• 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.
• In some exceptional situations, parents can request for their child to start school outside their normal year group.

• 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.

As your Local Authority, we understand that every child’s educational journey is unique. When a child is facing challenges, it’s natural to want to give them more time to grow and catch up. One option that’s sometimes considered is keeping a child back a year—also known as delayed admission or admission outside of a child’s normal year group.
 

However, we do not support this approach as a general practice. While it may seem helpful in the short term, research shows that educating a child outside of their normal year group can have negative long-term effects on a child’s learning, confidence, and future opportunities.
 

Children’s needs can be supported through individual tailored goals and interventions. These are designed to help them succeed within their normal year group, in line with the inclusive education principles set out in the SEND Code of Practice (2015), Section 6.44.
 

Why we advise against admission outside of a child’s normal year group

• School transitions: 
When moving from primary to secondary school or applying to schools in other areas, the new school or catchment school may not agree to keep your child in a lower/higher year group. This could result in your child missing a year of education.

• Post-16 education: 
Some colleges and training providers have age limits. A young person who has been educated outside of their chronological year group might be considered too old for certain courses.

• Social and emotional impact: 
Being out of sync with peers especially around puberty and social milestones can affect a child’s confidence, friendships and motivation to stay in education.

• Academic progress: 
Studies show that children who repeat a year tend to make less academic progress than those who receive targeted support while staying with their peers.

• Academic attainment: 
Research indicates delayed school entry does not significantly improve long-term academic attainment for children educated outside their chronological year group.

• Missed support, especially in Year 11: 
Children are no longer of compulsory school age from the last Friday in June of the school year in which they turn 16—even if they haven’t finished their GCSEs. This can affect the support they receive, especially if they are struggling with attendance or engagement. It may also impact things like free travel assistance, which could stop once they are no longer of statutory school age.
 

What we recommend instead
Rather than changing a child’s year group, we believe the best approach is to adapt the support they receive within their chronological year group. This might include:

• One-to-one or small group teaching where appropriate
• Adjustments to the curriculum
• Emotional and social support
• Close collaboration between school staff, families, and professionals
 

We know that decisions like this are never easy. If you’re concerned about your child’s school readiness, we encourage you to speak with their nurseries, prospective schools and the professionals involved in their care. Together, we can find the right support to help your child thrive—without negatively impacting their educational path.

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 making an application, you should:

• Discuss the reason for your request with your preference school(s).
• Once you have discussed this with your preference school(s), and sought their agreement for admissions outside of the normal year group, you will need to:
  • 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 (e.g., from a nursery, health visitor, or medical professional).
  • 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

Before making an application, you should:

• Discuss the reason for your request with your preference school(s) when your child is in Year 5.
• Once you have discussed this with your preference school(s), and sought their agreement for admissions outside of the normal year group, you will need to:
  • 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 (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.

Request for admission outside the normal age group should only be considered in exceptional circumstances.

How to apply 

Before making an application, you should:

• Discuss the reason for your request with your preference school(s).
• Once you have discussed this with your preference school(s) and sought their agreement for admissions outside of the normal year group, you will need to:
• 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.
• 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