School Admissions Code: Summer-born Children

What progress his Department has made on further amending the school admissions code to ensure that summer-born and premature children can be admitted to reception at the age of five at the request of parents.

The Department published updated guidance in September 2020 on the admission of summer-born children. The guidance will help to ensure that decisions are taken in the best interests of the child concerned. It remains our intention to legislate to change the school admissions code when an opportunity is available.

I thank my right hon. Friend for that answer. I agree with him that legislating would ensure that all summer-born children have the opportunity and the life outcome they deserve. Will he agree to meet me and perhaps a member of the Treasury so that we can ensure that that legislation comes through in this Parliament?

May I first pay tribute to my hon. Friend for highlighting the important issue of summer-born children? Of course, I would be delighted to meet him to discuss the legislation that we need to put through to ensure that his and others’ strong opinions about fairness for summer-born children are implemented.