Enter your child's date of birth and see which school year they start Reception, their age at the cutoff, and whether they must start or can request a flexible start.
Child's date of birth
Enter your child's date of birth. The enrolment year is the next September intake.
=Starts in school year
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Cutoff date—
Age on 31 August—
ClassReception
Status—
Rule: start Reception the September after turning 4 (31 August cutoff). Summer-born children (1 April–31 August) may request a delayed or part-time start. Check your local admission authority's dates.
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When your child starts Reception. We apply the England rule (start the September after your child turns 4, academic-year cutoff 31 August). Everything is worked out instantly in your browser, with no account and no data sent.
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iHow it is calculated
In England, children start Reception in the September after they turn 4, and compulsory school age is the term after their 5th birthday. The academic year runs September to August with a cutoff of 31 August. Children born between 1 April and 31 August (summer-born) may request a delayed or part-time start.
turns 4 by 31 Aug→ Reception that September; born Apr–Aug→ may request a flexible start
A child born 15 March 2022 turns 4 on 15 March 2026, which is before 31 August 2026 — so they start Reception in the 2026–2027 school year.
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?Frequently asked questions
When does my child start Reception in England?
Children start Reception in the September after they turn 4. So a child who turns 4 on or before 31 August starts Reception that September; a child who turns 4 later starts the following year.
What is compulsory school age?
A child reaches compulsory school age at the start of the term after their 5th birthday. Most children start Reception a year earlier (at 4), but by law they must be in education from the term after they turn 5.
What is a summer-born child?
A summer-born child is one born between 1 April and 31 August. Parents of summer-born children can request that they start Reception a year later, or attend part-time, when it is in the child's best interests.
Can I delay my summer-born child's start?
Yes. You can ask the admission authority to admit your summer-born child to Reception the following September (deferred entry) instead of Year 1. Each request is decided on its merits, so apply early and explain your reasons.
What cutoff date does this use?
31 August of the enrolment year. Your child's age on that date decides which September they start Reception and whether the summer-born flexibility applies.
How is the age shown calculated?
We count the whole years and months completed from the date of birth up to 31 August of the enrolment year, so you can see exactly how old the child is at the cutoff.
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