To ask the Minister of Education whether children starting school later than four years of age can be placed in a year group which is different to their own chronological year.

Parents of children who did not start school at four years of age, and were educated outside the formal school system, can apply for a place in a grant-aided school at any time. A child applying for admission to a school would be admitted to his/her chronological age group.

Nevertheless, the flexibility does exist for children to move outside their chronological age group. Any such decision is made by a school’s Board of Governors, taking into account the views of parents, the Principal and the Education Authority. This could see a child moving to a year group below his/her chronological age or to a year group above his/her chronological age.