Hi, I have just started a role consulting an independent school in set-up stage opening in September 2020. It will be incorporated as a charitable trust and is a democratic model, primary and secondary. We are looking to finalise all documents and policies for the DfE Application end of September.

Now we don't want to follow the EYFC but start at 4 years age. Can anyone help me to understand how to get an exemption from the early years foundation stage curriculum.  Currently any child in education up to the age of 5 has to do the EYFC and be marked against the outcomes. Our first solution was to only take children at 5, but this makes things very complicated for admissions - either we say we only take from year 1 (age 5-6) but this isn't great for recruitment - most 'mainstream thinking' parents probably won't want to delay their children starting a year.