Delaying starting school until term after 5th birthday - anyone else?

[StarlightMcKenzie]

Just wondered. Have been told by our LA that ds is the only one in the whole county and that he'll be so very behind when he starts.

great advice!

Becaroo, I feel instinctively that this school, eventually, is right for ds. It was wierd but it was actually the children there that made me feel it.

I got to speak to a few, and they are clearly 'used' to having children with difficulties amongst them. One said 'oh, and that's x's trampoline. He's in year z and sometimes finds things frustrating so comes outside and bounces for a bit', and another said 'oh that's y's quiet space. He sometimes goes there instead of the playground because he finds big spaces a bit overwhelming'.

It has an outstanding OfSted rating, but tbh, round here they all do. Complicated story of why we ended up in an area with those 'types' of schools but we chose this one because it was the worst academically which actually means way above national standards all the same.

The 'outstanding' school ds' nursery was in reckoned they had 40% with SN. We chose it because we thought they'd be flexible and understanding.

Turns out they were just arrogant and know-it-alls!

What is the free school meals % at the school your DS's nursery was attached to? National avg = 14%; 25% in London.

those remarks made by the children sound very promising starlight.

Nor sure how to find out exact figure ragged, but Ofsted report says it's above average.

Oh those kid sound fab star

Yeah, pity about the HT. She's knew, so the fab kids aren't her work.

Ah.

Still, sounds like a nice environment for your ds?

new, not knew.

Yes. I really have done my research. Despite the dodgy head no member of staff has left in her 5 terms so the school will be pretty much as it was when the fab kids were created and the staff must feel that they can live with her.

So her dodginess with us might be down to the LA puppetiers!?

God I wish we could just get through this year.

Feel much the same star

sorry, I'm thick and new. What is RL?

Welcome, and you are not thick!

RL = real life

Real Life!!!

Hi Sofiamum!

mrz - a friend was told she couldn't defer her place because the school was overscribed by the headmistress. Could you help me locate where on that document it says by law they have to hold the place till the term the child turns 5. Thank you.

Deferred entry to primary schools
2.69
Where admission authorities for primary schools offer places in reception classes to parents before their children are of compulsory school age, they must allow parents to request that their child?s entry be deferred until later in the same school year. The effect is that the place is held for that child and is not available to
be offered to another child. The parent would not however be able to defer entry beyond the beginning of the term after the child?s fifth birthday, nor beyond the academic year for which the original application was accepted. This must be made clear in the admission arrangements for the school.

page 39

thanks

Hello, StarlightMcKenzie- am coming to your thread late but just to say my child's birthday is in Aug so deferring would mean that he'll start the following year....I got a lot of negative responses so I thought it wasn't even worth trying, and I didn't want him to be at the receiving end of derogatory remarks when at school either.
Apart from the usual civil service/public service reason that they don't like anyone to be different or out of line because it makes admin difficult - in the same way that they won't let Sept born children start a year earlier even when the parents and the child say they're ready (and bored in nursery), don't forget the other reason is that if you have a child with a late birthday, starting state school earlier means the council saves on paying EYFE! My way around this was to find a private school - his entire year has been subsidised for reception, and the smaller class size means he'll get the extra support I think he'd benefit from, mostly in terms of being independent or self -caring and learning to follow rules and structure. We've saved enough to pay the rest that EYFE doesn't cover, so this is a bonus for us, but I think if going for state school, then choose the one that when you visit seem to be supportive and understanding about children who are more immature. By the time they are 9 or 10, of course, the differences in age are less perceptible and less significant.
I don't know what they mean when they say your child will be "behind" - I have seen many academically outstanding children with birthdays late in the year, so they are certainly not behind with regards to exam results. And sport-wise they could eventually do all the same things as everyone else. Where there seemed to be a difference I thought was socially - they tended to be less confident, less self esteem, found it harder to connect with older kids in the class and make friends with children in their class, but not when they did activities with children of all ages. Unless what the council means is that they will be behind because they have to join the same class, not the class in the year below.

I haven't read the entire thread...

My opinion is that the later the kids start school, the better.
For me, the problem is in secondary school, not primary school. And the problem is social not educational.

Once the older kids in the class start to get their freedom to go out and have more 'free' social lives, the younger ones in the class are looking to keep up with the older ones. Think of drinking, for example. Not so bad for a 17 year old to have a drink - what about their not yet 16 year old classmates?? Peer pressure is wicked.

My DDs started at 5. In both their classes the children ranged from 5 yrs 6 mths to barely 4 when starting. I am glad that mine are closer to the older range rather than the younger range.

Same with college - IMO, better to start a little bit older, and hopefully have a bit more maturity. Again, from the social perspective rather than the educational one. Looking back, I think I was too young starting college, and would have benefited hugely being a year older. I might not have abused my freedom quite so badly if I had been a little more mature.

MCos, I think the OP is in England or Wales where a deferred start does not mean joining a younger year group as it does in Scotland. She doesn't have any choice about whether her child will be among the youngest or eldest in the class, only about when to start school.

Thank you. Yes I'm in England. DS will have to go in the same class whenever I start him.

Does anyone know if Reception class is mandatory? I would dearly like my girls to start in Year 1 which would make them 4 years 6 months when starting in the September.

Do you mean them starting on time but in the year ahead?

Yes Starlight - completely missing out reception year.