Early Years Report: Summer born children labelled as having special educational needs

Summer-born children are being unfairly labelled by primary schools as having special educational needs, creating needless anxiety for children and parents. Two out of five summer-born boys are categorised as having special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Among children who reached Year 6 in 2018, the study found that 26% of summer-born girls were given SEND support at some point during primary school, compared to 16% of autumn-born girls and 40% of summer-born boys received SEND help, compared to 28% of autumn-born boys. By the end of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), on average, some 39% of summer-born boys were ascribed a “good level of development” in the Early Years Foundation Stage Profile at the end of reception, compared to 80% of autumn-born girls.