a child is educated outside their chronological year group, this point may occur before the end of Year 11, which may affect certain forms of support linked to statutory school age (for example, attendance enforcement or some travel assistance).

Important note

These points are provided to help parents understand broader practical considerations. They are not reasons to refuse a request. Admission authorities must decide individually and in the best interests of the child, taking into account statutory factors and the views of parents and relevant professionals.

If you’re considering a request, we encourage you to discuss your child’s needs with early years providers, prospective schools and any professionals involved, so your application reflects the fullest understanding of your child.

In year requests for admission outside a child's normal year group

Parents may request that their child is admitted outside their normal year group at any point, including outside of the normal coordinated admissions round as part of an in year admission. All such requests must be considered individually and in accordance with the School Admissions Code (2021).

When an in-year request is made, the admission authority (Local Authority, governing board, or academy trust, depending on the school) must decide whether it is in the best interests of the child to be educated outside their chronological year group. In reaching this decision, the admission authority may consider:

• parents’ views
• information about the child’s academic, social and emotional development
• any relevant medical information already available
• whether the child has previously been educated outside their normal year group
• the potential impact on the child’s education
• the views of the Headteacher of the preferred school(s)

The decision will be communicated directly to parents/carers by the relevant admission authority. Own admission authorities must notify Milton Keynes’ School Admissions Team of any decisions made so that records remain accurate and coordinated across the Local Authority.

In some exceptional situations, parents can ask for their child to start school in Reception Year, later in the year.

How to apply:

Even if you plan to consider deferred entry you must still:

• Make your application in the usual way.
• You should submit your request for deferred entry in writing to the council at the same time as your school place application.
• Contact your preferred school(s) directly to fully discuss your request, before you submit your application.

What happens next?

• The request will be forwarded to the preferred school(s) or admission authorities for their considerations and decision.
• Following consultation with the preferred school(s) or admission authority, the council will write to you to confirm the outcome of your request. 

Summer-born children - children born between 1 April and 31 August 

Your child starts school a full year later, (outside their normal year group) entering Reception at age 5 instead of Year 1. In some exceptional situations, parents can ask for their child to start school outside their normal year group.

How to apply:

Starting school – Reception Year

Before applying:

• You are encouraged to discuss your request with your preferred schools.  However, the admission authority will make the decision.

You must then: 

• Apply for a school place in the usual way for your child’s normal year group
• Submit a request for delayed admission at the same time. request form
• Provide any supporting information you already have that you feel is relevant (no new evidence is required)
• You will need to make another school place application next year, if your request is approved.

Year 6 to Year 7 transition to secondary school

For children who were previously educated outside their normal year group, you may also request that they transfer to secondary school with their adopted cohort.

Before applying:

• You are encouraged to discuss the reason for your request with your preference school(s) when your child is in Year 5.
   

You must then:

• Apply for a Year 7 secondary school place, when your child is in Year 6, using a paper application form, available from secondaryadmissions@milton-keynes.gov.uk  
• Submit a request for delayed admission at the same time request form
• Provide any supporting information you already have that you feel is relevant (e.g. from school, medical report)

The council, as the admissions authority for voluntary controlled and community schools, will consider what is in the child’s best interest. In doing this, we will take into account:

• Your views as a parent
• Your child’s academic, social, and emotional development
• Medical history and professional advice (if relevant)
• Whether your child was born prematurely
• The impact of missing a year of education and future transitions
• Whether your child has already been educated outside their normal age group
• Views of the school’s headteacher 

Once you have submitted your request, the council will forward the application to the relevant school(s) for consideration.

• Own admissions authority schools will notify you of the outcome directly. They will also notify the council of their decision.
• The council will notify you of the outcome for voluntary controlled and community schools.
• If you applied and made your request prior to closing date, you will find out the outcome of your request ahead of National Offer Day (1 March - secondary) and (16 April - primary). 

At the point you are notified of the outcome you will be asked how you wish to proceed.

If your request is approved:

• You must re-apply for a Reception place next year, by the closing date. You will need to apply using a paper application form, available from primaryadmissions@milton-keynes.gov.uk
• Your child will start Reception a year later, meaning they will be educated outside of normal age group.
• Future schools do not have to agree to this arrangement (e.g. a transfer to other schools or to secondary school) 

If your request for is refused:

You can either:

• Accept a Reception place or a year 7 place in your child’s normal year group.
• Wait and apply later for a Year 1 or Year 8 place.
• Choose to delay starting Reception until later in the school year.

By law, parents may seek a place for their child outside of their normal age group, for example, if the child is gifted and talented or has experienced problems such as ill health.

Before making an application:

We recommend discussing your request with your preference school(s).

To apply 

• Submit an in-year application
• Submit a request for admission outside of normal year group at the same time request form
• Provide any supporting information you already have that you feel is relevant (e.g. school report)
• Email: primaryadmissions@milton-keynes.gov.uk or secondaryadmissions@milton-keynes.gov.uk with your completed request form.

The council will send your application to the school or admission authority to be considered.

• Own admission authority schools will contact you directly with the outcome and also inform the council of their decision.
• The council will notify you of the outcome for voluntary controlled and community schools.
• If your child is unplaced and the preference schools have declined your request, a place will be allocated in your child’s normal year group.

It is important to note that parents whose request for delayed entry is refused, have no statutory right to appeal this decision. The statutory admission appeals process does not cover a decision to refuse delayed entry to school.

If you're considering deferred or delayed admission, we recommend:

• Speaking with your child’s current school
• Contact the admissions team at Milton Keynes City Council : primaryadmissions@milton-keynes.gov.uk or secondaryadmissions@milton-keynes.gov.uk