Summer-born babies fall back in school

Official figures reveal that babies born in the summer need more help during their first year of school.

 

Findings from the Department for Education data revealed that 33% of babies born between May and August don’t do as well in reading, writing and maths.

 

These figures have fuelled a debate over when children should start school, this way, pupils of the same literacy level will be in one class.

 

A report suggests this can have long-term effects on a child’s education. It read that “month of birth has the largest impact on the literacy and mathematics areas of learning.”

 

Results from the start of this year showed that girls were more advanced than boys at the end of their first year with 58% of girls reaching expected literacy levels, compared with 41% of boys.

 

This suggests that boys who are young for their age during the first year face the greatest disadvantage.

 

A Department of Education spokesman said: “We have changed the Schools Admission Code to make it easier for summer-born children to defer their child’s entry or request they attend part-time until they reach their fifth birthday.”