To defer DD starting school

[Procrastinatorswife]

DD is 2 but I realise that I need to apply for her school place this Autumn, as she will turn 3 at the very end of August.

My reasons for wanting to defer are that she is only a couple of days off the year below and was also an early baby. She has a significant speech delay and there is a history of dyslexia in the family and all the signs are that she will have it too. I have some experience of working in primary schools and have seen how some children really struggle. I know a lot could change by September 2017 but she's showing no sign of being ready.

I also believe that we put too much pressure too young on children in this country anyway. It is mainly transition between reception and year 1 that worries me! Rather than just starting reception. She is going to start a school nursery this September and I've no worries about that. I think that she needs to be given enough time to sort her speech before she is pressured to read and write.

However I have been looking at our local council policy and it seems that although they have to consider it ( since 2014) it can't be guaranteed that there will even be a place for her... And she could end up missing reception all together. Also they don't guarantee that she will not be made to miss a year later on. A lot depends on the head teacher's opinion and the school were she is starting nursery have said that they would consider it if it's in DDs best interests. However it is unlikely that DD will get her school place at this school (we are outside the catchment) but we chose it anyway as it is the best for Speech and Language locally. Our nearest school is an academy chain one which does not have a good reputation for SEN and has not even replied to my emails requesting information.

Does anyone have any experience in negotiating the new (post 2014) rules, especially in Surrey?

My son has a July birthday and I am also hoping to defer his school entry until he is 5. He has no SEN and is bright but emotionally/ socially would do better if older. I have noticed that when I mention this to people they are quick to tell me how their summer born children were fine etc, etc. I always think good but I am gonna make a different choice if I can. I am from a European country where parents regularly wait until their child is 5 before sending them to school. They don't miss a year and continue all the way through. I honestly believe in a few years, this will be the norm in the UK too. (If the government ever gets their act together and clarifies it once and for all).

There is quite a bit of miss-information and hearsay on this thread. OP I would also recommend the FB group so you can get the facts. It isn't a given that they have to skip a year at secondary either. This is entirely up to the HT and most don't want to muck up targets by having a child miss year 7.

If I read your OP correctly then your child was premature and if their due date would have put them into the following year, you have a stronger case.

Go to the FB and search for Flexible School Admissions for Summerborns.

I deal with summer born applications although I'm not a decision maker. When considering a request to defer a place we look at things like, premature birth, development delays including speech and language, what the parent hopes will be the outcome and why. We also ask for any supporting evidence if the parent has it. We then ask for the opinions of headteachers of the school(s) requested.
We grant about half of the requests. The children then have to reapply for the following year and enter reception. What will happen at secondary stage we don't know especially as many of our secondaries are academies and free schools now and are their own admission authority.

I was still dealing with request to defer until last month for children due to start in September. Apply for the place and then make your request. If it's agreed your place won't be held. If it isn't then you could discuss with the school if she could do a gradual transition over the autumn term or longer

Ds1 had significant speech problems when he started nursery at 3. He had heavy SALT involvement, but his assessments at age 3 showed that his pronunciation was at roughly the stage of your average 18 month old.

School brought him on so much it was amazing to see. He took until about Year 1 to catch up fully, but by Reception his speech was unrecognisable from a year earlier.

I know nothing about deferring but I would just remain open to possibilities as a lot can change in a year.

Many years ago when I started school they used to do staggered entry so children were5 or nearly 5 when they started school.

I prefer the Scottish system in which the age cut offs run March to Feb so that come August when kids are starting school the youngest is at least 4 and a half and some kids are almost 5and a half.

I have dtds who were due end of September but were born end of August. They started school 2 days after turning 4 and I was concerned. School has been amazing. They've just finished reception and the hit all their expected levels with a couple of exceedings. They have been very tired up until the last term but other dc who were struggling were able to do part time until whenever they were ready. It's about working with the school. A year of developing makes a big difference and only you know what's right for your dc but in my experience (not just with my school but with other summer borns) if there is no sn then they are fine. Schools do consider it when setting work and reception is largely play based with lots of singing. Chat to your hv and see what they think.

YANBU, not at all. Personally I support the research that shows children don't get much out of education besides social skills for several more years, and I have advocated homeschooling since I did my very first psych/soc qualifications and saw the evidence showing just how messed up the educational system in the UK is. Then I had a very bad experience with DS and his school when he was 5/6, the sort of experience that may have literally crippled him for life, and I have definitely become a fan of deferring, especially in cases like your DD's where they already have delays and issues and will need one on one support.

You to what's best for you, forget what naysayers so. There are so many sheeple in the country who think school is best for your kids 'cause that's what society tells them to say, and you need to stop and think about the issue and how it applies to you and come to your own conclusions. It sounds like you're doing well.

In your position, I would definitely defer.
www.facebook.com/groups/121613774658942/
Flexible School Admissions for Summer Borns Facebook group can help you.