Children must receive full-time education from the beginning of the school term following their fifth birthday. Lewisham has a policy of offering a school place earlier as a ‘rising five’.
Lewisham has a system of two-stage entry to reception class. This means that children will be admitted to Community school reception classes at the beginning of the autumn and spring terms only (September and January).
Children qualify for admission to a reception class on a full-time basis in:
- September – if they become 5 between 1 September and 28 February
- January – if they become 5 between 1 March and 31 August