Deferring school start

[Strategist]

Has anyone successfully deferred their summer born child's school start (and they've started in Reception the following year, not Year 1) without additional needs? Aka even though they're 'typically developing' and you don't have evidence from professionals like speech and language to add to your case? I don't feel my August born child will be ready in a year's time, but I have no good 'reason' to defer other than he will only just be 4.

Yes I have a friend who did, it was brilliant, their DC has got a whole extra year's education for free!

I thought the whole point was you did not need a reason any more?

Yes. I have done it with two of mine. No regrets whatsoever.

i have to say I’ve never understood the idea that a child that your worry will be behind that you then actively hold them back. I don’t get the benefit unless additional needs. I speak as the mum of an august born child.

So basically you just don’t like that he’ll be the youngest in the year? If you have no good reason, then why do you want to hold him back?

There are loads of benefits. Improved cognition, communitarian, confidence - not to mention more developed motor skills so improved ability to hold a pen, get changed, tie laces and so on. I’m in Scotland where it’s really common now to defer until age five.

The issue won't be with deferring as such, because there is no legal duty to send your child to school until the term after their 5th birthday. Your issue will be in negotiating whether they start in R or Y1 the following year as this is down to individual head teachers to decide. It's probably worth scoping out which if any head teachers locally to you would be likely to accommodate your wishes.

@OnlyFoolsnMothers the worry is that they'll be behind compared to those in their class, impacting on their confidence and school success, not that they'll be behind compared to people their exact age... August born children on average have worse long term outcomes. And tbh the thought of my 2 year old starting school in just over a year feels very odd.

It’s not the idea they’ll be behind, it’s that they’re more ready to start school - emotionally and physically - if they’re older. I‘m all for it.

The benefit is by the time the child gets to GCSEs they have had an extra year's educational input. They get two years' pre-school ( 3 & 4) instead of one year (3) so go into school having had more education and this then helps every year after.

@ClocksGoingBackwards I'm concerned that he'll be a lot more immature and not ready for learning than other children in the year, poor attention etc. And statistically outcomes for summer born children aren't great.

There is no such thing as 'ahead of' or 'behind' another child/other children. A comparative mindset is a total red herring

But there is a benefit to your child of getting the extra year of pre-school before starting school - it will potentially put your own child ahead of where they would be if they enter school at 4. Just focus on what is best for your child alone.

The benefit is by the time the child gets to GCSEs they have had an extra year's educational input. They get two years' pre-school ( 3 & 4) instead of one year (3) so go into school having had more education and this then helps every year after.

Couldn’t that benefit also be considered a huge advantage at the expense of the taxpayer, other children and parents who can’t afford to keep their children out of school?

@carefullycourageous unfortunately human beings compare themselves to each other, and therefore children compare themselves to each other, hence the impact it can have on confidence

Taxpayer - yes. In comparison to others - no, because education is not something where my child doing well is at the expense of yours i.e. you preventing my child getting an extra year won't help yours do better.

It is allowed in the system so what are you going to do to stop it?

Humans who are brought up to compare do this.

My children do not do this!

Well, surely you could apply that logic to loads of things? Is it fair if some people can afford extra tuition and therefore receive better grades? Is it fair that the taxpayer has to pay extra for really short sighted kids to have glasses?

@carefullycourageous good for them 👍🏻

@ClocksGoingBackwards 30 hours free preschool childcare is equivalent to school hours, so everyone who works can afford to keep their kids out of school until they turn 5

There's a really useful Facebook group m.facebook.com/groups/121613774658942/ Flexible School Admissions for Summer Borns.
A kid in my son's class was deferred, has absolutely no problems getting accepted for a Reception start and is flying now at the end of Y1. I can think of almost no downsides and many many many good reasons to defer if you're able to.

@Pudsocks thank you 😊

Lots in info on Facebook group Flexible school admissions for summer borns

I've found it very easy to sort out for my summer born DC

Every single bit of evidence I have read shows that summer born children are at a disadvantage so it was a very easy decision for us to make

Also, to return to the GCSE point, it means they’re making subject choices a full year older. Which can be no bad thing, IMO.

Yes of course if you start later you will be the oldest and there for ahead but it doesn’t mean they shouldn’t start at 4- as for tying shoe laces, 4yr olds use Velcro. Someone has to be the youngest.

No - you’re not automatically ahead by being the oldest. It‘a more about the individual kid being more ready for the regime and routine of school by being older.