What happens if a child repeats a year overseas and then returns to UK?

[happymummyof1]

Hi, we are a British family currently living overseas and my son is in the Reception year at an International School. It has been suggested to us that he would benefit from repeating the year for various reasons mainly due his moderate speech delay and fine motor skills which are simply just not there yet. They also feel he will struggle with the formality of year 1 and all of the writing that is involved. He is however where he should be with his reading and numerical work. He is a late July birthday.

I wondered if any ladies had any experience/knowledge as to what would happen when we returned to the UK. Would he be placed in the year of his chronological age or could he just follow on from here (if we decide to keep him back)? I have tried contacting our local LEA who didn't seem to know and asked me to put the query in an email. No response as yet.

Thank you.

Children in the UK always attend in their chronological year. Private schools can be more flexible.

So if you come back and he has been held back then he would "skip" a year, to be with his correct age cohort.

I would search the Internet for the arguments on why holding back is considered to be a bad idea, as this may help you make a decision. There doesn't seem to be overwhelming reasons to keep him down from what you have said, so I would be very cautious.