Two in five boys born in the summer are being unfairly labelled by primary schools as having special educational needs, according to this research by the London School of Economics.
Among children who reached Year 6 in 2018, the study found that 26 per cent of summer-born girls were given SEND support at some point during primary school, compared with 16 per cent of autumn-born girls.
Meanwhile, 40 per cent of summer-born boys received SEND help, against 28 per cent of autumn-born boys.
On average, some 39 per cent of summer-born boys were ascribed a “good level of development” in the early years foundation stage (EYFS) profile at the end of Reception, compared with 80 per cent of autumn-born girls.
Meanwhile, at the end of Year 1, 64 per cent of summer-born boys were recorded as meeting the “expected standard” in the phonics screening check, compared with 84 per cent of summer-born girls.