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Original poster

Experiences in deferring reception?

33 replies

JoeyRamoney · 31/07/2023 13:21

We are considering deferring our summer born 3-year-old to start reception in 2025 as opposed to 2024.

On paper, there are many pros, but there are niggling cons such as the difficulty we may have keeping her in cohort if we move (likely given we are currently renting), the fact she is already very tall and will stand out physically (although I ask myself if I would have this worry if she had been born a month later and in the 2025 cohort...). People seem to mention sports a lot but as we live in a major city, any clubs she does are unlikely to be with the same kids from school and I hope would be widening her social circle anyways.

Am I missing any other cons? Anyone had any regrets?

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JoeyRamoney · 31/07/2023 14:32

Apricotton · 31/07/2023 14:29

Apologies for being a bit negative, but I wouldn’t leave it until 20 weeks before school starts to apply for an EHCP. It may go smoothly for you (and I hope it does) but so so many people get turned down for a needs assessment. My dd was a shoo-in on paper for a needs assessment and was turned down. We ended up having to appeal- this added 6 month plus to the process and waiting times for tribunals are growing all the time.

I’m delaying my dc’s Reception start due to being summer born and having SEN. I’ve been told that I will need to get panel to agree to her starting Reception next year (rather than Year 1) and there are no guarantees. There’s no way they can argue it would be in her best interests to skip Reception though.

You’re welcome to message me if you want.

Thank you so much - I will DM you!

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Cheesenpickleontoast · 31/07/2023 15:26

I agonised over this decision with my August born DS. I didn't defer in the end and it was the right decision for him. About a third of the children in his class are also summer born, which helps. The teachers and TA's in Reception were experienced and used to dealing with summer borns and anxious parents. He has needed extra help from me with learning to read as phonics weren't working. I don't know if this is much help, except to say it depends on the school, the experience of the teaching staff and his peers. The first two you may get a better feel for by lots of research and school visits.

OvertakenByLego · 31/07/2023 16:44

JoeyRamoney · 31/07/2023 13:59

I think lots of schools are still open to accepting an EHCP deferral, but they dont HAVE to. So its a risk! Apparently the workaround is to get the reception place agreed and then apply for your EHCP around 20 weeks before school starts....

I just keep telling myself 'Would I be worrying about this if she had been born in September?'. I was tall, I was self-conscious about it. I think it's natural to try and protect children from bullies but...they can literally find anything if they want to.

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With an EHCP, if the deceleration is written into F as it should be, then it must be provided.

Not applying for an EHCNA until 20 weeks before DC start school is extremely risky. Many parents have to appeal, some more than once, and the wait for appeal is long. That’s before you consider LAs often breach the statutory 20 week timescale and parents have to enforce the deadlines.

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Amidlifecrisis · 31/07/2023 16:51

mamaison · 31/07/2023 13:36

Currently, the deferral doesn’t automatically carry on to secondary school (in my borough of London at least) so she could have to leave after Year 5. This is the situation of someone I know whose daughter has just completed Year 5. Mother had to jump through hoops, ringing around secondary schools and finding SENCOS that would support a deferral and applying to those schools. They are getting support with this because of an EHCP.

Child was premature and is in their adjusted age class now.

Unfortunately, my daughter hates being the tallest in the class. Also be aware that your child may be more likely to go through puberty and get her period before her peers (something which I hated).

No more likely than someone who was born a few weeks later in September and is in the “right” year? The normal range for starting puberty covers a span of years so it’s very unlikely to be an issue.

mynameiscalypso · 31/07/2023 16:53

We were in a similar position last year. DS doesn't have any additional needs but was very slow to start talking and is certainly at the bottom end of normal now. He's 4 in a couple of weeks and heading for school shortly after. He is so excited to start - he loves learning and letters/numbers and is finding nursery increasingly frustrating because he's bored. I angsted about the decision a lot but as we get closer to it, I'm confident we made the right choice for him. I was also a bit put off by some of the difficulties that children are facing now when they get to secondary school.

We had a lot of good advice from his school too and we met the Deputy Head to discuss deferral in detail and he spent a bit of time playing with DS. They also mentioned that, although they don't advertise it, they would also support DS repeating Reception in the unlikely event that he struggled.

I think the decision is going to be very different for every child but definitely worth engaging with potential schools now.

Sadiegirl87 · 31/07/2023 17:29

mynameiscalypso · 31/07/2023 16:53

We were in a similar position last year. DS doesn't have any additional needs but was very slow to start talking and is certainly at the bottom end of normal now. He's 4 in a couple of weeks and heading for school shortly after. He is so excited to start - he loves learning and letters/numbers and is finding nursery increasingly frustrating because he's bored. I angsted about the decision a lot but as we get closer to it, I'm confident we made the right choice for him. I was also a bit put off by some of the difficulties that children are facing now when they get to secondary school.

We had a lot of good advice from his school too and we met the Deputy Head to discuss deferral in detail and he spent a bit of time playing with DS. They also mentioned that, although they don't advertise it, they would also support DS repeating Reception in the unlikely event that he struggled.

I think the decision is going to be very different for every child but definitely worth engaging with potential schools now.

That's great you were given the option of potentially repeating reception if needed takes the pressure off! My DC school said it would have to go to the board of governors if once enrolled DC wanted to repeat a year. Hopefully it doesn't come to that but I would fight it if needed!

Sprogonthetyne · 31/07/2023 17:50

My 3yo DD's a September birthday and I'm so glad she has another year, as she's no where near ready. I don't think she would be any more ready if her birthday was a week earlier. She's also not noticeably taller then any other other kids in her nursery year group, and I wouldn't have thought kids a week older then her are much different.

Flower83 · 03/09/2024 10:33

Hi Apricotton,

What is the decision for your process? Has the panel agreed to defer reception for a year?

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