August baby - deferring primary school entry?

[Janedoelondon]

Hi mumsnetters,

Nervous poster as haven’t posted before, but hoping for some advice.

My little boy is 5 months old and was born at the end of August last year. He will be just 4 when he can start primary school.

I was chatting to someone at a group today who was saying I may need to look to defer my little boy’s entry to primary school in a few years’ time, as he’ll be the youngest in the year and may struggle vs those who are older in his cohort.

I know there has been quite a bit of research done into August born vs September born babies so this wasn’t exactly news to me, (others have pointed it out to me before!) but has got me a little worried.

Do any of you have experience doing this with your little ones? Or any August babies who started school having just turned 4 who have been absolutely fine?

Also, has anyone made the decision for their little one to start primary school aged 4, see how they get on, and if they are struggling, then hold them back a year? My worry is it may be difficult to know how a child will adapt until they are in a school setting, so keen for thoughts.

Thanks so much, really appreciate it. Anxious mum here!

FYI you can apply for a school place at the usual time and request a CSA start alongside it, then decide nearer the time if to accept the place at 4 or not. Do you have time to see how your little one gets on and what you think is right for you.

I'm a late august birthday, I would not have been pleased to have had to do an extra year of school at 16. I went to university at just 18

My son's best friend was born right at the end of August, did well at school, good degree and great job. His main complaint was he couldn't go pubbing or clubbing in the final year at school so felt left out of social stuff.

You've got a while before that is an issue.

My premature August baby thrived at school. Always thought it was great and has excelled now older.
My friend had 2 August babies, 2 years apart, one was the oldest in the year because held back, the other the youngest. They were only one school year apart because of the decision. Neither parents or children regretted the decision. It was the right choice for their children.
By the time your baby gets to 3 you will know what will be right for them.

No experience in this but I do think it would depend on the child. My child has just turned 4, so will be middle of the road when she starts in September. However if she was thrown into a reception, she has the confidence, and according to her preschool, the necessary skills
to start school just after her 4th birthday. As people say someone has to be the youngest. I remember on my school year there was someone born 1st September, and then someone 31st august in the same school year. If I remember correctly the august born child did better at school than the September born

My oldest will be 4 in July and is starting school in September. I know she's going to be fine. She's very advanced for her age.

I wouldn't put much thought into it while your little one is so young.

My first born is now 11 and in year 7 and was born in August. Has had no issues at all so far and has been where he should for his age all throughout primary school and doing well in secondary so far. I didn’t defer him he started at 4 years old. Attended a childminder till 3 then was in a school nursery.

Second born is a July baby is 6 years old in year 2 and has done amazingly went to a private nursery then started school at 4. He is above his age in reading and where he should be for everything else.

3rd baby is only 7 months old and born in July too so will see how he is once he turns 3 years old but most likely will start school at 4 if I feel he is ready for it.

Mid August DD who is 18 months and I always follow these threads with interest!

She's in nursery 4 days a week and as it stands not thinking of deferring her entry. She's my younger DC so that's a factor but she struts round the toddler room at nursery like she owns the place! Things may change over the next 18 months and will also take advice from the nursery staff when the time comes to decide.

I’ve known several parents make this decision basically at birth and have never understood that. Every child is different. My own spring born child, if I could have started her a year earlier I would have. nothing that has happened in her school life has ever made me think that would have been a poor decision. She has always chafed at how slowly the curriculum moves. If you find yourself with a similar child and delay him a year, you will be facing a child who comes to hate school and possibly develops behavioral issues.

when your son is 3, put him into a nursery/pre-school like setting and see how he does with his cohort group. Watch him over the year. If he seems ready, send him along with the rest of the kids to school, or he isn’t ready, keep him back a year at that stage.

It depends on child. My 2nd is August born and i have no plans to defer him unless i really think he needs it when he is 3 and we are applying for schools. I think he'll be fine as a 2nd child, plus i know what is expected for reception year now, so better prepared than i was with my first

How does this work for secondary school start and grammar school?
Can they stay in their deferred year group? If so, there is a definite advantage in taking the 11 plus a year older.

I have a July born. Not deferred and once reception was over he's been fine. Gradually worked his way up to top sets and very capable. I feel more sorry for him as he reaches the end of secondary school as his friends will all be able to drive and to drink (not at the same time) way before him.

My august DD is really struggling and really behind despite beautiful behavior and willingness to try.

I wish I'd of deferred her but I was desperate for her to start school as I had just had her baby brother

@EarthlyNightshade you have to request permission for them to be “out of cohort” for secondary too. However few schools would not agree because let’s be honest which school would want a child to skip a year and affect their stats.

Sorry I’m not sure about the 11+ as that isn’t applicable to us. However I believe I remember reading once that it had to be done at that age and it was scored relative to age. That’s only a vague recollection though.

Oh poor bean. Is she just in devotion still?

