British curriculum year groups are set by a child's age on 1 September: three-year-olds join Nursery, four-year-olds Reception, five-year-olds Year 1, and so on to Year 6 at ten. Enter your child's date of birth below to see where they would start at Elyton.
Year groups by age on 1 September
| Year group | Age on 1 September |
|---|---|
| Crèche and PlaygroupElyton's settings before Nursery | Confirmed by Admissions |
| Nursery (Blossom)Early Years Foundation Stage | 3 |
| Reception (Bloom)Early Years Foundation Stage | 4 |
| Year 1Key Stage 1 | 5 |
| Year 2Key Stage 1 | 6 |
| Year 3Key Stage 2 | 7 |
| Year 4Key Stage 2 | 8 |
| Year 5Key Stage 2 | 9 |
| Year 6Key Stage 2 | 10 |
The year-group names are the same as in England, so a child arriving from a UK school steps into the year group they were already in.
The cut-off: 1 September
The English National Curriculum groups children by their age on 1 September, the start of the school year. A child born on 31 August is the youngest in their year; a child born on 2 September is the oldest in theirs. Elyton's year groups use the same convention.
Children moving from CBC or 8-4-4
Kenya's school year starts in January and CBC moves children into Grade 1 at six, while the British system starts Year 1 at five. So a child's British year group is often one higher than the number of their CBC grade. Children are placed by age, not by the grade they have finished, and the Meet your child session shows where any gaps are, so a support plan is in place from the first day. Our guide to moving from CBC to the British curriculum covers it in detail.
Joining mid-year
Elyton admits for September 2026 and January 2027. A child joining in January joins the year group for their age in the current school year, not the next one. See January 2027 entry.
Confirming the year group
Admissions confirms every child's starting point after a short, relaxed "Meet your child" session. It is relaxed and age-appropriate, and it shapes your child's support plan, nothing more.
Questions parents ask
What is the age cut-off for British curriculum year groups?
Year groups follow a child's age on 1 September, the start of the school year. A child who is five on 1 September joins Year 1.
Which year group is a 7-year-old in?
A child who is seven on 1 September is in Year 3, the first year of Key Stage 2. A child who turns seven later in the school year is in Year 2.
My child is in Grade 2 under CBC. Which year group would they join?
Placement goes by age, not CBC grade. Because CBC starts Grade 1 at six and the British system starts Year 1 at five, a Grade 2 child is usually of Year 3 age. Admissions confirms it after meeting your child.