Part time reception year instead of deferring?

[summerbornschool]

Instead of deferring a whole year (SEN - ASD and also late August birthday) can a child just go part time ? Or have a day off a week?

Technically, they don't need to be in full time education until turning 5, but I think there are very few schools that would agree to that kind of arrangement. Even though Year R is EYFS rather than Key Stage 1, they still learn an awful lot and build upon what's been taught previously (e.g. term 1 - basic phonics, term 2 - digraphs) - how can they do that if some kids have missed huge chunks of the content? It's the same reason schools don't authorise term time holidays (and being a one-off, those would have far less impact).

There isn’t much chance dd will understand any of that anyway. For her reception initially will be adjusting to new people and a new place etc. she has little understanding and is non verbal so I’m not really worried about the academic stuff. I’m just concerned that I give her the time to settle in and she needs processing time (she still has a 2 hr nap each afternoon and I can’t see that going for a long time as she needs it due to over stimulation or meltdowns )

In that case, deferring would be best. She'd still be entitled to the 15 hour nursery funding.

I’m just not sure what to do as I applied for the place as didn’t realise deferring was even an option till now

Does she have an EHCP?

I think deferring would be a better option. Does she have an EHCP.

No not yet I’ve just started looking into it and I think I need to it a request in to the LA?

You can - getting schools to officially agree to it as flexi schooling is difficult. I’m not quite sure whether you could insist on them honouring a part time arrangement until CSA.

But from what you say, deferring sounds much more sensible to me. Join the Facebook group “Flexible School Admissions for Summer Borns” and they’ll help you decide and apply.

Are they currently in nursery?

If they are non-verbal, I'm extremely surprised that no professional has talked to you about it yet.

Yes, you can apply yourself for an EHCP. Have a look at the IPSEA website for information about how to do it.

What sort of needs does your child have - do you think they will need additional support at school?

Join the Facebook group "Flexible school admissions for summer borns".

Currently you can choose to send your summer born child to reception part time and the school have to accept that, but the rules are changing which will make it more difficult - the info is on that Facebook group.

Additionally, the evidence suggests that part time reception isn't usually the best thing (again I don't have the details but check out the info on the group) and it's better to defer and then attend full time.

It's not necessarily too late to defer but you need to contact the admissions authority (which is the school of it's an academy, or the LA if it's a community school) asap to sort it out.

Good luck!

No not at nursery, we decided not to as she was struggling so much even in toddler groups. The only professionals we’ve seen are the GP, HV and the team who diagnosed her and after diagnosis no follow up they just told us claim dla and look up the ‘local offer’ to see what support there was from direct payments. I’m a bit lost really.
dd is non verbal, still in nappies, has multiple meltdowns daily, sensory issues around pretty much everything. We’ve paid for private OT and SALT. I’ve joined a couple of SEN groups locally on WhatsApp and I’m going to ask on there how to proceed as I know very little about EHCP application

Definitely defer. Her current needs are best met in nursery and as she is an August birthday starting reception a year later will not be much of an age gap.

Starting reception part time will just mean it will take her longer to get into the routines, she will struggle to form secure relationships with the other children as not there full time and year 1 will be that much harder as she won’t have been full time in reception. Deferring a year also gives time to get an EHCP which will help the school to go some way to finding some support for her.

What do I do now as have applied ? When I get the offer for a school place for September do I have to say then I want to defer have I totally messed up by applying now ? I’m so overwhelmed by everything

Just read your update, I really re commend you get her into a nursery - starting reception with her needs and no experience of nursery setting will be completely overwhelming. At nursery she can start part time and take it slowly. Nursery can also then support with EHCP.
Does the school you have a place in have a school nursery? That would be best as she would then know children to go up to reception with next year.

Surely if they start with everyone else then they won't fall behind with behaviour, friendships etc

I am pretty sure they should hold your place for you until next year. Just give the school a call after the holidays and speak to the person there who does admissions. They should be able to help and talk you through it all. Don’t worry, you haven’t messed anything up :)

I deferred my NT August born DD was the best decision for her.

Contact your LA admissions team. explain you’ve only just learnt about deferring and this is what you want to do. Don’t worry about the place, even though you have it you can still legally keep your DD home till 5yo of age. The only difference is she will miss reception and be placed in year 1 unlike deferring where she can start in reception. You will probably find the LA very helpful, I know I did.

When DD was in reception they could nap in the book corner of the room if need be

DC are all so different at that age it's all about just getting them used to the routine and settling in in a way that suits them all

I won’t know where until the 16 April I think so it depends what school she is given as not all on the list had nurseries . I think I’ve messed up I’ve been just trying to get through each day and haven’t done this properly at all i just saw that we had to apply as her birthday was before 31 August 2020 I didn’t even know about deferring till now 🤦‍♀️ on offer day if we are happy with the school do we say we accept but want to defer for a year and they hold the place ?

Thankyou , I will do that

Absolutely defer, your DD isn't going to benefit from a mainstream reception place by September.

There’s a local independent school that has 1/2 days for reception year and 3/4 for years 1 and 2. Parents with young in year often choose it.

I honestly think it's best not to defer

When my DC were in reception parents were allowed to come in and help out whenever they wanted. Obviously you had to ask first

I saw all sorts of DC in reception at all different levels the first few weeks. The experienced teacher knew how let them settle and leave them be, not lush too much etc etc a few had SEN as it turned out and they all pretty much settled in by Christmas

You absolutely have not messed everything up, you can defer her place. They won’t hold it for you, you’ll have to apply again next year. Join that group and ask for help.

Then, get her in to nursery/preschool. You need a good nursery team on side to help you. She needs an EHCP before she starts school. They can help you access the local offer. There are SEN support funds etc which are available at nursery age that aren’t once you move to school. Ask in your what’s app groups for recommendations. It doesn’t have to be the nursery attached to the school she will go to.

It's a very gentle period of settling in and there will be TAs to help out too

It'll be ok