Child repeating reception what are the limitations for senior school?!

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Exactly that!

Our son got behind due to covid, didnt really get any preschool and as a result is currently repeating reception, he's now doing well, loves school and will be going up into year one in September. I'm not sure if he'll ever catch up to go into his correct year group later on, or if he'll stay in his current one. If he doesn't, are some of the independent senior schools 13-18 a bit funny about taking him, even though he may have got the appropriate grades/passed all the admissions stuff they now require children to do?!

Anyone have any insight would be grateful.

I don't think people are being mean, they're understandably baffled. OP is wondering what the long-term implications are. Working out whether any SEN is at play or otherwise what reason why the child went back a year at the beginning of their schooling is pertinent to being able to give a realistic answer about how it might pan out.

Yep.

Hope you got at least a few useful replies OP and best wishes to you and your little boy.

Interesting. My child is 16 months younger, in her final term of reception, and managed to attend nursery and preschool despite COVID. As did all of her classmates.

Why would you be aghast at people enquiring as to whether there are any SEN issues? SEN is not an insult FFS! It’s just a question given that the situation you’ve described about a parent WFH and a parent having to go out to work and therefore a lot of preschool being missed is so far from unusual they’re wondering whether there were some more specific factors at play. Sounds like there aren’t, he was just trying to keep up with a pushy prep school level rather than a normal reception level.

We've had him assessed twice, both privately and on the NHS - he doesn't have SEN.

Sigh I'm not saying it was, and this is going off topic to my original question, so I'll leave it here but thanks for commenting.

I'm glad they did, mine however, did not. 🙄

What assessments did you have done?
For example if they assess for ASD they won't pick up dyslexia

Your child may struggle with any school which uses age standardised testing as they are a whole term older than the oldest in the class (if August birthday, you are only max month older, but the further away, the lower they may appear to their age).

They may have issues with school sport as they are out of age so much, not just a month, and no SEN which is another area sports organisations consider if making exemptions). But if not into sports won't be a problem or if ok to play up a year, but would be an issue in last year of prep so may want to move to Seniors before prep ends in year 8.

I would add I know many children assessed at age 4/5 for ASD and been told they dont have ASD who are later re-assesed and do

Completely normal in the independent sector, both going up a year or down. You may find some super selectives are not keen but I’ve never known an independent think it’s a problem. One of the plus points of private education.

MillbankTower · Today 22:28
I would add I know many children assessed at age 4/5 for ASD and been told they dont have ASD who are later re-assesed and do

I would echo this... and experienced it with one of my own DC. OP, I wouldn't dismiss SEN out of hand even if you did have assessments.

Have you gone straight to private? It sounds like they are letting your child down tbh. Look at the local state schools.
Even private primaries well only private actually, pull kids down to make them look good. It is not about pushing him but reception I not a difficult curriculum. Like count to 20 and know colours and some not all phonics. So repeating it is very very unusual if not sen as he'd catch up in yr1. Is it his social skills?

Thats really reassuring to hear, thank you. He's in a lovely prep school at the moment who have been really supportive, and would like him to go onto a private senior at 13 or I guess in his case it would be 14. Its more about whats right for him and his confidence than trying to force him into something hes not quite there yet for.

I mean difficult academics, it's eyfs focused on social and communication skills, sitting still and listening, turning the pages of a book, taking turns. Gross and fine motor skills, pen holding etc. Not pushing to a test.

Yes we went straight to private. For him to be honest I think it was primarily hand strength, he just didnt have any!! He's only just got confident with his writing now and emotional. His reading and maths are pretty good. His emotions are much much better than they were.

I would check out state. Just to see. Look at the work, books etc. In my experience private schools are not necessarily better. It does totally depend on area and school though. State schools have stricter regs and qualifications. But large classes.

thats interesting, thanks, yes he is being assessed regularly through the school and we are getting him assessed yearly as well. His reading and maths are great, it was primarily his hand strength, he couldnt write his name when he started, and took him until half way through repeating the year to get there with it. He's better now thankfully. I would also say emotionally he wasnt ready, he would run off, refuse to walk with the other kids etc. He's nothing like that now (thankfully!). We'd done all the normal things, nursery, preschool, playdates, ex curriculum clubs, weekend sport etc.

You need local authority approval to be out of year. It's unusual but not impossible.

I’m another that’s baffled at repeating reception- only because reception is a year of learning through play, and I really don’t get how you can be “behind” at playing and learning about the school environment. Ime reception is very fluid with it’s aim, and you can’t “fail” it so there’s be no need to repeat.

which is why people are asking about SEN.

it makes a bit more sense that it’s an independent, as they might be more rigid about goals and learning from the start. Or possibly seeing an extra year of £££, or wanting children to be “advanced” so their results tables look good.

My dd played sports competitively through school and we had to provide her birth certificate to prove her age for her to be able to play in tournaments as it's by age. This is one potential issue. Another is your child may resent being held back later

Im not sure not writing his name is enough to holdback if he can read words and count past 20 he should be in year 1. How much of this us to get the school good results in 10 years time and how much to support him? Does he want to be a year older in sixth form? An adult in April of year 12? There are lt considerations here too, although sounds like he could skip back up easily.

You also need to be prepared that at the end of the repeated year or even mid way through the school may say that it isnt working and ask you to leave.

Do you have a plan B?

I'm not in the UK but this whole post has baffled me (honest to god I'm not meaning to sound rude) but surely it's not uncommon for a child for whatever reason to be older than others in the class. Someone will always be the oldest and someone will be the youngest. Why on earth should it affect things later on? Im actually gobsmacked that someone has suggested that tutoring is needed. Why on earth would a school down the line need to know that a child repeated their first year at primary school. Why would this information ever be relevant?

OP as someone mentioned above join the Flexible School Admissions for Summer Borns group on Facebook. They are very knowledgable and supportive and there are about 20k people on there so it’s not as rare as is being made out.

mumsnet is not the best place to get support or info in this regard.