Holding summer baby back from September start due to covid

[sockdraw]

Wondering if anyone thinking of holding kids back from school start in September due to chaos of covid? I’m also thinking of things are a bit more normal it would be nice to have some ‘normal’ time together as missed out on doing so much. What do people think?

I would check with your local authority and the schools of your choice that they would allow your child to defer a year and then start in reception.

Lots of schools here allow deferring but then then kids have to skip reception year and go straight into year 1

I seriously considered it outside of covid times.
However, due to additional needs there was a potential for justification. But even still, of the local schools, only 2 of the 6 would entertain the idea, without insisting my lo starts in year 1,which misses the point of delaying.
The other issue I faced was that none of the secondary schools in our region would accept out of year group admissions, meaning they would have had to go year 5 to 7.or year 6 to 8. Neither option ideal
Given you have presumably had more time together due to lockdown, I think that under these circumstances I'd definitely be sending if no additional needs etc.

Definitely start school. That is the "normal" thing to do. Children need to socialise and start in YR. They really have had enough time at home and I don't think the schools will be chaotic. Most parents now want DC at school. Why do you want to extend lockdown? Most of us cannot wait to get going with life again.

I referred both of my summerborns precovid. Daughter is due to start this year at age 5.

I would have been even more keen to do it had covid been about when I originally applied.

There’s a god fb page about summerborn deferral.

@PresentingPercy

Definitely start school. That is the "normal" thing to do. Children need to socialise and start in YR. They really have had enough time at home and I don't think the schools will be chaotic. Most parents now want DC at school. Why do you want to extend lockdown? Most of us cannot wait to get going with life again.

I assumed op meant continuing with preschool, preschool activities rather than remaining locked down.

Op what is your intention if your child doesn’t start school this year?

I’d take her travelling, museums, stay with grandparents, see aunt, go camping, go to the beach, go dancing, get her music lessons, horse riding lessons, football, go ice skating, roller skating, swimming. All the things we’ve not done or experienced for the past year. All things I think are as educational as sitting in a classroom learning to count to ten and say the alphabet, all of which she can already do. My other driver is my house sale has just fallen through. The schools round here are awful. I want to still try and move to a better area to get better school but may not achieve it in time.

@sockdraw

I’d take her travelling, museums, stay with grandparents, see aunt, go camping, go to the beach, go dancing, get her music lessons, horse riding lessons, football, go ice skating, roller skating, swimming. All the things we’ve not done or experienced for the past year. All things I think are as educational as sitting in a classroom learning to count to ten and say the alphabet, all of which she can already do. My other driver is my house sale has just fallen through. The schools round here are awful. I want to still try and move to a better area to get better school but may not achieve it in time.

That all sounds amazing. I would go for it if I were you. Though moving might make it difficult if you’re not sure what local authority you’ll be living in (so who to ask for agreed deferral from).

Definitely, without a doubt. I considered this for my summer born child but didn't and I really wish I had. He was behind all the way through the Infants and as soon as he hit the Juniors he really bloomed.
With all the disruption we have had I would definitely have felt cheated of what would have been my last year with him, missing out on day trips and playgroup.
Do it!

AIMD
I referred both of my summerborns precovid. Daughter is due to start this year at age 5.

I would have been even more keen to do it had covid been about when I originally applied.

There’s a god fb page about summerborn deferral.

Are you putting your DC in to reception or year 1?

@sockdraw

AIMD I referred both of my summerborns precovid. Daughter is due to start this year at age 5.

I would have been even more keen to do it had covid been about when I originally applied.

There’s a god fb page about summerborn deferral.

Are you putting your DC in to reception or year 1?

I got a reception start agreed for both children.

@sockdraw

I’d take her travelling, museums, stay with grandparents, see aunt, go camping, go to the beach, go dancing, get her music lessons, horse riding lessons, football, go ice skating, roller skating, swimming. All the things we’ve not done or experienced for the past year. All things I think are as educational as sitting in a classroom learning to count to ten and say the alphabet, all of which she can already do. My other driver is my house sale has just fallen through. The schools round here are awful. I want to still try and move to a better area to get better school but may not achieve it in time.

Great, in theory. But reality us you may well not be able to do these activities this year either.

Plus, if you're moving, you've no guarantee that the new school will accept a reception start. That's a huge gamble. And I say this as someone who's very pro later starts.

@sockdraw

I’d take her travelling, museums, stay with grandparents, see aunt, go camping, go to the beach, go dancing, get her music lessons, horse riding lessons, football, go ice skating, roller skating, swimming. All the things we’ve not done or experienced for the past year. All things I think are as educational as sitting in a classroom learning to count to ten and say the alphabet, all of which she can already do. My other driver is my house sale has just fallen through. The schools round here are awful. I want to still try and move to a better area to get better school but may not achieve it in time.

Do you really think you will be able to do that in just over six months ?

Your list of stuff doesn’t involve a huge amount that is obviously socialising with other children. It’s a list of things you want to enjoy doing with your child.

