DD with Aug birthday - has anyone delayed entry into reception?

[ladyandthechocolate]

So, DD was born 28th Aug 2008 and is due to start school Sept 2012. I was the youngest in my year and have reservations about this for her.
I phoned the school admissions department of our council and they said obviously we could defer her entry until later in the year but that would still make her the youngest in the year. If we wanted to delay her entry so that she starts reception at 5 then she would need to be assessed by an educational psychologist.
Does anyone have any experience of this?

What I found reassuring was finding out about how flexible the school is regarding starting. In my son's year there were a few who did part time (4 days a week) and others who went home after lunch. The school were happy as lOng as kids were full time by the summer term.

My 27 August boy started Reception last September, and yes it was a struggle for the first 6 months or so. But, he is settling in much better now. Our only other option would have been going in in year 1 and I feel that he has learned so much about how a school works this year - the things he struggled with were things like lining up, hanging his coat up, sitting and listening. (Academically he's flying but that was never a concern for me, he is very much that way inclined.) If he'd gone straight into year 1 next September without all of this input about school behaviour from Reception it would have had a bigger negative impact on him in the long run, I think. Ideally though it would have been nice to start him on half days, or even start him around Jan / Feb, but that wasn't an option for us.

I agree that the system is not very flexible and it seems a lot to ask when they are so young. However, I still think it is best to let her start this September, she will in all likelihood not be the only one who is August born. I would start her straight away full time as well, as all friendships are made in these early stages and to give her a good chance to make friends. However, if after half term she is still totally exhausted (not just tired, they all are) maybe then consider 3 full days and 2 half days if school agrees. In the meantime you can help her prepare through toilet training, teaching her to dress herself, do buttons and zips up herself, changing from one set of clothes in other clothes (for p.e.), opening lunchbox and piercing juice packs, etc. Also, talking about school, visiting school on the open day together, so that when she starts she is looking forward to it and feels like a really big girl. Also, most schools allow the parents inside the school when dropping them off and stay for a little bit at the early stages to reassure and help settle them. Probably would help if you could do that but may involve getting help during this time with your other children. In my dd's class there are several very young children and they are absolutely fine.

my dd2 is july born. she is a lucky as she is academically very bright and in top groups for lit/ num etc. now in year 2.

she is also v sociable.

but in someways, she is quite young for her age.

i would agree that an immature summer born has a 'double wammy' to contend with.

to me, it would totally depend on your child, and whether you think she will cope. how is she in relation to her peers?