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Original poster

Can I delay reception entry?

37 replies

Edenviolet · 10/06/2014 00:11

Dd will be five in nov, can I delay her start till January even though I did not notify the school/LA of this at the time of application like it states you are meant to in the admissions booklet?

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frazzeled · 10/06/2014 00:23

I looked at this for our DD as she is a July birthday - I could be wrong but I was lead to believe if we did not take up the place we would not keep it. I have to say that she would have missed on so many fronts if we had chosen to delay her, I wish we had done half days, but am very glad we didn't delay. Good luck!

SecretSpy · 10/06/2014 01:05

yes you can.
But do let them know your plans because if you simply fail to turn up the place could go, but they make efforts to contact you first

Original poster
Edenviolet · 10/06/2014 07:50

Would prolonged half days be an option then if I do start her in sep? Usually its half days till half tem then full time but I'm wondering if half days till January would be better (medical reasons)

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SecretSpy · 10/06/2014 09:21

You can ask but it would be at their discretion. I have seen your other threads - I would perhaps start negotiations/chat to the SENCO from now to see what you can come up with.

You have an absolute right to delay starting until January.
You don't have an absolute right to insist on part time/flexi schooling. HTH

Original poster
Edenviolet · 10/06/2014 21:30

Dh and I have decided we are going to request for dd to do reduced hours till January and we will speak to the school tomorrow. I don't think deferring entry completely will be good for her as she seems ready for school and is very sociable and gets bored at home!

We are thinking maybe 1 hour the first day 2 hr the next and so on till she does a half day and after Xmas we will reassess if the level of support she needs is in place. Fingers crossed the school agree with us that its for the best.

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admission · 10/06/2014 22:29

If there medical reasons for not being able to access full time education from September then you need to be talking to the school now. The school is legally obliged to offer full time education. However if there are medical reasons then I am sure a rational compromise can be found.To be honest I do not think the compromise is 1 hour, then 2 hours etc, it is go in for the morning.
I note that you talk about the level of support your daughter needs. What are you thinking of her and again does the school know about what is expected.

NynaevesSister · 12/06/2014 11:11

I think story need to be prepared for the school to say no to that unless you have very strong medical grounds. The school has to consider all 30 children in class, and the logistics of teaching each of those children. It may just be too disruptive to the class and the other children to do this.

Original poster
Edenviolet · 13/06/2014 18:33

If the school can't give the support dd needs to keep her safe then I don't think they can refuse my request for her to half days for longer than the other children. It may be disruptive but I'd rather dd was safe and well than we didn't do it and she had no support and got ill.

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GoblinLittleOwl · 13/06/2014 18:47

It will be up to the school to decide the level of support your daughter needs and the hours she attends. Is she statemented/ receiving TA support already? You need to discuss this with the school quickly so they may assess her level of need and start organizing provision, whether she starts in September or January.

mrz · 13/06/2014 19:16

How do you know the school can't give support to keep her safe? and why would you trust them to keep her safe for half a day but not for a whole day ...

Original poster
Edenviolet · 13/06/2014 19:34

No statement as it was refused as dd has no learning difficulties .

The half day would be easier as we have been told she will not have 1:1 which she needs (even consultant has written to tell them this) but they cannot provide it so I was thinking with the support they are offering plus me going in a couple of times during the morning and then collecting her for lunch it may be ok. I couldn't manage to go up there 3-4 times a day if she was in a full day as I don't drive but she would need me to go if she was in all day.

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Original poster
Edenviolet · 13/06/2014 19:35

Apart from wht they have told me on the phone we haven't even had a meeting yet and I've been asking for months.

Members of staff will be trained but she will not have support with her all the time like she needs.

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scarlettsmummy2 · 13/06/2014 19:38

Why does she need one to one? Could the school apply for a learning assistant? My foster son has one and no clear statement of special needs.

mrz · 13/06/2014 19:39

The school has a duty of care so must ensure her safety. Obviously I don't know her medical condition but schools do care for children with a range of illnesses.

Original poster
Edenviolet · 13/06/2014 19:42

Type 1 diabetes
Ehlers danlos syndrome

Many many problems, no hypo awareness, needs help with toilet/changing due to sensor/pump/tubing/cannula, will need constant monitoring of bg and in playground. Frequent dislocation and many other issues.
Dds consultant has written explaining for her to be safe she needs 1:1. Pre school are trying to get across to school how high dds care needs are but so far we can't get a meeting as they don't seem to agree and the is no statement.
I think if dd does half days to begin they will quickly realise but I have to go in as I can't just leave them to it to realise as it could end up worse case scenario by doing trial and error.

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spanieleyes · 13/06/2014 20:00

We have a Reception child with Type 1 diabetes, she has no statement but receives medical funding for a part time 1:1 TA, the school funds the remaining time.

mrz · 13/06/2014 20:15

We have 2 children with Type 1 diabetes neither have any support

spanieleyes · 13/06/2014 20:19

We have a second child with Type one, who has never received any support at all, so one does, one doesn't!

Original poster
Edenviolet · 13/06/2014 20:59

How does medical funding work? Is it through the gp or hospital ?

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spanieleyes · 13/06/2014 21:28

From the local authority I believe, it is meant to be a short term solution and we have to re-apply every term. Otherwise there would be no way we could fund 1:1 assistance, the half days we do pay for mean we are one TA short elsewhere.

Original poster
Edenviolet · 13/06/2014 21:39

I will try and find out on Monday thanks. So far the LA have been unhelpful and just keep repeating that without learning difficulties alongside medical issues there will be no help for dd. I'm hoping the school may just realise how much care she needs especially after pre school have spoken to them.

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Chillycamper · 13/06/2014 21:46

One of my DC did 3 1/2 days a week for reception. It was meant to end at Easter after they turned 5 but we just carried until end of the year.

We started with picking up at lunch on Wednesdays and having every Thursday at home with me.

No medical reason. I just found the kids get very tired at the end of the week in reception but they like Friday because it's chip day.

TBH I'd be concerned that you can't get a meeting with school. Why wouldn't they want to find out about your child's needs, especially if consultant and nursery agree with you?

Someone I know had a child with multiple and complex allergies and one school hardly let her in the door whereas another was very supportive.

I've found they same with dyslexia - some schools make you feel like you are pulling teeth, offering grudging support at best, while others just get on with it, "a laptop in the exam? Yes it's sorted already."

Good luck

Original poster
Edenviolet · 13/06/2014 21:50

The lack of any real communication is worrying. They told me they couldn't see me till we had the offer letter then they just keep telling me to be patient. I've written in twice including medical info and consultant letter and phoned but still no meeting and I've been asking since April!

I definitely think half days for a while is the way to go as it means hopefully I can manage to go in to support dd and show them what needs to be done and they might then realise exactly how much care she needs.

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spanieleyes · 13/06/2014 21:51

It might be that the school don't realise, but it could be that they have little option, Providing support to your child could well mean taking it away from someone else. Schools have increasingly limited budgets, no statement means no funding, so any support needs to be taken from another area. I'm sure the school will do the best they can but with restricted funds, sometimes what can be done isn't enough.

Original poster
Edenviolet · 13/06/2014 21:56

I will work with whatever they can provide, go in myself if need me to make up some time but if dd has nobody with her she will have to be at home. The LA have been talking about school action plus but I'm not sure if that's full time.
The problem is dd needs constant monitoring and help so I can't just say she needs help at x time each day. The nursery are frustrated school are reluctant to meet with them too and the manager said today she thinks they don't realise how serious things are.

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