Nursery World - Opinion: Editor's view - Changes for summer-borns could improvematters for all children

The review of the primary school curriculum, to be overseen by Professor Jim Rose, could bring about major improvements if it can tackle the problems of summer-born children under the current system (see News, page 3).

For those born in August, starting school a few days after their fourth birthday is a tough challenge, and can affect achievement throughout their academic life.

There are several interesting factors about the suggestion that there could be greater flexibility about when children start school.

First, there are no plans to change the compulsory starting age of five, even though six or seven is typical in many other countries. Yet the age of five was set when starting early meant that children would be out in the labour market as young as possible. Now the emphasis is on schooling and further education until 18 or older, so the rationale for such an early start disappears.

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