When does my child start school?

And when do they start their career?

Select your child's date of birth to see their timeline

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kids growing up

Your child's growing up timeline

Primary school

Secondary school

All grown up

When does my child start school?

Sept '24

When does my child start
junior school?

Sept '27

When does my child start secondary school?

Sept '31

When does my child sit their GCSEs?

May '36

When does my child sit their A levels?

May '38

When does my child benefit stop?

Jul '38

When does my child go to uni?

Sept '38

When does my child start their career?

Sept '41

When does my child buy a house?

Jul '52

When does my child start Reception?

In the UK, children usually start school in the ‘Reception’ year in the September following their 4th birthday.

While the "compulsory school age" is technically the term following a child’s 5th birthday, the vast majority of parents in England and Wales enrol their children into a Reception class at age 4 so they can benefit from the full Foundation Stage curriculum. Our calculator above uses your child’s date of birth to pinpoint exactly which September they will put on their new uniform for the first time.

School age UK: What is the September 1st cut-off?

The UK school year runs from September 1st to August 31st. This date is the "cut-off" used by Local Authorities to determine which year group your child belongs to.

If your child turns 4 on or before August 31st, they will start school that coming September.
If your child turns 4 on or after September 1st, they will wait until the following year to start school.

This means that children born in September are the oldest in their school year, while those born in August are the youngest.

If my child was born in... when will they start school?

Parents often search for specific birth months to understand how the cut-off affects them. Here is a quick guide based on the Department for Education (DfE) guidelines:

Born in September, October, November, or December?

Your child will be among the oldest in their year and will start Reception the September after they turn four.

Born in January, February, March, or April?

Your child will start school in the September after their 4th birthday.

Born in May, June, July, or August?

Your child is a ‘summer born’ baby. They will start school in the September after their 4th birthday, making them the youngest in their class. (Some parents of summer-born children choose to apply for ‘delayed entry’—see our guide on Summer Born Children for more).

When do I need to apply for primary school?

Knowing when they start is only half the battle; you also need to know when to apply. In the UK, the primary school application window usually opens in September (one year before the child is due to start) and closes on January 15th.

For example, if your child is due to start school in September 2026, you must submit your application to your local council by January 15th, 2026. National Offer Day usually falls on April 16th, which is when you find out which school your child has been allocated.

Accurate data based on UK Government guidelines

Our School Start Calculator is built using official Department for Education (DfE) age requirements and Local Authority admission rules. We use the same criteria as the UK government to ensure that the dates provided are accurate for schools in England and Wales.

Whether you are checking for a newborn or a toddler, you can trust our data to help you plan your child’s educational journey with confidence.

Plan your child's journey…

Now that you know when your child starts school, it’s time to find the right place for them.

Choose with confidence: View our Primary School League Tables to compare Ofsted ratings and exam results for schools in your local catchment area.

Master the application: Don't miss the January 15th deadline. Read our Expert Guide to Primary School Admissions for tips on securing your first-choice school.