Starting primary school (reception)

4. Deferred and part-time starts

You can request that your child attends school part-time or defer their starting school until they reach compulsory school age, if that best suits the needs of your child.

All parents are entitled to request part-time provision or deferred entry within their child's reception year (places offered from the September after a 4th birthday).  Many Lancashire primary schools and academies may offer some initial phased part-time provision to new starters.  Any required extension or variation to these arrangements is by negotiation with the school or academy.

Parents may also request that their child starts the offered reception place later in the school year (subject to the legal requirement that this must be by the start of the term following a 5th birthday). There must be agreement with the relevant admission authority and school. Where deferred entry within a child's reception year is agreed, the offered place will be reserved until the beginning of the Easter term.