Find out what options you have if you do not think your child is ready to start primary school.
Starting school part time
Your child could start their Reception year part time (for example 3 days a week).
You would need to
apply as normal by the deadline. When you've accepted a school place, contact their school to discuss starting part time.
Your child will need to switch to full time when they
reach compulsory school age.
Starting school part-way through the year
Your child can start school part-way through their Reception year.
Depending on
when they were born, they could start after the Christmas or Easter break.
You would need to
apply as if they're starting school in September. When you've accepted a place at a school, contact them about delaying your child’s start.
Starting primary school a year later (summer born children)
If your child was born between 1 April and 31 August, they are classed as summer born. They could delay starting school until September after they turn 5, a year later than normal.
Your child would either start in year 1 (with other children in their age group) or in Reception.
Starting in Year 1 after they turn 5
Your child can skip Reception and start in Year 1 with other children in their age group. If you want your child to start in Year 1, you do not need to apply for a Reception place.
Wait until the June before you want them to start school and then apply as if they were
moving schools.
Starting in Reception after they turn 5
To start in Reception after they turn 5, you need to ask for permission from each school you want to apply for.
Things to consider
Before you request for your child to start school a year later, you should consider the impact it may have on them as they grow up. They may:
- not receive the right stimulation if they are taught in a younger year group
- mature sooner or later than others in their class, affecting their friendships and social interactions
- feel worried, upset or embarrassed about being older than other children in their class
- be moved back into their normal age group at some stage
- need to reapply when they move schools or start secondary school
Talk to schools you're applying to
Before you ask for permission for your child to start school later, you should ask the schools you are applying for:
- what support they can offer to help your child progress
- about starting part-time or after Christmas or Easter
How schools decide
Before making a decision each school will take into account:
- the child’s best interests
- your views
- the impact on the child’s academic, social and emotional development
- the longer term impact throughout a child's education
- what the school can offer to help the child progress
- the views of the head teacher
- the child's medical history
- the views of a medical professional
Asking for permission
You need to:
- Apply for a Reception place for your child's normal age group (starting school in the September after they turn 4)
- Email
startingprimary@leeds.gov.uk with your request that they start a year later. This should be a letter plus any supporting evidence you already have
Find out if you need to submit extra information to support your school application.
Requesting for your child to start in a different year will not affect whether your child is offered a school place.
Each school will decide on whether your child can apply for a place in a different year group. It's possible for one school to refuse a request that another agrees to.
Moving to secondary school
If your summer born child started in Reception a year later and was taught of out of year throughout primary, you'll need to ask for permission to continue to be taught out of year at secondary school.
You would apply for a secondary school place and request permission for an out of year group place when the child is in year 5 (rather than year 6).
Find out more information about children taught out of year group (summer born) on the
apply for a secondary school page.
