School starting age to be reviewed

Summer-born children could soon be able to start school up to a year later than autumn-born children.

The government has asked former Ofsted chief Sir Jim Rose to look at the options for a more flexibile school start date for children as part of a wholesale review of the primary curriculum.

Parents of children born later in the school year could decide to delay the first day of school until they felt their child was ready.

The review will also be looking at whether the curriculum is too prescriptive, making it difficult to meet the needs of children who are struggling to keep up and those who need more challenges.

Balls wants advice on how to introduce languages as a compulsory subject at Key Stage two in a way that is manageable for schools.

As well as reading, writing and numeracy, personal development should be central to the primary curriculum, says the letter.

Read Ed Balls’ letter to Sir Jim Rose

http://www.dfes.gov.uk/pns/pnattach/20080003/1.pdf