Deferring reception entry for summer borns: Does the school 'save' your place?

[AmandaPleaseDotCom]

My dd is Aug born so as I understand it she can start next September or I can defer her entry until the year after she turns 5.

I have been told that we need to submit our application in January regardless, but if we decide to defer her start we would submit a letter stating that this place is for the following year.

But my question is - how would the school be able to allocate her a place in advance? Its an oversubscribed school where admissions are allocated on distance. Surely they will have no idea how many applicants they would get for the following year, how many sibs or looked after children there would be that take priority?

Or is this actually a decent loophole in the system that means you effectively reserve your school place a year early so aren't subject to the same criteria.

Or would we just not find out until the following year where she has a place?

Or am I overthinking this?!

Grateful if anyone who has deferred could answer!

You apply again the next year.

They don’t hold a place for you, you have to apply the following year and are assessed alongside all the other reception applications. . I think in theory you could do it without applying in the “normal” year. I think it’s because if there was an issue where the school refused to allow the deferral, you’d have a place.

No they don't hold a place unless you intend to start by summer term then move to year 1 in the September with the peer group. Applying in January is in case you change your mind.

no, they don’t hold places. You’d need to apply again with the next cohort. Check how your area deal with it at the end of primary school, and in secondary would she be allowed the play sport with her deferred year or, as she’s actually in the year above age wise would she play with the year above?

Why do you think she needs a deferred start?

No, they do not hold over a place.

Who advised you to apply this year? There’s no obvious need - other than belt and braces in case you change your mind (application is in) or some behind-the-scenes admin process. Or in case your deferral is not agreed

You need to talk to the council admissions team about deferred entry, and possibly the school as well (if it is eg an academy or a VA school and therefore its own admissions authority). Once you have it in writing that she can defer, then you need do nothing more this year (other than cancel this year’s application if you have made one by writing a letter stating you are deferring)

Then you apply in the normal reception applications round for the school year you want her to join,

Thanks all! I was told we would need to apply this year but submit a deferral request alongside the application. So we would have to apply twice if she didn't take up the place then by the sounds of it.