School year calculator
England admissions use a 1 September cutoff: a child starts Reception in the September after their fourth birthday, and the school year runs from 1 September to 31 August. BabyData works out the September your child starts Reception and the academic year from their date of birth. Summer-born children (April to August) are the youngest in their year, and parents can ask the local authority about delaying entry. This is an England guide; Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland use different cutoffs, so confirm with your local authority admissions team.
When will my child start school?
The September your child starts Reception and the England school year, from their date of birth.
How this is worked out
England admissions use a 1 September cutoff. A child starts Reception in the September after their fourth birthday, and the school year runs from 1 September to 31 August. A child born on or before 31 August belongs to that year's intake; a child born on or after 1 September moves into the next school year.
School year window = 1 September to 31 August
Reception starts the September after the child turns 4
Children born in the summer (April to August) are the youngest in their year. Parents of summer-born children can ask to delay entry to the following Reception year; talk to your local authority about that.
An England guide. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland use different cutoffs and dates. Always confirm with your local authority admissions team.
Common questions
When will my child start school in England?
A child starts Reception in the September after their fourth birthday, using the England 1 September cutoff. The school year runs from 1 September to 31 August, so a child born on or before 31 August belongs to that year's intake, and one born on or after 1 September moves into the next school year.
What is a summer-born child?
A child born between 1 April and 31 August, who is the youngest in their school year. Parents of summer-born children can ask the local authority about delaying entry to the following Reception year, though it is not automatic.
Can I choose to delay my child's Reception start?
You can ask, but the local authority decides. Parents of summer-born children can request that their child starts Reception a year later, so talk to your local authority admissions team about your own case.
Does this apply to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?
No. This is an England guide. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland use different cutoff dates and admissions rules, so confirm the start year with your local authority admissions team.
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Editor, BabyData
Oliver Mackman is the named editor of BabyData and a director of Best Business Loans Ltd (Companies House 16833937), the company that operates the site. He is accountable for its editorial standards, sourcing and corrections, and requires every number to cite the underlying rule and the official UK dataset behind it, with pregnancy tools reviewed against NHS and gov.uk guidance before publication.
Last reviewed: 12 June 2026