Holding summer baby back from September start due to covid

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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?

Research the policy in your area to find out how much of a battle this would be. My LA automatically accepts deferrals for summer borns, they can start in reception and stay with that year group for their whole education. You just apply a year later.
Other areas may be much more difficult. The FB group mentioned will be very helpful to get an understanding of the situation in your area, as some places seem to be much less willing to allow this (usually still possible just would take more work from you to ask for).

I considered deferring but decided against it in the end and so far feel that has been the right decision for us overall, but only you can decide.

It might be worth considering the impact if lots of people do this.

Lots of parents have done this locally due to COVID and missing nursery. The result has been an undersubscribed cohort this year for the first time ever (usually 30-40 children don’t get spaces) at our very sought after primary in a middle class area. I can only assume that next year is going to have a huge number of applicants with lots of disappointment from families who would ordinarily have got a place and resentment towards the older children who should have gone this year.

Hi OP. I have delayed my prem summer born daughter. She was 4 last august and will start school in reception this September. This was all arranged long before COVID, on the basis of her prematurity causing her to be born in the "wrong" year, and the fact that she is very nervous. We had the advantage that her older brother already attends the school, so the staff saw her at drop off / pick up every day clinging nervously to my leg. They instantly agreed she wasn't ready for school at 4.
There is an amazing FB group that will help you make the decision and walk you through the process - if you would like to PM me I'd happily send you the details.

sitting in a classroom learning to count to ten and say the alphabet

That's not all they do in reception

Kids dont need to skip a year.
I didnt delay dc1 who is now in year 4 and like most others has now missed a year. they were borderline gifted and reading age is 3years ahead. But i would still delay now if i could have changed it. Dc.really struggled in reception and i thought they might be excluded. Just so tired as taking everything in. We couldnt do anything at weekends. Couldnt even visit family. No.after school clubs etc. But now dc only.really has 1 friend its like a mix of being bright but really silly.

Anyway did delay dc2. And now they missed half of the extra preschool year and some of yr r.
They are not as.bright nor picking up the phonics as quickly. So it's definitely the right choice. They will not be top. But do seem a bit ahead in maths. They are not bored. (Except by bloody oak academy). frindships have been very hard as dc missed 2w in sept due to SI and obviously we dont know most the kids as missed intros due to covid. It wouldnt help.anyone for dc to be further behind in yr 1.
In fact i think with covid it makes sense to look more summer borns dropping back a year if they are behind.
However i do note that with dc concentration is important and obviously increases with age. But they do have a level of natural ability. (Unfortunately not seen by schools via ability tables).
For dc1 maths has been really quite hard and they missed age expected in yr 1. Imo they are if higher ability but get away without doing the work (and can do it but are quite slow) their confidence has been knocked. it is a large school so there is always someone better.

have you ever actually been in a reception class to know what they get up to??
its where learning gets 'more' formal/organized they do not sit at tables reciting the alphabet or rote counting to ten. they learn through play its a hands on learning with an introduction to formal education, phonics etc

Lots of interesting posts and things to think about. I was fully planning to send my dc to reception this year until house sale fell through which means she’ll have to start school where I am and the schools are not good. Made me reevaluate and look at things. I fully agree the social side is important and really the main reason for going. My plans aren’t to dance or swim with her on my own somehow selfishly keeping her to myself locked away from the rest of society. The activities would all be regular events with other children of her age, potentially putting her in contact with a greater variety of people and more social and certainly more interactive than a lot of school. Yes I know what they do in reception. I know it’s not passive. What I meant by alphabet and counting to ten is that the curriculum is not very taxing for me to get my head round and teach her myself and in fact she can already do most of what’s on the curriculum for next year. Some parents wouldn’t feel confident doing that aspect and then school offers something else. I think COVID will continue for the rest of the year and so make any activities impossible anyway. But is that the best time to start school either? And I’m with other posters, I don’t think now is the time to reopen as we could end up back in lockdown. I think the children who have missed out should be prioritised and perhaps holding younger children back would give teachers more time to do that. I think schools will face an over subscription and perhaps now is the time for an overhaul of the whole system. Children starting a bit older and a mix of in school and online learning giving us all flexibility to spend proper time together and be an active part of our children’s learning and development,

Children starting a bit older and a mix of in school and online learning giving us all flexibility to spend proper time together and be an active part of our children’s learning and development

Which is okay if you can do that, not everyone can, and I can't imagine schools being a mixture of both going forward in the long term. Schools may be over subscribed next year in the early years where people delayed, but an overhaul would take years to impliment even if there was to be one, so I wouldn't count on that when making any sort of decision. It's obviously up to you and there are pluses and minuses of both, but don't count on what should/might be done when planning, as it more than likely won't! Reception gives children a really good foundation imo for the rest of KS1 and beyond, and most children enjoy it too.

@Whydoelephants

It might be worth considering the impact if lots of people do this.

Lots of parents have done this locally due to COVID and missing nursery. The result has been an undersubscribed cohort this year for the first time ever (usually 30-40 children don’t get spaces) at our very sought after primary in a middle class area. I can only assume that next year is going to have a huge number of applicants with lots of disappointment from families who would ordinarily have got a place and resentment towards the older children who should have gone this year.

We're seeing a similar situation in my area. Next year is going to be very interesting, and like you I can see a lot of families being disappointed.