Summer-born pupils’ late start wins MPs’ backing
BBC News | Education & Family | Hannah Richardson | 19 March 2015
Parents of summer-born babies should get more power to overturn decisions to place their children in class before compulsory school age, say MPs.
The Education Committee wrote to schools minister Nick Gibb saying “summer-borns” often miss a year’s school when they opt for a later start.
It heard evidence that some younger class members were labelled with special needs or subject to bullying.
The government said it would review the committee’s recommendations.
Children generally start school in the September before their fifth birthday, even though they may not turn five until almost a year after some of their peers.
Many parents of summer-born and premature babies want their children to start formal schooling later than is required by local authorities.
