article_snippet: The Department for Education issued guidance to schools and councils in July 2013 and last December making it clear that there is no rule stating that a child has to be in the right school cohort for their age group.
article_snippet: Last Wednesday schools minister Nick Gibb backed parents who have called for their children to delay entering classroom, telling councils and headteachers to do 'what's in the best interests of a child'.
article_snippet: However, requests for children to be admitted out of year group are made on an individual basis taking into account all relevant information. '
article_snippet: Education minister Nick Gibb backed parents who have called for their children to delay entering classroom, telling councils and headteachers to do 'what's in the best interests of the child' Department for Education guidance allows parents to delay parents child's schooling until the September after parents fifth birthday.
article_snippet: But some campaigners say years of unclear and conflicting government advice on the policy has allowed schools and councils to use a loophole to push these children into Year 1 to ease pressure on places in reception.
article_snippet: But some councils are still sending youngsters straight into Year 1 if some councils parents hold some councils back unless some councils can prove there were 'exceptional' circumstances.
article_snippet: Mr Gibb told MPs that there had to be 'flexibility' from schools and councils when agreeing the start date for children who turn four just weeks before the start of the school year.
article_snippet: Giving evidence to the education select committee, Mr Gibb said: 'The key thing is flexibility, and I think that admissions authorities and headteachers do need to do what's in the best interests of the child.'
article_snippet: Mr Gibb stressed that councils mist include parents in discussions about when parents in discussions about when their children start school children start school.
article_snippet: She told the education select committee: 'We do have a compulsory school age in England, so children should be able to start at compulsory school age.'
article_snippet: Parents are being forced to enrol Parents child in school early, prior to compulsory school age, in order to have a reasonable chance of getting a place in Parents preferred schools.'