Parents who wish to delay their summer-born child’s start at primary school are encountering an “unfair” postcode lottery, according to an analysis of council data. The figures, obtained via freedom of information (FoI) requests, reveal that some local authorities reject more than half of such requests, while others approve all of them.
Children born between April and August are eligible to defer entry to Reception until the following academic year. However, success rates vary dramatically across England, with campaigners calling for greater consistency. The Department for Education (DfE) guidance, updated in 2023, states that admissions authorities should decide based on the child’s best interests, and that refusal should be rare.
Nearly three in five councils provided full data on requests over three years (2022–2025). Of these, 86 councils gave a breakdown of refusals. The figures do not include requests made directly to academies, which are their own admission authorities.
Bianca Sumpter, from London, applied to Lambeth Council to delay her son Rumo’s start in Reception due to speech delay, separation anxiety, and a kidney condition requiring two operations. The request was refused, leaving the family in uncertainty for a year. After settling-in sessions, teachers concluded Rumo was not ready for Year 1, and the council eventually agreed to let him start Reception this September. Mrs Sumpter described the disparity between councils as “a massive issue,” noting that neighbouring Southwark Council approves all such requests.
The analysis comes amid concerns about declining school readiness, exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic. The DfE emphasises that missing a year of education by starting in Year 1 instead of Reception is rarely in a child’s best interests.
