I think I want to delay DS2's entry to reception...

[MissBetsyTrotwood]

... until Sept 2013 and the LA are being unhelpful. I've called them twice and have been met with a blank 'no, we never do that' both times. I understand the issues about entry to secondary school and I don't want him to just start the Sept 2012 intake late. He has SN and is developmentally very very immature.

I had a parents meeting this week where the (lovely) nursery teacher sat and outlined all the EYFS bits he's 'behind' in. She agrees the best scenario all round would be for him to stay back a year. She suspects he has learning difficulties but as he's still really young, and a July birthday it's too early to tell I guess.

So two questions: if the LA won't give me advice, where do I go now? And would he be able to continue at his pre school (it's attached to his eventual primary.)

I have applied for a school place for this year anyway, to cover all bases.

I hope this makes sense. I feel pretty hopeless and have been crying about it on and off all evening so I'm off to bed now but a big TIA.

Hi,
I hope that a good night's sleep helps :)
As I understand it, LEAs will not delay entry to reception by a full academic year, although you can chose to start school full time later than September- perhaps Easter. Technically, a summer born child does not have to go to school until the September after they are 5 (legal requirement is full time education the term after they are 5), but this would put them straight into Year 1- probably not a good thing.
Have you been in to see the school reception- they should be geared up for very young children. What can they offer to make the transition from pre-school to primary a smooth one? Generally a good reception class will provide all the play and craft activities you might expect from pre-school. In addition there is now greater provision for children to continue the EYFS goals in year 1 when necessary.
Sorry if this is all a bit jumbled- it's been a long day! x

MissBetsy, you need to see if you can get him a Statement of SEN. Have a look on the SN children's board, lots of experience there. If you can get an EP to assess your DS and agree that it would be beneficial for him to defer a year, it's the only way you can guarantee he can do so. Some less subscribed schools may be willing to take him out of year group without a Statement but an oversubscribed school cannot by law give him a deferred place if a child of the correct age wants the place.

Try Parent Partnership for advice, they are supposed to be independent of the LA but some are a bit too 'involved.' Have a look at the SN children's board 'useful Mumsnet stuff' on Statutory Assessment for a Statement of SEN.

If the nursery has real concerns about his development, then they need to be referring you to specialist help rather than telling you to keep him back a year. Reception classes can cope with a massive range of levels of achievement, so I wouldn't be concerned about that. If he starts school with a process of assessment already in place, then if he does need extra help, that will come all the sooner. Once your place at the school is confirmed, I'd arrange an appointment with their SENCo and get advice about what you need to do.

Ah, thank you all. A good night's sleep sees me refreshed and ready to start again! He is already 'in the system' with his audiologist, physio and daily speech therapy (the latter instigated by the nursery.) As the nursery is a pre school we have already met the SENCO and spoken about the need for support next year-she was keen to wait to discuss this until later in the year as he is still so young. She said that he would not qualify for a statement at the moment as he was 'coping'. I don't want him to spend all his time at school 'coping'; I want his schooling to be a time of enjoyment!

From your lovely posts I can see I need to push further for SEN assessment. DS1 is currently in Reception at the school so I know the ropes there and it's a huge school-3 form entry so there are a lot of specialisms and resources open to us.

Thanks again. I'm sorry if this is a bit garbled-I'm just exhausted with it all and DH is away. Seeing it all in black and white yesterday in his notes just upset me so much!

You do need to get a proper assessment as soon as possible.

We (DS is 3) are well on that route now but, like you, looking to delay DS's entry into school at the present time.

I'm not sure of your particular situation, but I wouldn't worry about the LEA at this point. I haven't even considered 'asking' them whether DS will go to school (though we have now made an application for the state sector).

DS has a tutor here at home and if I feel it is for the best, then I will continue to home school him and look to start school when he is 5YO.

I feel (based on my situation) that this may well give us the time to understand what it is that makes DS a little different from the average 3YO and I certainly won't be forced to place him in a school before he is ready.

MissBetsy, nurseries, pre schools and LAs always seem to say that your DC won't need a statement, it's their standard fall back position. Sorry to sound paranoid, but it costs money to have a statement and LAs first line of defence is to try to put parents off. You may have some lovely people working with your DS but please don't expect him to get much of anything without a fight. 'Wait and see' is just a time wasting exercise. It takes at least 6 months to get a statement, even if everything goes smoothly with no rejections or appeals.

Your DS may cope well with just school action plus, but that is down to the school to provide or not as they see fit. A statement is a legal document that means any provision on it has to be provided by law, so at least you aren't just appealing to the school's better nature. Obviously, some schools are more inclusive than others but LAs seem to be universally difficult, with limited money and lots of DC to deal with. They seem to forget that that they are dealing with real people and making life changing decisions about real children, not just names on a sheet of paper. (Ranty bit over!)

You can request statutory assessment yourself, and not wait for the school to do so. In fact it is better if you do as you have more rights of appeal than if the school do and get turned down. Obviously better to have the school or pre school on side, but don't wait another 6 months and find he has to start reception and fail before he gets any support. There are standard letters on the IPSEA website which you could look at.

Your DS may cope well in primary with minimal support if he is allowed to defer a year. This law ensuring only 30 DC per teacher in infants has had an unforeseen negative impact on DC with SN and SEN, it used to be so much easier deferring a year. But to guarantee this it needs to be written into a statement. Come over to the SN board and have a nose. There are parents with DC with a large range of difficulties, from dyslexia and dyspraxia to more severe conditions, so don't be shy,

Sorry I've not looked at all the replies. But I suggest that you ask this question on the SEN boards. There will be people who have done this there.

My friend delayed her son's entry by a year and she had to fight, but I think it is possible. Definitely getting a statement gives you more of a voice.

im a reception teacher and ive had two children kept back a year in pre school due to their special needs. they have continued to stay with that group and started rec a year later. only one of these children had statements at the time. sorry i dont know how it came about but wanted to let you know it is possible.

Ash, it's perfectly possible if the school isn't over or fully subscribed.

Thank you so much all. It's been a manic day looking after other people's DCs (strike day) so I've not had much time. Ellen I shall explore that link now the kids are in bed-what lovely detailed, supportive replies there have been here.

I have a big doc appointment with him tomorrow so I will ask her then about the statement procedure. I'm going to write my list tonight so nothing gets forgotten. I'm sure the SN boards will start to be a hang out for me. He has hearing loss (with added complications); he's an intensely sociable, confident, happy child who loves to engage with people but it is becoming apparent that he's not really understanding what is being said to him and is unable to sustain a sequential conversation for longer than perhaps one exchange. I'm going to press for a Psych referral and explore statements.

Thanks again all. Off to pick up the pieces of my house left by the 5 children we had over today!

If he has to start this September I'd rather him start with the rest of the intake instead of having to 'break in' to already established groups later in the year. Im a SAHM at the mo and while I was looking forward to going back to work in September I'd rather him just attend mornings at first or attend part time so he has a chance to ease in gently...

FWIW the school is full every year! East London so not many places left over anywhere!

If your son doesn't get a place in reception his year group will be full for year one and he won't get a place unless someone leaves. I think it is worth asking about starting part time at first.

I definitely don't want him to start in Year 1. That would be too much of a shock to the system. If keeping him back really is not an option I will send him part time and cover as best I can with him whatever happens in the afternoons at home. The reception staff plan jointly (3 classes per year group!) and the teaching plans for the week are in a file outside the classrooms in the reception building for the parents to read. Although it won't be exactly the same for each class the outcomes should be roughly equivalent each week.

Sorry, they're not the teaching plans, I mean the schemes of work.