Reception start dates by date of birth
| Child born between | Apply by | Starts reception |
|---|---|---|
| 1 September 2021 to 31 August 2022 | 15 January 2026 | September 2026 |
| 1 September 2022 to 31 August 2023 | 15 January 2027 | September 2027 |
| 1 September 2023 to 31 August 2024 | 15 January 2028 | September 2028 |
| 1 September 2024 to 31 August 2025 | 15 January 2029 | September 2029 |
| 1 September 2025 to 31 August 2026 | 15 January 2030 | September 2030 |
| 1 September 2026 to 31 August 2027 | 15 January 2031 | September 2031 |
| 1 September 2027 to 31 August 2028 | 15 January 2032 | September 2032 |
Key dates
- Applications open: in the autumn, usually September, the year before your child starts. Your council sets the exact date.
- Deadline: 15 January. Applications after the deadline are usually considered after on-time ones, which matters for popular schools.
- National offer day: 16 April (the next working day if that's a weekend or bank holiday).
Does my child have to start in reception?
No. Children don't legally have to be in school until compulsory school age: 31 December, 31 March or 31 August after their 5th birthday, which means the start of the following term. You can ask for your child to start part-time or later in the reception year.
Summer-born children (born 1 April to 31 August)
You can ask for your child to start reception a year later, at age 5, instead of going straight into Year 1. It's not automatic: the school's admission authority decides, so ask your council about the process when you apply.
Scotland is different: children born between March and February start together, and you can defer if your child is still 4 when school starts.
Ready to go?
Read everything above? Here's the official page to do it:
Want the exact dates for your baby? Get your personal timeline: enter your due date or birthday and see every deadline in order.
Sources: GOV.UK: school admissions, GOV.UK: school starting age, Department for Education: summer-born children. Checked 28 October 2026.