What is deferred entry to school

Deferred entry to school is when you want your child to be educated in a year group that is different from their normal year group based on their age. The normal year group is known as the chronological year group.

For example, if your child would normally be in year 1 based on their age, but you feel it is in their best interest to be taught in reception instead.

What to think about before making your decision

Your child’s entry to school should only be deferred if it is in their best interest.

The decision could potentially have long-term effects. You must consider the reasons for your request to delay your child starting school in reception or to be admitted to another year group instead of their chronological (normal) year group.

It is also important to think about what will happen when your child will be old enough to transfer to secondary school, or leave statutory education, and the timing of any exams.

Some points to consider:

• Your preferred school may not have space in the following year to accommodate your child.
• As your child gets older, they may realise that the rest of their class are of a different age, which may be difficult for them emotionally.
• Admission authorities, such as academies, will be the decision makers and as they are independent of the local authority may refuse a deferral request.
• As the law currently stands, when your child transfers to junior or secondary school, the admission authority for that school will decide whether to allow them to continue to be educated out of their normal year group. You should discuss this with the school before making your decision.
• If you delay your child’s admission to reception at a primary school until the year after their expected admission, you must apply for their year 7 place and submit a deferred entry request when they start year 5.
• If your child sits a test for a selective school, such as a grammar school, their score will be amended to reflect that the other children taking the test are younger. This is known as age standardisation.
• If your child reaches the legal school-leaving age of 16 years before they have completed their key stage 4 curriculum, they may decide to leave school without completing their GCSEs or equivalent exams.

Page last updated: 26 August 2026