Reception I meant

Hi I’m so glad you asked this question. I have a September born daughter and a June born daughter and I’m a primary school teacher as well. I think the school system is stacked towards the eldest children tbh,e.g my September born child and the September born girl in my daughter’s class were given the narrator roles in the nativity and then were given extra time to practice lines and had enhanced vocabulary as a result. E.g Rainbows starts age 5 so the eldest children have two or three terms of activities ahead of the others.

I was convinced by the school to not educate out of age and I accepted that as I know I have to make up the gaps with my child who is June born. I do extra phonics and reading with her to make sure she does not fall behind the ahead group. It is clear that some of the summer born children do not have that support at home and are struggling. I think if you can support at home your child will be fine, but be prepared to make sure their summer born status is taken into consideration when any assessments are done. They deserve some leeway and some alternative ways to access learning.

I deferred my August born daughter and she started in reception last year at just turned 5, (you’re entitled to do this under English law - there is a very helpful FB group called Flexible School Admissions for Summer Borns that you might find helpful). She had no extra needs, I had no concerns about her, and she has always been a very confident child. I just wanted to make the transition to ‘proper’ school easier for her, and give her an extra year of play at nursery. She has loved school since the day she started - no wobbles, no tiredness after school, no struggle to adjust. It was definitely right for us. (Also, not sure if this has been answered yet but our 30 hours funding for nursery carried on all the way up to her start at school). Good luck with your decision :)

I'm a primary school teacher and have always thought we start school too young in this country, and that summer born children are at a disadvantage, although it does depend on the child. I taught a mixed class of summer born year 2s and autumn born year 1s for a few years which was interesting, there was less of a gap between the year groups than you might think and many of the year 2s struggled with SATs etc.

Having had my daughter in August I was always keen to defer her for this reason, but more so once it became clear she had social/ emotional difficulties. The extra year at nursery was definitely right for her, and part way through it they referred her on the ASD pathway too. We were lucky that our area is very accepting of deferrals/ starting at CSA. She started reception class last September aged 5 and a couple of weeks and we're so glad we made the decision to defer. She had a rocky start to school anyway because of her difficulties, but even when she was struggling socially/ emotionally, she was so keen to learn and eager to go to school. The staff have been amazing at getting to know her quirks, helped by the fact that nursery had flagged up potential ASD, and she's doing really well now. It helps that she's fairly small for her age too, so doesn't look at all out of place! Overall I'd say it totally depends on the child but it's worth considering, especially as it's not just about the reception year.

@Weallgottachangesometime she is in year 2.
I find that 1 year makes so much difference in every aspect at this age. She seems so young compared to others. Despite being the tallest 😆

I’m in Scotland, our school term starts in august. I joined school aged 4 and didn’t turn 5 until the February so one of the youngest in my year. I don’t recall ever struggling emotionally or academically, my parents said there were no issues but I appreciate all children are different. I know some family friends who deferred their child’s place as they didn’t feel like they were emotionally ready and they are really happy with the decision they made. I think you will probably know in your gut what the right choice is when the time comes

It really does make a difference.

Thank you all so much for all your responses - a real mix of opinions which is great, and will take this on board.

I know I am a little early worrying about this!

DD is mid-august and DS the end of July - neither were held back - DD would have benefited but it wasn't an option then, at that time she'd have just gone in to Y1 which wouldn't have helped. She is dyslexic and ASD - both diagnosed in teenage years - we think if she had been allowed to delay entry to Reception these things would have been picked up and not just put down to her being one of the youngest.

DS on the otherhand was so ready for school when he started a few weeks after his 4th birthday. He was top table and then top set the whole way through school - he is Y11 predicted great grades and hasn't been bothered by being summer born at all - but I dont think he would have done better if her delayed entry - think he would have just been bored

You know your child -- wait and see till nearer the time. Talk to the nursery and potential schools and see what they say when the time comes - it ay be appropriate but it may not.

Hi OP, my two oldest DC's are August babies, one of them right at the end, in fact almost the cut off for that year group.

We sent them straight in to full time nursery at the local primary school at 3 years old. I think the system has now changed in regards to ages and starting full time but that's as it was when they started. They also attended a pre nursery from 2 years old for 4 hours a day and they both coped absolutely fine.

School has never been an issue for either of them and they are on par or excelling in all aspects of school when compared to their peers. I honestly think pre nursery helped that but it's mostly down to the individual child.

I'm also a late August baby and never had any issues in school.

My son is a july baby and started reception this year. He's totally fine. He was at a pre school which helped. He is repeating quite a bit he already knows to be honest. I think he would have been bored stupid with another year at nursery.

The only issue we've had is after school. We thought he'd be ok in an after school club as he was used to longer days at nursery but that was just too much for him. So he now has a childminder 2 days a week.

You won't know until later if he's ready so don't worry yourself at this stage.