Anyone else considering delaying their summer born child from starting primary in Sept 2016?

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I'm sure this subject has been done to death however for the first time ever parents actually have a real choice to make regarding their summer born child's education.
Since my second DD was born on 31st Aug 2012, I've known she will be the youngest in her year. The choice of delaying her starting school was never an option for us as I knew that if she 'missed' reception and went straight in to yr one then she'd definitely struggle. However now I know that given the more level playing field option of delaying the start of primary school and starting in reception a year later, it gives parents a proper choice.
So why am I even giving it a second thought given all the evidence etc?!

Quite a few people have been successful in delaying a reception start even before the new guidelines. Some LEA's are more amenable than others. I think it is very likely that in England you will have the right to delay by next year. Have a look at the Summerborn Campaign and their facebook group - you'll find good advice from those who have already negotiated a delay.

I have a child due to start in Reception in 2016 - I'm 99% certain we will be Home Educating but if she were starting school, I would definitely delay her until 2017 - and she is April born. There are nothing but advantages to extending the time of play based learning, imo.

Hi tiggytape as you know we have different views on this, I enjoyed debating it on the other thread!

OP I have delayed my daughter (an August baby) who 'should' be starting now but she will be starting reception next year instead. She is bright, no SEN , but just wasn't socially or emotionally ready for school. I am hugely relieved for her that she won't be starting this year.

You need to contact the admissions authority for the school's you want to apply for - for most schools it'll be the local council, for academies I think the governing body but you'd have to ask them. Take a look at para 2.16-2.-17 of the Schools Admissions Code 2014 and the Advice on the Admission of Summer born Children. Both of the DfE website, Google will find them. Explains the legal position and what to do.

If children born from April to August can be delayed I can see a situation where those born in March are struggling to keep up. They may not be the youngest in the class but any younger ones will be relatively mature for their age.

So why am I even giving it a second thought given all the evidence etc?!

Because evidence is all about averages and tells you nothing about your own child.

No matter what you think or anybody else thinks, the most important thing is to have the discussion with the Local Authority and the school to establish what is and is not possible. Get agreement before the 15th January 2016 because that is the last date for on-time applications for starting September 2016. You need something in writing before then or you will have to apply for a place for sept 2016 start or find yourself possibly without any school.

Apply, get a place, then delay

So why am I even giving it a second thought given all the evidence

The evidence is mixed. A study in Scotland where parents already have this right found that children who were held back were at the same level as their contemporaries when they entered school but had fallen behind their contemporaries by the end of KS1. A single study should not be regarded as conclusive. Of course, even if this study is correct, what is true for children generally may not be true for your child.

As Tiggytape has said, the government has not yet made the required changes to the Admissions Code so you don't have this right yet.

I think you need to consider which children create the statistics.
And which situations create statistics
It is premature, language delayed and other specific groups of children who may miss a golden opportunity if they are forced to start school at 4.0 instead of having an extra nursery year. When the needs of these children are not met, (and sometimes they cannot be met at 4.0 even the best of schools) They are at risk of really struggling. This can create a cascade of problems and so we end up with multiple studies proving that there is an average summer borne disadvantage. But from what you say OP there is likely to be little disadvantage to your own child. That said I will be delighted if you have a free choice.

Hi OP, I have always wanted this for my summer born DD purely for social/emotional reasons. She is teeny-tiny (wears age 2 clothes) and has struggled with confidence. She started reception 3 weeks ago (just turned 4) and I've only just heard about this proposed change... so I find myself in the same position. Why am I questioning it now that we can actually do it?

Is there the opposite problem now, being too more mature (emotionally) for the new cohort, as the age range in the class will now jump from 12 months to 17 months? I don't know if this is a lesser evil to always feeling 'behind'. But now really under pressure to make this important decision since she has already started reception so would need to make the move back a year to the school's nursery class asap. Our head is fully supportive so that's a massive bonus.

It's tricky as until the legislation has gone through there are no guarantees. Some LAs are much more willing to allow deferred entry than others. My April-born daughter has started reception this year. I know all children are different but the difference between her school-readiness and that of her older sister who was 'old' for the school year is huge. If her birthday had been even later in the school year I would given serious consideration to starting her next September instead.

It's not just Reception you need to think about, it's the fact that after that comes Year 1 which is not play-based at all (depending on the school). Do you want your child who will have just turned 5 to start in year 1, or would she be better off spending that year mostly playing in reception and having time to mature?