What do you think schools will look like in September?

[Cadoo]

I have a DD is y8- she's getting on well with home schooling but looking forward to getting back to friends/clubs etc. She's not really had that experience yet- she went into lockdown in mid Y7. I'm sad for her but not worried.

My youngest DD is due to start reception in September and is summer born. I'm seriously considering holding her back this year if school is still full of restrictions. I can't see the benefit of sending her to school if her routine is going to be interrupters every few weeks with closures/isolations or teachers striking/unhappy because they are worried.

What do you think school will look like IN September? I just can't imagine life eve being normal again at the moment and it's depressing!

I don’t think next winter will be back to normal so in your situation I would delay the entry for a year without hesitation.

Agree winter won't be normal.

But I'd be sending mine in if I felt it was safe.

Will schools let people hold children back a year? If lots did this one year will be massively undersubscribed and the other over subscribed.

As for what September will look like anyones guess ranging from near normal to the same or worse than now.

Unless your summer born's birthday is the last 2 weeks of August I don't think you can actually hold them back a year. Although you don't legally have to send them to school as an under 5, they would just join reception later in the year or y1 the year after.

Even if there are still restrictions I'd still send them. A child doesn't know what is normal school at that point so they will just accept what they are told is happening. They aren't going to worry about whether school is closed due to holiday or for isolation.

@FlagsFiend that's not correct for England. I think summer born is from 1 April to 31 August and they can start in YR not Y1

I think my decision would be based on the child not the pandemic. A 4yr old wouldn’t know what a school routine would be like only us as parents do. If I thought my summer born would benefit academically from not joining yrR I would “hold them back”. My sis has 2 “summer born babies” both Aug, both girls. The eldest started school age 4 in “correct” year. Has done great no effect at being the youngest is now in year 9 and top sets. Youngest didn’t start until 5 a year “late”, due to my sis having concerns about academic ability based on early years goals at pre-school. She is now in yr4 lower average ability across the board. We think she has avoided many struggles by my sisters decision.

Thanks @ineedaholidaynow I think I'd misunderstood something I'd read ages ago. Just looked up the actual rules and sounds like it is up to the school/council and you'd possible have to argue your case for putting the child in the younger class - www.gov.uk/schools-admissions/school-starting-age

You don’t have to send them till after they turn 5, but it’s up to the school to decide whether they join in reception or year 1. We were refused for 30 August DS so he started last September as we thought a disrupted reception would be better than none at all. He has loved it in terms of meeting new friends, and has learnt a notable amount. Even with being online since Christmas it’s still been better than not sending him!

As an EYFS teacher, we have had a fair few children request to defer over the last two years, it’s pretty easy to do.

As for schools in September-who knows? Hopefully rates will have dropped to minimal levels and it’ll be more normal. After the break of the summer holiday, that will certainly help.

The main issue is our country has large class sizes and small classroom sizes which makes things more difficult.

Normal hopefully. Probably isolation still if there are cases at school but I'd hope they're in full time.

Thanks. She would start the following year in Y1.

She's meeting all her milestones at the moment in some areas is more advanced than her sister at the same age (excellent grasp of phonics/letters but not so great with numbers). I don't have to make a decision until April so will see what life looks like in another 3 months...!