Keep on in Pre School?

[DesperateMumofPDAchild]

I have a thread going about a school appeal but I have a specific question. If your child was an August boy with SEN (PDA, Atypical high functioning autism, sensory) who didn't win place in local village school which meets his needs better, would you keep him at Pre School from September while you wait for waiting list place/possible statement. Or would he miss out on crucial things in reception like phonics, emotional/relationships education etc.

Pre School were initially supportive about him staying on but now after speaking to local springboard and EYFS local co-ordinator think he should start at the given school.

I have a ds and a dd with ASD neither of them started school until the latest possible time (Easter as they are February birthdays) They had places but I felt it was better for them that they had time to mature first. My two did very part time in nursery (two mornings) and then building up to five mornings from the September when they would have been reception age.
It did them no harm whatsoever. I think the schools might have preferred that they started full time like their peers but mine had statements from three and the LEA backed my choice (it saved them money)
I think reception is quite difficult for a child with ASD tbh I know dd needed structure put into her days rather than free play as she would do one thing for the whole of the day.
Academically they didn't miss out but they could read before school anyway. Ds has eight GCSEs and dd has been top groups throughout and is already level 5 in year five.
I'd leave him where he is and concentrate on getting a statement to put him in a school that best meets his needs rather than risk a bad start and a change later tbh.

I think you know your child best so if you feel it would be better for him to stay in preschool for longer then you are probably right.