Summer Born Campaign

No child shld be forced by school or admission authority to skip an entire yr of school solely for starting school AT compulsory school age

Today, an Academy writing to a parent, "Unfortunately, we don't take deferred places and will only consider them in exceptional circumstances..." in their response regarding a #summerborn request for Reception rather than Y1 at Compulsory School Age.

@sb_campaign Reception entry refused in Notts (academy) as I could not provide the "significant evidence" as stated in their admissions policy. And Baroness Barran thinks 90% of requests are accepted...? #summerborn

“Under-achievers at age five were twice as likely to be summer-born children.” It’s not addressed in this article, but perhaps not forcing #summerborn children to start school a year early (by denying compulsory school age starts in reception) would help.

Some Academy schools in Derbyshire refusing to clearly set out the reasons for their decision (Y1 entry rather than Reception) to parent & refusing to communicate with parent. The Trust with overall responsiblity have refused to accept, let alone handle a complaint. #summerborn

4 year old with Down Syndrome has had delayed entry into reception rejected. Despite recommendation from one of their Drs. We really, really need the previously promised legislative change to happen. #summerborn

Parents of a #summerborn boy in Wolverhampton, who was still 3 years-old on Saturday and doesn't yet talk, has been declined CSAge into reception, and told he MUST START SCHOOL NEXT WEEK. @Elise__Evans @bbcwm schoolsweek.co.uk/dfe-ditches-7-… @FCDWhittaker @WolvesCouncil @educationgovuk

@timbecsamsoph @mark4dewsbury @kirkleeswelcome The LA is cherry-picking from DfE advice here and taking a sentence out of context. Not unusual for admission authorities to do this unfortunately.

@sb_campaign @mark4dewsbury @kirkleeswelcome. Are the reception years not still high on the government agenda .. the building blocks that could be taken away if we choose to defer ??? How can #BaronessBarran feel 9 out of 10 LA are approving yet Kirklees are fighting families

@Jim_AFCB Yes, agree. We've seen it time and time again unfortunately haven't we. 'Best interests of the child' is not always applied, as like you say, there is a dogmatic insistence re 'normal age group'.

@sb_campaign I don't think it's always ignorance. In some cases, it's clearly a dogmatic insistence that children MUST be educated in their normal age group, and the advice from Govt bent to fit that dogma. Been helping with such a case lately with a child that clearly needs to delay into R

Why is that parents are having to educate Admission Authorities on the law surrounding admissions, when it's their job to know it, they should know it and they are paid to know it? It's more than frustrating, the process can be highly stressful. #summerborn

@KirstieMAllsopp Hi Kirstie, thanks for your support, it's much appreciated. Would you be up to speaking with someone from our campaign to fully explain what is really happening on the ground and what families are actually experiencing ? Thanks.

I’m supposed to be on holiday so no more tweeting today. But if you have a child/niece/nephew/grandchild that is born at this time of year do follow @sb_campaign and make sure everyone is aware that there can, sometimes, be problems that you need to be proactive to solve.

Happening now - LA is Admission Authority so legally responsible for decision (reception vs Y1 at CSAge). They have deferred to HTs & all of them are applying the wrong test in law. #summerborn

@timbecsamsoph @mark4dewsbury @KirkleesCouncil Please do let us know the response. Thank you for the tag.

Let’s hope these emails clarify the need for change @sb_campaign @mark4dewsbury @KirkleesCouncil

Following recent meetings with the Baroness Barran MBE, the Minister for School System, I have provided an update on the Summer-Born campaign here: stephenhammond.net/news/summer-bo…

Summer-Born | Stephen Hammond MP stephenhammond.net/news/summer-bo… #summerborn

Just Which School Year is a Waste of Time? summerbornchildren.org/2014/06/08/jus… This is from 2014. Unfortunately, it is still happening, and will continue to happen without the previously proposed legislative changes. #summerborn

@S_Hammond But are you ready to support families of #summerborn children who are STILL going to be forced to send their children to school early, or be faced with the threat of a missed year of schooling (at any point in their education). You’re very silent on this issue?

@MumsBack @MartinSLewis Agree, she did not deliver. Going back to 2013, she did not deliver, she did not keep her promise, her words were empty promises.

@MartinSLewis @sb_campaign I think we can agree she doesn’t can’t we?!

"I'm somebody who always keeps my promises" Liz Truss 25.7.2022. Worth keeping hold of this quote I suspect. #BBCOurNextPM

Whilst David Laws was Schools Minister, he did something unprecedented. He enabled an interface between parents of #summerborn and DfE civil servants so that the DfE be made aware of all the problems in the system and also best practice. Now, no one at the DfE is listening.