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Parenting

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Original poster

Do you know if there's a reason why I can't take my summer-born DS out of reception and start him again in September?

29 replies

Blueyelloworange · 20/09/2025 19:41

My DS, 4, was born in August so started reception a month after his 4th birthday. It is going ok, though he is behind in a few things. We want to move from London to Hertfordshire and the best way to get him into a good school there would be to have him start reception again. If we can move in time to apply there, do you think that would work? And is there anything I need to do like call up the Headteacher of the new school? The council website seems to suggest it could be an option but is a bit unclear.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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Teachingagain · 21/09/2025 12:22

I can’t see how being an August birthday a year behind would be werid. I think it would be worse for all your cohort to be able to start driving lessons and drink up to 11 months before you. I imagine in this sense they’re more likely to feel left behind.

The goverment has published a report in the achievement differences between summer and autumn born children. The attaintment gap there at GCSE level.

Original poster

Blueyelloworange · 21/09/2025 13:50

seven201 · 21/09/2025 12:18

I’m just picking up on your comments about no spaces in the ofsted outstanding schools for current reception. I’m a teacher, please don’t go by ofsted ratings.

I’ve worked in schools rated as outstanding and there’s no way I’d send my own child there. I now work in a good school and I think it’s a brilliant place to be a student. Read the reports, but don’t judge just from the overall ratings.

Thanks that's helpful! You make a great point there

OP posts:

Babyboomtastic · 21/09/2025 14:23

As someone who deferred their summer born, this thread (as usual) is full of errors.

One key thing though is that if you are planning on deferring, then pull him out now rather than waiting.

He doesn't have to start until next September, at which stage the school would have to score they it would be in his best interests to miss reception - ie a whole year of schooling. Given they can't justify that they rarely have a choice in practice even if they originally try to say no.

Again with secondary schools they have to show it would be in his best interests to literally skip year 6 which they can't do. It's often mentioned as a concern but it's scaremongering.

Re grammar schools - check. My local grammar is fine with deferrals as long as they've been with their adopted cohort at least 2 years.

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Families General education General parenting Primary education

arethereanyleftatall · 21/09/2025 14:28

a lot of people are responding as if this a simple ‘deferring a summer born’ situation. But the op isn’t asking for that. She’s asking to do year reception twice. Given how strapped councils/government/everyone is for money atm, I can’t imagine they’d happily agree to one child costing them double for a year without very good reason. I might well be wrong, I have no understanding of what is and isn’t allowed, I’d just be surprised is all I’m saying.

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