When will my child start school?

Schools offer places to all children from the autumn term after their fourth birthday. Children born between 1 September 2007 and 31 August 2008 will usually start school in September 2012.

Children are entitled to 38 weeks of school in their first (reception) year of school. Most children will start school full-time from the second week of term, week beginning 10 September 2012. Parents are also entitled to request that their child attend part-time sessions (mornings and/or afternoons) or to defer their child’s entry until later in the year. After talking with you about your child’s age, experience in early years settings, how ready your child is for school and the arrangements put in place by the school for the new intake, the headteacher will agree with you the timetable for your child’s entry. In Hampshire, all children holding places for a reception place are expected to be attending full-time by the start of the summer term in April 2013.

You must discuss any plans to delay your child's start with the headteacher to ensure the school is aware of your request.

By law, children have to be in full-time education by the start of the term following their fifth birthday. Parents of summer-born children wishing to defer their child’s entry to school until the start of Year 1 cannot hold a place offered for Year R (Reception); a new application for a place in Year 1 will be required.

Please note that attendance at an early years setting, nursery school or unit cannot be taken into account when considering admission to an infant or primary school.

Am I still entitled to a free pre-school place in the September when my child is 4?

Yes, under its early years education scheme, Hampshire County Council will provide 15 hours a week in a pre-school setting, 38 weeks in a full year, but there are restrictions. You cannot access a free pre-school place if your child attends, or is due to attend another County nursery school, mainstream or special school (including nursery or special unit) in the same term. Please note that if you wish to defer entry to school your current free pre-school setting may or may not be able to continue to offer your child a place: you must discuss your request with them.

Children born from 1 September 2008 to 31 August 2009 start school in September 2013.

Children born from 1 September 2009 to 31 August 2010 start school in September 2014.