Reception or Primary 1 or FS2 (foundation second year) is the first year of primary school in the United Kingdom

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

 and South Australia

South Australia

South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...

. It is preceded by nursery

Nursery school

A nursery school is a school for children between the ages of one and five years, staffed by suitably qualified and other professionals who encourage and supervise educational play rather than simply providing childcare...

 and is followed by Year One

Year One (school)

Year One is an educational year group in schools in many countries including England, Wales, Australia and New Zealand. It is usually the first year of compulsory education and incorporates students aged between five and six.-Australia:...

 in England

England

England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...

 and Wales

Wales

Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...

 or Primary 2 in Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...

 and Scotland

Scotland

Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...

.

Pupils in Reception are usually aged between four and five. Children start school either in the term or in the year in which they reach five, depending on the policy of the Local Education Authority

Local Education Authority

A local education authority is a local authority in England and Wales that has responsibility for education within its jurisdiction...

. Reception is the final part of the Foundation Stage

Foundation Stage

Foundation Stage is the British government label for education of pupils aged 3 to 5 in England. In Northern Ireland, it is also used to refer to the first two years of compulsory education for pupils aged 4 to 6.-England:...

of education.

Most areas admit entire year groups in September, regardless of which month they were born in, meaning that some pupils will be starting primary school in the month of their fifth birthday, while others will be 11 months away from this milestone.

Other areas admit Reception pupils in the term of their fifth birthday, while some admit pupils in September if they were born between September and February, and in January if they were born between March and August.

Previously, children in England and Wales had started school later than children in Northern Ireland and Scotland, where the starting age was generally four, dependent on the date of the child's birthday.

In both Scotland and Northern Ireland, this is the year children start Primary 1.