Defer reception place for summer born child

[Cascada]

DS's birthday is early June. I am considering (somewhat late in the day) trying to defer his reception place (he already has a place) for September 2017 so that he starts in April 2018.

My understanding based on the information on my LEA's website is that because we're looking to do this rather than delay by a full year that this is something that we have the right to do rather than needing to request the school or LEA's permission to do. This is because the info says once you get a place you can take it:
"Immediately (from September 2017);
 On a part-time basis until the beginning of the term after their 5th birthday; or
 Defer your child’s admission until the beginning of the term after their 5th birthday but not beyond the beginning of the final term of the school year for which it was made". It then goes on to suggest you speak to the school to discuss these options.

I have not yet discussed with the school and am unsure as to their attitude towards this - they are already talking about some of the reception kids potentially going on a part time basis if more appropriate so my expectation is they view that as preferable rather than deferring the place to April. For various reasons I would prefer to hold my son back fully - he just doesn't seem to be ready to start yet. I didn't raise it when we first got the place cos I wanted to see how he progressed over the next few months.

However, I just spoke to the LEA in the first instance and they said that the school would need to agree to the deferral - i.e. it was not just a discretion of the parents. This seems at odds with the guidance pasted above.

I would be very grateful to hear about people's experience of this. I would kind of prefer to be clear about whether it's a right that I have or a discretion of the school before I approach them about it. Thanks in advance.

I looked at lots of studies while we were making our decision and haven't found anything on the effect of a delayed start with the same overall length of schooling.

Frustratingly lots of the studies linked to delayed start are actually about younger children staying in their cohort but starting a year later (yr 1 in the UK) or repeating a year both of which have some negative effects on average attainment.

A couple of overseas studies come close but are from v different school systems where children start school much later anyway so hard to compare.

"Any teachers on here that taught children that began later in the reception year?" No it didn't make my job harder but the children were playing catch up from day one. Starting Y1 after only a term in reception rather than a full year further disadvantaged them so us it any wonder research says summer borns are behind their older peers. I wonder how the picture will change in the future.

I looked at lots of studies while we were making our decision and haven't found anything on the effect of a delayed start with the same overall length of schooling.

You've only got to look at the stats - on average the older children do better. Changing the cut-off/allowing parents to delay doesn't fix this, it just changes who is the oldest.

I notice the KS1stats on gov.uk only show the month of birth, I wonder if they are going to include year if more children are delayed.

"You've only got to look at the stats - on average the older children do better. " I wonder how much impact of having a shorter time in reception has on those stats.

I wonder how much impact of having a shorter time in reception has on those stats

Maybe though it may be impacted by delayed years as well. But with the KS1 you can see the difference across the whole age range ie those born in September tend to do better than those born in October

Can anyone please add a link to the fb group?

Thanks :)

"But with the KS1 you can see the difference across the whole age range" but is that partly due to less time in reception?

I'd also say I've taught many September borns who are "les able" than their younger peers. Year after year I find myself surprised that the eldest children in the class are reading, writing calculating at a lower level and even less mature than children almost a year younger. There are so many influences on children's achievement month of birth is just one factor.

I love the notion that schools fill up when children defer for a year from a huge waiting list! If only! The children who would have expected to get a place in the year below then have to compete with deferred children. This is unfair. It is also not just a bit of juggling with finances. In smaller schools it can be a nightmare!

The children who would have expected to get a place in the year below then have to compete with deferred children.

But they wouldn't have to compete with the children who have deferred to the following year so it would balance out.

"But they wouldn't have to compete with the children who have deferred to the following year so it would balance out." Only if the exact same number deferred year on year which us highly unlikely.

I love the notion that schools fill up when children defer for a year from a huge waiting list

Most schools would. A typical school with a PAN of 30 will have more than enough pupils on its waiting list to fill the places of any who defer. The ones that wouldn't would generally be unpopular schools, which struggle to fill 30 places anyway, and small village schools, which would not have 10 deferrals in one year.

The children who would have expected to get a place in the year below then have to compete with deferred children. This is unfair

They may be in a year where there are a lot of siblings. They may be in a year where there is a high birth rate. A lot of families with children of the right age may move into the area just before applications for places. There are all kinds of reasons children may face more or less competition. I don't personally regard this as unfair. It is a fact of life. And the only alternative is that we insist all children are taught in the "correct" cohort even if that is wildly inappropriate for the child.

It is also not just a bit of juggling with finances. In smaller schools it can be a nightmare!

A small school is unlikely to face 10 deferrals in one year. Whilst per pupil funding forms the major part of school finances, there are other streams that are not dependent on pupil numbers, so funding will not go down in proportion to the loss of pupils. Some of the school's spending is dependent on pupil numbers, so there will be some reduction in expenditure automatically, although not enough to cover the loss of income. And any school where pupil numbers go up and down significantly every year has to juggle finances. This is just another reason why it might happen. I do not see that as justification to force a child into the "correct" year when that is not appropriate for the child concerned.

Year deferral was the right choice for us.

Our factors were:

1. Delayed language and social skills
2. August born boy
3. The potential to catch up (of course no one knew for sure). No obvious LD.
4. Superb school nursery who reckoned they could help him given more time in the right environment (by which they meant nursery environment)

I used to think everyone should have the choice but have changed my mind over the years. Now I think it's more about identifying the right candidates.

He's off to secondary in September.

As Mrz says, it is very hard to imagine how joining at Easter would have helped.

We weren't in a situation where it was about competing or shyness, it was much more serious.

Anyway it worked :). I have a small shrine to the head of nursery.....

Having just gone through the reception year with a July born 4 year old I would say this - she is bright clever and loves learning, but she has struggled this past year, bearing in mind she wasnt even conceived when some in her class were already born ( I am amazed by this fact) I realise there has to be a start date for them all but I wish she had had the option to go part time until after Christmas or something similar.

Much to my dismay she developed a complete dislike for school, thank God for some great teaching assistants because I dont know if we would have made it through without their support and help.

She is however looking forward to going back in September, many of her friends (sept / oct born) are starting and I have my fingers crossed this will help