I’d be prioritising socialising with other children. For me that’s the most important thing that has been missed. School is an easy win for that.

Do you have any idea what happens in reception? It’s a lot more than counting to 10 and saying the alphabet. That said I have no idea how much is repeated in year 1.

I think it is a very good idea!

I have a friend who did this and the child has had a real good from it.

Investigate your options but yes. It saves your child the hassle of any disruption this winter as 2022 should be ok (please please please!)

'a real good'?? I tried to type 'a real boost'

Your list of stuff doesn’t involve a huge amount that is obviously socialising with other children. It’s a list of things you want to enjoy doing with your child.

I agree, it actually sounds quite selfish & you want to do it for your benefit rather than hers. We do all that stuff (normally obvs) with DD and did when she was younger despite her going to school, that's what weekends and holidays are for.

I think restrictions are likely next winter (hopefully not as strict as this winter) and being able to go to school is likely to be the only thing DC can do out of the house next winter too.

School hours aren’t that long, and you can do camping, visiting and travelling over school holidays or at the weekend.

If your child is summer born and you have concerns about any aspect of their development which means you feel they aren’t ready then yes I would absolutely consider it.

To defer just because of Covid seems slightly odd in my opinion as it’s 1) highly optimistic that you would be able to do all the stuff you are on about 2) you might not actually be able to defer or get a place at the school you want 3) some LAs ask for a good reason why you want to defer as it has a knock on impact on secondary admissions for your child and 4) the one thing my kids have missed the most through lockdown is socialising with children their own age. Point 4 is the one that I have worried about the most in terms of development and mental health and they have definitely been affected by it.

All the nice things you talk about can be done at weekends, in the evenings and in the holidays - if we’re allowed.

As an aside, my start of September baby struggled far more in reception than her older sister who is end of August born. She was just too far ahead academically and in terms of maturity. Extension work was provided etc in the classroom but playtimes were hard when everyone else was still into Peppa Pig but she was more Mia & Me. Things have resolved themselves as the years have passed and the others have caught up, but it was tough.

I do think parents leap to thinking summer borns are all behind and cannot cope. That’s not the case. I think socialising is important and your list doesn’t include that. All those things can be done after school or at weekends or holidays. My DDs did all those hobbies when in primary school and more. If you go travelling you won’t be doing regular lessons in dance, music or riding. And your child won’t be making friends either, which seems like a shame.

I deferred my dd. Best thing I did for her both academical and socially.
Summer borns really do struggle- lots will tell you it evens out but it's a struggle for them at first, I'm a teacher.

Op if you are interested in a reception start I’d go to the summerborn Facebook page. They have a few people who are very knowledgable about the guidance and can offer lots of advice. I also found it useful for linking with others who had experienced applying for a CSA reception start in the local authorities I was looking at. Some automatically agree any request, others turn down almost all requests, so your experience of applying will vary depending on where you are.

Just to be clear the DFE summerborn guidance states that parents can request a CSA start in reception for children purely on the basis of them being summerborn, so there shouldn’t be an expectation of evidencing additional needs. My children don’t have any additional needs. Also applying for summerborn deferral is supposed to be being made easier for parents and I think it is becoming more common than it once was.

If I were you op I would apply for agreement for deferral. Then in April when school places are allocated you can decide to accept for this year (I’m assuming you’ve applied for this year anyway) or defer if that has been agreed. Gives you a few months to make the decision, see how your child gets on and how Covid situation progresses.

You might want to mention it to their preschool if they have one too, so they can keep a space for her if required.

For those arguing that covid will restrict a lot next year that’s a valid concern. However that could also be a reason to defer...to make sure the first year of school isn’t interrupted by Covid.

@PresentingPercy

I do think parents leap to thinking summer borns are all behind and cannot cope. That’s not the case. I think socialising is important and your list doesn’t include that. All those things can be done after school or at weekends or holidays. My DDs did all those hobbies when in primary school and more. If you go travelling you won’t be doing regular lessons in dance, music or riding. And your child won’t be making friends either, which seems like a shame.

I don’t think anyone ‘leaps’ to anything.

All the parents I know who defected have spent a significant amount of time researching and following laborious local authority processes to get a referral. Nothing ‘leap’ about it.

I’m surprised more don’t do it considering the number of parents who are concerned about their young children starting school and compulsory school age isn’t until term after 5.

I meant deferred

@Alwaysready I totally disagree that all summer borns struggle. My DD didn’t and was more than ready for school (and towards the top of the class).

It’s a horrible generalisation to make. I think deferring is great if a child does need it. I absolutely would have considered it for her if I felt she needed it. All children are different and it’s great that parents now have a choice, but I do believe it should be because of “need” rather than “want” (which is the reason OP gives).

August born children can start a year later or move back a year. I know several children who have done this. My daughter has an August born (year above) in her year. She’s at a top senior school. You need to talk to the council and the relevant schools (if independent).