Start school later or part time

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

Find more advice for parents on summer born children starting school, by visiting GOV.UK .

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.

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