Delaying school start for summer borns

[toddlermum27]

Hi,

Can anyone let me know the potential downsides to delaying summer borns starting school by a year?

Want to give this balanced consideration but so far have more pros than cons.

Thanks

The main one I can think of is that it might not suit the child.

I think of my daughter, she was ready for school at 4... she's finding it hard enough to wait until September to go as it is.

I think if she had to wait until 5 she'd not be happy.

That said, some children do need that extra time.

There has been so many threads on this recently that I’ve started to wonder if there is a delayed school entry troll. But that would be the most boring troll ever.

If they mess up year 12 then they can’t restart year 12 again in state education and would probably need to try and move to private education.

They may get a birthday card with the wrong number on it from school friends.

People talk about it not suiting the child but I’ve never heard of parents of a September born wishing their child had been put in a year ahead of their peers. There maybe parents out there who think this but I haven’t heard them.

My child was due early Sept. If they had arrived late August instead I would definitely have held them back a year. I'm a teacher and I see it make a big difference.

Not another of these threads!

Stop overthinking it, and get on with it. My DC are all August born, btw, and have all had stellar results, Oxbridge etc (all adults now).

People talk about it not suiting the child but I’ve never heard of parents of a September born wishing their child had been put in a year ahead of their peers. There maybe parents out there who think this but I haven’t heard them.
I’m a September born that was moved up. There were 3 of us in our class at a London private school in the 90s. 2 of us went back to our correct year for Y3 after passing the 7+ for a very competitive school (no idea if that was a requirement or just an advantage to wait). No idea what happened to the 3rd.

Other than the Y12 disadvantage mentioned, in the short term DC could be bored at nursery and miss their friends who are moving up. And you’d have to pay for an extra year.

Many secondarys won't take them outside their current year group ( even if primary approx this), this is especially true for academy's. They may have to miss year 5 or 6 entirely.

I was summer born and did well at school. Depends on the child but lots will be ready for school already and will be bored being held back/ may feel ready for high school earlier.

if you hold them back then there is another year of nursery fees (assuming they go to nursery).

The secondary would have to explain why it’s in the best interests of the child to miss a whole year of education. This can easily be challenged.

@Plumbear2 This is so incorrect.

I agree with PP though. Is there some weird deferral of summer born children troll. These threads are endless.

😂 not a troll - I imagine if there have been other threads it's because it's the time of year people are hearing back if applications to delay have been successful etc. These comments are helpful- thanks

Are you in a selective area (11+)? I know locally there is an issue.

My other "con" would be extra curricular stuff. My DC are very sporty but even playing junior football/ netball / hockey their teammates have been class mates which has solidified friendships / settling in. If you're playing by age group I.e. under 10s / 12s whatever they'd be playing with the school year above.