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To:
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David J Rowlands AM Chair The Petitions Committee National Assembly for Wales Cardiff Bay Cardiff CF99 1NA |
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Fy nghyf: My Ref: |
GD/CE/TM |
Eich Cyf: Your Ref: |
Dyddiad: Date: |
10th December 2018 |
Dear Sir,
Petition P-05-832
To Amend the School Admission Code Relating to Summer Born Children
Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s policy, in relation to deferred entry to primary schools complies with section 2.61 of the Schools Admissions Code 005/2013.
Our Starting School book states that attendance between the ages of 3 years to the date of the child’s fifth birthday is optional, but all children must be in full-time education by the commencement of the term following their fifth birthday.
The Council does not operate any specific policy in relation to requests for deferrals for summer-born children but does state that if any additional information or advice about admissions or any other educational matter is required, that the staff at the Education Department can be contacted.
For the past 3 years we have not received any requests for deferral of school admissions, but a school has recently been asked for advice on a 2 year old child who was born prematurely in August but was not due until October. The mother of the child concerned has made a request for a child to be initially taught with children in the academic year below i.e. in the academic year the child was due to be born.
The Local Authority does have a protocol which outlines the process for making a request for a child to be taught in a year group outside of their chronological age. This requires a multi-agency meeting involving the family and relevant professionals. Supporting documentation is then forwarded to the Director of Education and Inclusion Services for consideration. If there are strong grounds, then approval will be given. Requests are however few and far between.
I hope this answers your query.
Yours sincerely,
Director of Education and Inclusion Services