C section brought forward and will now mean a different school year!

[Mitzymarvel]

Having an ELCS for a few reasons, which was booked in for 1st September. Everyone told me how great that was as LO would be the oldest in their year rather than the youngest.

However, today the dr requested it get brought forward because the baby’s abdomen growth has tailed off a little. The earliest they could do was one day ahead - so now 31st August.

Seems pointless to me but obviously should assume dr knows best. I’m just worried now everyone convinced me that being September born was much better than August.

Any thoughts on whether it’s a big disadvantage? Obviously baby’s health is the most important thing but it’s one day that makes a big difference!

Teacher here. Yes it can be very obvious in EYFS/KS1 who are the late summer borns but it usually evens out by upper KS2. I once taught a 31st August boy in Year 1, when he was literally at the stage of rolling around on the carpet in lessons and falling asleep in the book corner. He’s now 14 and top set in everything - he caught up with the others by Year 4.

I’d wait and see how your child is getting on nearer the time tbh. We wont be able to defer our August born because of childcare reasons, so cost is a factor but if you can manage that then you’ll have the option to wait and see.

Honestly, as you've said the Dr has advised that the extra day early is required so personally I'd go with it, and decide on schooling closer to the time based on your child's needs :)

There's pros and cons of both, August baby would be infinitely cheaper for childcare, as they'll catch all the support from the September. DD2 is may and she doesn't get the childcare offers etc until the September so it costs more. DD1 is October, she's very bright and loves being the oldest in the year, but I'll have paid for almost 1hour year of extra childcare for year vs DD2. At least being an August baby you'll have the choice.

Congratulations, its nearly baby time!!!

As an August birthday I'd be very against you deferring a year - I'm surprised it's given as an option now, someone always has to be the youngest!

My eldest was booked in for a C section on the 3rd September and I went into labour so had the section on 31st August.

Your child's health comes first. Deferring the year would have been detrimental to her as she adores school and learning (now in juniors). Just see how it goes, ultimately your child can be happy as the eldest or the youngest in the year.

I'd also explore why you may want them to defer, some have genuine reasons but others just want their child to be the brightest and best in the class which isn't a good reason in my opinion.

I have a august baby who was the youngest in the year and he is doing fine. I really wouldn't worry about it. When they are born has no bearing on if they are going to be a child who wants to learn or not.

By the he is exceeding at maths on his last report on where they should be.

My DD will be starting school the week after her 4th birthday and she's absolutely ready. If she hadn't been, I'd have deferred her but we didn't even consider it. Someone has to be the youngest 🤷🏼‍♀️

I'm a late august birthday - long before the option to defer was there and it hasn't made any difference to me. I didn't struggle at school and academically I did better than some of my friends born in September. My point is it's just as much about the individual child and you can make the decision at the time when you have an idea of how they are doing.

Dd1 was due in the second week of September, but arrived in the middle of August. I don't think being the youngest in the class had any effect on her education. She made friends, went on playdates, and kept up academically. In those days there was no option to hold back starting school. I am an August birthday myself, and never had any problems at school due to being one of the youngest in my year group.

I have August born twins (about to start year 6). They were due in September but had to have them 5 weeks early. One could have honestly benefitted from deferring (diagnosed ASD at 7) Was behind across the board until year 3. However he has now caught up thanks to some excellent teachers and is now where he needs to be and even above in some areas. Other one is greater depth across the board. Don't stress this, do what is right for the health of the child. They will find their way. You have time to see how it all pans out. Most important thing is a healthy, happy baby. Good luck!

This!!

I think it depends on the child. DS is late July and was more than ready for school.

I would much rather that than pay an extra year of childcare.

It depends on your council but where I work I am pretty sure they do not pay the 30 hours to voluntarily deferred children as they are school age with no SEN. I'm not sure about the free 15 hours though.

DS was fine, he was easily able to keep up and wasn't the smallest.

Congratulations on your impending baby, whatever date they're born it will all be fine.

That's an illegal admissions policy. Legally you can request a reception start the term after a summer-born child turns 5 and you're not obligated to provide any reason/evidence other than the fact that they are summer-born. It is up to the admissions authority what year group they place a child in, but there is strict criteria for assessing this, the only way they can force the child to enter year 1 is if they can demonstrate it is in the best interests of the child. And really when would it ever be in the best interests of a child to miss the whole of reception? A blanket 'no' except for 'special circumstances' is an illegal admissions policy. Lots of schools are unfortunately clueless about the law in this area and it can sometimes be a fight to ensure a reception start, but many people up and down the country are doing it, more and more every year. As I said before, the best place for info about this is the 'Flexible school admissions for summer born children' Facebook group.

