Admission of children outside their normal age group

We're committed to ensuring all children start school when they're ready and for the transition to take place at the right time for each child. We acknowledge that parents are usually best placed to make this decision and will endeavour to support families throughout this process.

If the child is gifted and talented, has missed school due to medical grounds or for any other reason

Families may request a place for their child outside of his/her normal age group in any year group if:

  • the child is gifted and talented
  • the child has experienced problems such as ill health

For further information and the process for making such requests, read:

Summer born children

Additionally, families of summer born children may request that their child starts school in September following their fifth birthday outside of the child's normal age group - to start in the reception year rather than in year 1.

In September 2015, the government announced their intention to carry out a public consultation and amend the School Admissions Code 2014, in order to make it easier for families of summer born children to defer their child's reception place. The government has since published the new School Admissions Code 2021 (in force from 1 September 2021) - the paragraphs relating to the admission of children outside their normal age group remain unchanged from the previous School Admissions Code 2014.

For further information and the process for making such requests, read:

How to request for admission outside of the normal age group

If you'd like your child to be admitted to school outside of their normal age group, download and complete our request form (PDF, 582kb). Your completed request forms must be returned by email to schools.admissions@southwark.gov.uk . Please do not return your request form by post as we are no longer accepting documents by post.

Page last updated: 29 August 2023

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