Has anyone managed to defer their child's entry to reception this year or last?

[babysprogg]

I would like to defer my child's September 2015 reception entry to the summer term in 2016. I know that I have a legal right to do this, but does my child have a legal right to keep the place at the school?

For those that have managed to defer successfully, what reasons have you given?

I have asked the local authority for permission to defer my child's entry but have been given a lot of reasons for not doing so. Any ideas for submitting a successful application would be greatly appreciated!

As long as he starts in the summer term of reception (assuming he's a summer birthday) he keeps his place. Nothing to do with the LEA, just write to the school informing them of your intention to do this.

Just for clarity deferring and asking to start reception a year late is very unusual and difficult to achieve, I'm guessing that's what the LEA Thought you wanted. Missing out reception entirely is also possible but you'd have to apply a year later.

So your child would normally start Reception in September 2015 but you want to defer his entry until April 2016? Is that right? When is he 5? He needs to be in school by his 5th birthday I believe (unless you choose to home ed obviously).

Assuming he is Summer born, the previous poster is right in that this is a matter for the school and not the LA. As I understand it, as long as he starts school by the Summer term of his Reception year, the school must hold his place for him.

I deferred DSs place until after the Christmas of his Reception year. I wrote to the Head and simply informed her of my plans. I knew I was within my rights to do so and she accepted it with no problems. She agreed it was in my DSs best interests and we had a couple of visits to the school in the autumn term to see the classroom etc. So all you need to do is inform the school- but remember you are not asking permission or making an application that can be accepted or not.

Pretty sure that what Earthbound said is right - look at para 2.16 onwards in the Schools Admissions Code 2014. I think you can defer to any time until they turn 5 / Summer term and they have to keep the place open.

Can I ask why you want to?

Provided your child will take up the place during the summer term 2016 the school must keep the place open for you.

It is your right to defer until the start of term following your child's fifth birthday. You do not have to submit an application. You do not have to specify reasons or justify your decision to the LA, school or anyone else. Simply tell them that you are deferring entry until the summer term 2016. They cannot refuse.

An academy near here says they will not allow it without an EP report. Is that allowed?

Have you had a look at the summer born campaign website? They also have a Facebook group which has lot of information and people who are going through the same process. It can be possible to delay a child's entry to school but it varies according to Local Authority and also according to the type of school. Some people have managed to send their children a year later but it's a real postcode lottery.

You can defer their entry until the term after they turn five - in England, that is your right. You also have the right to send them part time until then if you choose. As long as they start during the Reception year, the school has to keeep the place for them. If you don't start them until year 1, you have to reapply the following year. A few families have managed to get their child admitted to Reception at Compulsory School Age (facebook group - Flexible School Admission for Summer Borns), some LEA's more helpful than others with that.