Has anyone ever held their child back a year?

[Summerishere123]

DD is really struggling at school. She just started year 3 but is working at reception level. She is aware she is behind. She also has no real friends at school. I am seriously considering moving her to another school and putting her back in year 2.
I am aware it isn't as simple as it sounds so wondered if others have experience of this?

What support has she had in school for her learning? I imagine you’ve had meetings with the SENCo and her teachers. What about applying for an EHCP? It might help if she had some targeted support for her learning needs.

Don't put her back it's counterproductive

Plus it's highly unlikely a school will allow it

If she's working at reception level, she won't access Year 2 work either.

What is the wider context? Have school put in place any support? Does she have diagnosis or specific educational needs?

My children are summer born and started at CSA from reception. But I’ve no experience of a child repeating a year.

seems like there is an underlying issue that probably needs to be identified.

You say she knows she is behind. If she moved school and was placed back in the year below then imagine what that would do for her confidence. Have you had meetings with her teacher / SENCO, what strategies and support have they suggested?

This was fairly common when I was growing up in Scotland (and seemed to work well) but as a teacher I have never known it to formally happen in England (ie the child being funded for an extra year of schooling rather than just spending an extra year in a particular class). Do you know that it's even possible?

Sorry guys, busy night!
I don't know if they will allow it but she has a global delay and is an adopted child which is supposed to help in the fight but isn't.
She currently gets funding for an extra 15 hours and there is talk of applying for more and gathering evidence for a ECHP. I have been told to get an educational psychologist report by SENCO but NHS and adoption charities have all turned me down. I can go private but apparently not all EP are approved and so not all evidence valid.
One of the strategies at the moment is to let her spend time in reception. Everyone will know that which I think is worse for her confidence than moving her back a year in a different school where she won't be quite as far behind.

I tried to get my adopted child held back a year but didn't manage it. I think in retrospect that was the right decision. He had pretty good support in place and actually even if he'd been held back a year he would probably have still been more developmentally delayed than his peers. He went to an SEN secondary school but a mainstream primary. Good luck.

Definitely push with all your might for an EHCP. You'll need it all the way through school and early adulthood x

My son moved schools and then dropped back a year in year 11. (As in he should have been in year 11, he dropped back to year 10)
It was the best thing he ever did and I wish I'd done it sooner. We didn't have the option of starting a year late in those days, unless he skipped reception and went into year 1. And actually at the time he was ready to start school.

This question has just been asked by someone else on the Flexible Admissions for Summer borns group. If you join you can see the responses. Their child is struggling in Y3 too. There’s lots of examples of other parents applying for their child to repeat a year within that group if you search.

Have you approached the head? It’s at their discretion.

Meant to say the groups on Facebook!

@Summerishere123 - why did the SENCO ask you to get an EP report? Is it because of wait list times? Can the SENCO not refer to LA EP - it sounds like there is evidence if she is working at reception level and spending time in reception.

It is also incorrect that private Ed psych reports are not recognised - have a look at IPSEA for some advice on this ( although finding a good private Ed psych is equally a challenge and there are big waits even in the private sector).

You may also want to move this to the SEn section for some advice

Sorry meant to add obviously only get a professionally qualified Ed psych ( but assume you would anyway!).

My niece did this (repeated Y2) however now in Y5 it hasn’t really been a solution, she’s still unable to access the work & the blow to her self esteem has been immense. Doesn’t help that she’s old for the year & tall.

Thanks everyone. Its so hard to know what is best for her but I take all points on board and appreciate the feedback.

Yes I was advised by a support organisation not to underestimate the possibility of damaging the child's self esteem by keeping them back.

Is she at a state school? The school should be asking their EP to do a report!

Many schools don't have a link EP due to national shortages. Those that do need to strictly prioritize children to be assess. It's rubbish.

That said, OP you can apply for an EHCP before and EP report. And you should!

The school should be organising and paying for an EP assessment. That is not your responsibility and you certainly shouldn't be paying for it. As your child is adopted he/she is pupil premium plus so the school receive extra money to support their learning.