To ask people's experience in deferring children going into primary. (Scottish system)

[Quicknamechange55]

I'm sorry I'm not sure if the system is the same in other parts of the UK.

My DD is a December birthday so has the option to defer moving up to primary another year.
I've been trying to decide what to do and just can't.
She is a very bright and is definitely ready for it intellectually. However she was really struggling emotionally just before she went back to nursery after lockdown. She is so much better since going back but Im wondering if she would benefit from another year at nursery.
Im feeling pressured to move her up to P1 from my family (grandparents) coz that's what they did, but I feel that I struggled being one of the youngest in my year.

I'm just looking for others experience, is there any downside to deferring her a year?

[user1487194234]

I don't think I have ever heard someone who deferred say they regretted it

[Duploisthebest]

I think it depends on the child. Some children definately benefit from the extra year but I ​do know of two mums who regretted deferring. One child was intellectually clever and was essentially bored the extra year at nursery which then developed into an apathy for school which never really went away.
The second really regretted it because her child was a December birthday who had been deferred which meant they turned 16 in fourth year and they decided they were going to be a Christmas leaver to take up a full time apprenticeship job at McDonald's however this meant they never sat any exams and left school with no qualifications.
There are definately pros and cons. Maybe discuss it with nursery and good luck with your decision.

[randomsabreuse]

Is she good when bored? Sometimes being the oldest in the class can be worse than being the youngest...

How good are the school at differentiating or is there a composite? It was very lucky that my DC ended up in. a composite P2/1 class given the bubble situation as she's been working with the P2s for most things thanks to 2 terms in reception in England before we moved.

Outside school my DD has found sport classes with similar age/ younger boys difficult as the boys are not ready to pay attention but she does want to and gets frustrated when they won't engage with the task, girls are in general more mature at 4/5 so being the oldest might be less helpful for an academically inclined girl.

[GintyMcGinty]

I know loads of people who've deferred.

Not a single one regrets it.

[Wethil]

I don't think I have ever heard someone who deferred say they regretted it

[StylishDuck]

I have a 6 year old with a February birthday. We sent her to P1 at 4.5. She was ready for it and we don't regret it at all as she is thriving at school. However we also have a 3 year old with a January birthday and we're almost positive that we will be deferring him. He missed so much nursery over lockdown that I really feel he would benefit from another year. It's a decision you have to make for the individual child. If you think they're ready then go for it, if you have any doubts then defer.

[StylishDuck]

I should also say that my 6 year old's confidence has greatly improved since she started school. So if you're worried about it from an emotional maturity point of view then you might find that school will massively help with that. School is so different now compared to when we were there. P1 & 2 are mostly play based learning.