Advice on deferring entry into reception please

[mummyinthemiddle]

Hi, I was wondering if anyone has any advice regarding a parents "rights" on deferring entry into reception.

We were sent a letter confirming that DD1 (who was 4 in April) has been given a place at our local village school to start reception in September. The letter states in no uncertain terms that there will be one point of entry in September, the only concession to this is that younger children, with prior agreement, will be able to attend mornings only for the first half a term. However, along with this letter came a leaflet reminding us that our child does not have to attend school until the term after thier 5th birthday, which in our case would be next easter.

Ideally I would like my daughter to do mornings only until January or even easter, or maybe defer entry until the January term. I have heard from another parent that the head has previously refused this arrangement.

So, what are our rights, if any? does the school have the authority to absolutely refuse flexability or do we have any legal right as a parent granted a place in the school.

Does anyone have any advice or experience on this issure? i would like to go to our first meeting well prepared if possible.

Thanks

Thanks for this tiggytape, presumabaly if you took the place part time they would still get their funding from October as she would be attending the school? if this is the case then I assume their main argument against this would be that it is disruptive to the rest of the class, which is what everyone says to me when I talk about this as a possibility.

It is tricky as this is a small village and a small school and we are new to both. Part of me just wants to do what the school wants so I don't make her "different" or affect any friendships she might form, but part of me thinks this is a ridiculous reason to not do what I think is right for her.

I will read the admission code and try to be charming at our meeting.

Is there anyone reading who has done this and had their child attend part time or defer who can give me any feed back whether this was a positive or a negative experience?

I do not have any experience of this as both my sons started school in the September after their fourth birthday. My elder son's birthday is at the end of June so he was one of the youngest in his class. Both my children had stepped in entry where they gradually increased their days and all children in their school attended full time after the October half term break. They were both very tired for a few weeks after starting school and both had early bedtimes, however I do think children are more adaptable than we sometimes think and they settle into new routines quite happily. Young children are literally like sponges during their early years at school. They learn so much in a very short period of time when they start school and enjoy the experience of being with their peers. I personally would not have delayed my elder son starting school as I would not have wanted him to start school already behind all the others in terms of his learning. He is very switched on and would have realised very quickly that others had harder reading books than him or they could write better than him. Children are naturally very competetive you know! I do respect that you have reasoning behind your decision though and feel that your wishes should be respected; it is your child after all and you know them best! I wish you all the best with your appeal!