In Surrey, a child can start school at the beginning of the school year following their fourth birthday.

By law, they must be in full-time education by the start of the school term following their fifth birthday.

You may choose for your child to start school full or part-time or to defer entry until your child reaches the legal age, but you cannot defer entry beyond the beginning of the final term of the academic year for which you have been offered a place.

This means that if your child was born between 1 April 2021 and 31 August 2021, they must take up their school place by April 2026. If they do not, then the place will be withdrawn, and you will have to apply for an in-year place for the following year. Please also see: information on admission of children outside their normal age group.

If you wish to defer taking up your child's school place until later in the year or if you wish them to start part-time, you must still apply by the closing date, and then discuss this with the school's headteacher once you have been offered a place.