Children out of their chronological year group and admissions to (independent?) secondary school- thoughts and experiences please

[TheBeekeepersDaughter]

Our son is due to start reception in September, a month after his forth birthday. He's had a difficult start to his education, as he had been chronically ill with ENT infections, and hearing loss and has verbal dyspraxia (although his underlying language skills are age appropriate). Since having an adenotonsillectomy/grommets in April he has made huge progress and his hearing is now good, although I feel he will be starting school 'on the back foot'. The difference in language skills between him and the older children starting is enormous and learning to read will (I think) take time.

He will attend an excellent (Montessori) primary school with an hour of additional support each day and I have no doubt that this is the right choice. However, I am also tempted to keep him in their early years classroom (yr R and Yr 1) for 3 years, so he goes from being the youngest in his year to (just) the oldest. Although this won't be obvious in his Montessori setting, I am aware that this means he will be out of year group.

Does anyone have any experience of how independent schools view this in terms of admissions? I would obviously not want him to have 'jump' a year group and also don't want to limit our choice of high schools because of an early decision to keep him down a year. I am aware that 11+ may not be a possibility and that I will probably be able to talk a state school round but would be interested to hear of people's experiences in the independent sector, as we would prefer a selective day school, if possible.

Just read previous post. Perhaps skipping/staying down is not that bad always? Ask the school.

I was put up a year with a Feb birthday and I have nothing good to say about it. My parents insisted I take a year out before uni, quite rightly. I should have repeated a year at age 11 when I changed schools.

However with montessori doesn't each child work at their own pace? And the learning will be structured differently. I think there is a decent chance that he will transfer well into his correct year at a more "mainstream" school after a few years of Montessori.

You can call up a school 7 years in advance and find out their current policy! Of course this could change, especially if the Head changes between now and then, but it will give you an idea. Lots of parents do phone to get a feel for which Prep is a "more natural feeder" or even if the Head rates a particular State primary.

I would keep a careful watch on what you want to achieve by him being out of his chronological year group, and any signs you will look out for to indicate that he may need extra and different help rather than just "more time".

Not sure about the policy of The Ipswich school or Norwich re out of age pupils, but The Woodbridge School (admittedly not as academic in reputation but still selective) is certainly happy to take pupils in non chronological age groups. I know three pupils who have been there recently and all are/have been in the "incorrect" year, one ahead and two behind. One for pretty much exactly the same reason as you. I dont think the Independant sector generally will be much of a problem, as long as you are able to pay, it may just be some of the "elite" schools that may be a problem or if you are looking for scholarships (academic or sport particularly).

I'm in Scotland, dc with birthdays in the two months before the cut-off (end feb up here) get to choose which year to start and in our area lots go in as the oldest in the year i.e Start a year later. Every secondary teacher I know said deferring in this way was a good idea for boys as they needed a bit longer to learn to focus on exams.

I also have friends moving to England now and their dd is going back a year to start at an independent school - she has a July birthday and is at the end or primary here but would otherwise have to go into y8 missing the first year of secondary. I know others who have repeated years around year 6/7/8 but always with a change of school or area.