deferring starting school

[kilmuir]

My Ds has been offered a school place, but we are hoping to go on waiting list for him to attend same school as his sister.
He is not 5 until May. if we defer him starting school, will be still be eligible for 15 hours of 'free' nursery time

yes, he should be.

Yes, children remain eligible for the nursery funding until they reach compulsory education age, so he can go to nursery instead of Reception for the entire year.

However, if you do want to keep hold of the school place he has been offered - because you want to ensure he will have a school place later on and you don't want to risk a worse school than the one you were offered - you cannot defer until Year One, so you would need him to start at some point in Reception.

So basically
1 Put him on waiting list for sister's school
2 Tell the nursery you want him to stay on at nursery
3 Tell the LA you are accepting his place at the offered school and that you wish to defer his start until (say) June

Thanks. Can the school take away his offer once they know he would not be starting until after Easter?

No you can defer to any term. A lot of schools prefer Sept or at a push Jan starts but you have the right as a parent to defer until the summer term if you wish (given you DC will not be five until after the start of that term) without losing your YR place.

Yes, you should be able to claim the vouchers, but on the form you have to say you'll be claiming in full terms - so if a place comes up mid-term and you take it, I suppose there's a possibility the council might want the vouchers for that term paid back.

Do let the pre school know he still requires a place aswell.

We claimed the 15 hours for DD until the end of the term she turned 5. LA tried to say she wasn't eligible - one letter to them sorted it out.