Deferring and school funding

[feelingpeckish]

I rang up my LEA and said I wanted to defer my child's place for a term. THe LEA told me they are discouraging the practice of deferring - as is now the parent's legal right until the term after the child turns five or the summer term, whichever is the sooner. They said this was because it affects funding for the schools. However, the acknowledged it was my right to defer and said the school would be contacting us all about admissions procedures in due course and I should raise my interest in deferring then.

Is it true that the school will be affected financially if I defer? I was planning on holding back until January. And is there a time by which I must have informed the school of my interest (ie if I don't contact them by a certain date can the school refuse on the grounds that I should have done so earlier).

Would like to be clear about this so I am clear when talking to the school, if they follow the LEAs line and try and discourage me.

Thanks

In my LA the school funding (mainly) is determined by pupil head count on a census day each January. This determines the funding for the next Financial year 9April to March.

Sorry not 9 April but 1 April.

The LA are telling you porkies. The funding for a period from April 2012 to April 2013 is mainly determined by the number of children on role on a set day in January 2012. You are on the role if you have said you want the place and are deferring entry. But having said that if you defer to January you will have started by the census date anyway.
Have a conversation with the school and put the request in writing stating you want the place but are deferring entry to January. That is your right to do so. To be honest I am not sure that it is the right thing to do if all the other kids start in September but it is your decision as to what is best for your child.