Thank you to everyone who has contacted me about my Adjournment debate on summerborn and premature schools admissions, and everyone who watched the debate so late in the evening.
I am glad that the Government is still committed to changing the Schools Admissions Code to help summerborn children reach their full potential. However along with many parents, I am disappointed that the Minister was unable to set out a timetable for the consultation and changes.
The Minister also raised the question of costs. As I said, it is my understanding from talking to headteachers in my area that while there would be a cost movement between years, there would not be much of an overall cost increase. Furthermore, I would like to think that the reduction in inappropriate Special Educational Needs diagnoses resulting from children being in the most appropriate year group would help reduce costs.
I will continue to press the Minister on this and I will be writing to him soon to ask for more information his analysis of the costs of this policy.