I know many people would obviously like it if their child could just repeat a year and make up for missed learning but-
My son is summer-born, just turned 4 a few months ago and started school soon after.
He has just received a diagnosis of ASD, he is very delayed with speech (pretty much like a 2-year-old still) and I have recently learnt from his teachers he is extremely behind where he should be learning-wise, cannot read at all or even hold a pencil correctly or draw beyond scribbles.
I recently learned (after seeing something on twitter of all places) that summer-born kids are actually eligible to defer their school start to the next year. I wasn’t aware of this and it was never mentioned or suggested to me by anybody including nursery who were aware of his delays and issues. If I’d been aware this would have been the best option for him to start next year. I knew he wasn’t ready but always assumed deferring meant the child would have to start new in year 1 rather than reception which is not the case. Gutted that I didn’t realise this was an option.
With lockdown now happening (and spaces only available to key worker children) he’s missing school for the next however many months. I feel so anxious at the thought of him going into Y1 this year when he is still like a toddler and really behind reception-level as it is.
I wish I could just reverse my decision, not send him in again this academic year and have him re-start reception in September. Would I have any chance of this? I know a lot of parents would want their children to make up for the lost learning but I feel my boys circumstances are different. I also know money/funding he took from being in reception for one term could be argued, but he would have been at nursery with 30 hours per week funded instead which must be similar cost-wise.
Anyone been in this position?