Just to reassure you that I thought this 6 months ago but at 3.5 my DS is going to be totally fine when he starts next September at almost 4.5. They change so quickly at this age. It helps going to nursery and already having a school-like routine.

@Mitzymarvel don't know if this helps but I was born 31/08, my Mum has confirmed she was slightly concerned as I was 3 weeks early, but I never had any issues with not being up there with the older students in the year - in fact my grades and development surpassed a lot of them. In some ways it felt like I got a head start when it came time to go out into the real world!

Go with the medical advice. DS1 is a Kate summer baby I was really worried he wouldn't cope with school but he has absolutely blossomed.

Neither end of the school year is great - if the oldest they may be more than ready to finish nursery at nearly 5.

I have a late August baby too, 17 next week he did have a few struggles in school but I don't think they were down to his birthday. You need to just remember to make allowances. Primary schools get this every year and Reception are used to dealing with it and wont' have the same expectations of the youngest ones.

I have a July child and a September child . It really hasn’t made any difference to their education and achievements.
If I had to really choose I would go for September mainly from a social side ie driving, celebrating big birthdays etc !
I would have thought that if 24 hrs made a difference to your baby health they would have had you in by now but I obviously do not know the reasons for their decision making.

You could call your local LA and ask what the general policy is though some trust schools may have their own. Here it seems to have been up to a school's discretion.

A bday that late is likely to be more easily deferred though I will add that it's very much worth waiting to see what your child is like. I know an august born boy who has deferred but actually seems very socially and academically able and I think would have been fine. He's 10 months older than my son and will be in the same class. Ironically I could actually defer my own son but he's certainly school ready! Which I wouldn't have said 3 months ago.

Another friend wanted to defer her July born son who I feel is going to be more capable than my own at settling at school. In the end they've decided not to.

A less socially able child may benefit especially if they have additional needs - this was really set up for children who are premature, so due date would have been in the autumn, and can sometimes have some delays. A friends daughter was 3rd sept - this has been beneficial as she had cleft lip and palate and some hearing/ communication delays. If she's been august they'd have definitely deferred.

You'll benefit from the 30 hrs sooner with the 31st. If there's real concerns with you child when they're older most las would be flexible.

I personally don't know if any going straight into y1 as reception is so important. I'd avoid a school that does that!

Update: went in for monitoring yesterday and asked to speak to a different dr afterwards. He felt that moving the CS forward by one day wasn’t necessary, and made a call to see if they could move it back. However they couldn’t accommodate it.

Do feel like that first consultant messed us around a bit, and made us feel like it was medically necessary to move CS when it wasn’t. But nothing I can do about it now.

Just have to go with the flow and if we think school should be delayed we’ll cross that bridge if we come to it.

It varies between all children.

Many summer born children are more than ready to go to school at just turned 4, academically and socially.
Some just turned 5y children (September born) aren't quite ready.

On the whole almost all appear to cope really well ime.

Every year we have a handful (from 90 intake) who are deferred. They go into reception and remain with that year group throughout their education.

I personally am very pleased my daughter is August born, she's so advanced in her language, numbers, letters etc I could not imagine her having to wait an extra year for school. Nursery have even said the same. Having a baby in August didn't worry me, I'm a late August baby and did well at school. But on the flip side, my brother had speech problems and being Sept baby was a great thing as gave him an extra year and he was speaking fine by the time he started school.
I think being able to defer its great for those born in Aug and need it, I definitely won't be though!
Do whatever is best for you and your baby, good luck.

My twins are Aug born and missed sept bdays because delivered early and have had no issues as a result. I asked at nursery if they felt ready for school compared to peers and they assured me no difference at all and they'd be fine. They were right - they excelled and always have despite being youngest in class - and like pp said - my two have always been with the tallest in class too so you'd never know based on looks or ability that they are nearly a year younger than some kids in same year

1 day really isn’t much difference so I’m surprised they only gave you that date. How far along are you? I can imagine they will give you a couple of days earlier if possible.

Health of your baby first every time. Can’t believe people are telling you to wait a day.

Mum of two august born children (born by caesarean) who could have been September born if they’ve been a bit overdue. Yes there are advantages to being older in the year but some things are more important.