Changing school year after being abroad?

[Treeskater]

We're planning a move abroad soon with our DC where they will attend a British School. Dd's birthday is right at the end of August which means she is struggling at this end of the school year as she is so exceptionally tired. Her teachers have said they've noticed a decline in her level of work and she is finding friendships very hard as she lacks the emotional maturity of the children almost a year older than her.

My question is that the country we are moving to starts the school term on August 28th/29th and we would have the choice for her to re-do Year 1 or go to Year 2. We'd love for her to re-do Year 1 and be the eldest as opposed to the very youngest but we're worried about what will happen on our return. Is there any chance that she will be able to enter a school at the year she has been working in abroad or would she have to go to the year group with her actual age group, therefore missing a whole year and still being the youngest? Has anyone done this or known anyone who has?

If it's a state school, it's likely that they will put her into the year with her same-age peers, and offer additional help to catch up with the work.

If it's an independent school, they may be able to be more flexible.

I would let her start Y2 in September and see how it goes. The gap between September-born and August-born does narrow as they get older.

How long are you likely to move away for? It is highly likely she would be expected to join her chronological peer group so you run the risk of her "missing" a year later. If you can use the independent sector on return you might have more chance. However ime the gap closes pretty quickly and the difference may not be so marked in a year or two, especially if other children in the class are not native English speakers, so it all evens out.