You can apply for a place to start as usual in September 2026, after their 4th birthday.
Or you may decide to delay your application and apply next year, to start in September 2027, after your child’s 5th birthday.
Discuss this decision with your child’s current nursery or early years provider.
Your child will usually have started Reception in September 2025, after their 4th birthday.
However, if you decided to delay your application, make an application from November 2025 for a place to start in September 2026, after your child’s 5th birthday.
We won't accept applications from families who have already accepted a Reception place to start in the 2025-26 academic year.
All Hertfordshire community and voluntary controlled schools will accept delayed Reception applications for summer born children.
Schools outside Hertfordshire
If you're interested in applying for a place at a school outside of Hertfordshire, you must contact the relevant admission authority (school or council) to discuss whether your summer born application will be accepted.
Schools responsible for their own admissions
Many schools and academies are responsible for their own school admissions and this is their decision.
The Hertfordshire schools you’ll need to contact about whether they’ll accept an application for your summer born children will be available in November 2025.
If your summer born child is in nursery and you want to keep the place another year rather than moving onto a Reception class, you must let your nursery know before the end of spring term. That's before the Easter break.
If you don't let the nursery know, they may offer the place to another child.
If you decide to delay your child starting school, they will still get these hours until the age of 5.