SCHOOL STARTING AGE FOR SUMMER-BORN PUPILS

That this House notes with concern the robust and consistent evidence from around the world on birth date effects, which in England shows that summer-born children can suffer long-term disadvantages as a result of England's inflexible school starting age; believes that the Government should ensure that parents of summer-born children are able to exercise their right to defer their child's school start up until the statutory school start time, if that is their choice, without losing a place offered at the school of their choice for the September after their child's fourth birthday because of funding issues; and calls on the Government to ensure that parents also have the choice of placing their child in a school reception class, rather than Year 1, at statutory school age, that is the September following their fifth birthday.