Battling for a deferral for P1 child news article

[HarrisMcCoo]

www.google.com/amp/s/www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/aberdeenshire/3120364/aberdeenshire-mum-battling-council-over-p1-deferral-for-premature-son/amp/

Absolutely shocking. Can't believe this mum has had to take it to the media.

I deferred two of my children February born they started school at 5 years 7 months.
If they had been June birthdays and I had wanted to defer they would have been 6years and 2 months starting school. So 7 months older than the oldest child and 19 months older than the youngest. It isn't appropriate. Much better to get him started with his peers and the appropriate support in place. My children have additional needs and the social element is difficult enough with out theming being nearly 2 years older than their peers

My DS was in a similar position with a very 'late' diagnosis of autism - by which I mean he was diagnosed in the December after a two year wait to be seen. I pushed very hard for him to delay starting school that year. He was born July so was just 5 before starting school.

By the time he'd had another six months of nursery he was bored and ready for school. One of the concerns from the council was 'the other end' of things - that he could leave school at the end of third year - and again (now we're at that point) I can see that they were quite right.

School support in Scotland is patchy, getting it right for every child is a pipe dream in many situations, but I believe that most of the time the age rules for starting work in the child's best interests in the long term.

Unfortunately this isn't GIRFEC in action 🤷🏼 it's not taking the individual needs of the child into consideration, only instead focusing on the birth date.

@HarrisMcCoo

Unfortunately this isn't GIRFEC in action 🤷🏼 it's not taking the individual needs of the child into consideration, only instead focusing on the birth date.

This does take the needs of the child into consideration. There are so many examples of children going though school who are more than 1/2 years behind developmentally - should they be kept back? Do you really think that would work throughout? No, they move through school with the right age group and get the support they need.

@Tibtom

I think there should be flexibility for children born so prematurely

There is felixibility - children who are up to seven months older than the school cut off date can defer entry for a year. So it is the equivalent of February-born children in England deferring entry for a year. So not just after they turned five. This child would have children 20 months younger than them in their class if they deferred, and they would be starting school after they turned 6.

But what does it matter if the child has turned six in P1 if they are at an even level developmentally as their peers? Age is only one parameter to base these decisions on, other factors should be considered.

This mum has a right to shout from the rooftops. It's fundamentally wrong what the council is doing (or not doing!).

My current 5yo will start P1 in August but turn 6yo 19 days after start of school term. It's negligible. Age is just a number, there is more to an individual than this.

flashylamp the majority don't need deferred and you know it. I have two older DC who never needed deferrals, they were both ready to start P1 like their peers. They coped fine. Thankfully nursery picked up that DC3 wouldn't be fine and with my consent filled out the relevant paperwork. One size does not fit all.

As for additional support funding, the criteria has just been amended in Scotland (ie funding has been slashed).

the majority don't need deferred and you know it.

I'm not saying that they do?

But what does it matter if the child has turned six in P1 if they are at an even level developmentally as their peers?

It matters because where is the line?

This child would be 6, joining 4 year olds. What if they haven't 'caught up' - wait until they are 7? 8? Where does it end. Age is the decider for a very good reason.

@HarrisMcCoo
If age is just a number, do you think the same flexibility should be available to highly able children born after the cut off?

Parents want what's best for their child.
The school has to balance what's best for the 25(I think that's the Scottish limit?) Children in the class.

P1 and Reception are broadly equivalent in content and behavioural expectations in my experience (schools serving similar demographics). In England children are in reception from 4, although a few can defer from around 3-4 months before that, not many do.

It feels like the Scottish curriculum is more flexible than the English one as well.

I agree that the councils would also be considering transition to high school and legal leaving date.

The issue is about other local authorities around Scotland granting late deferrals and other who won't. That's the whole premise of the article. The mum wants fairness across all local authorities in Scotland.

It is not difficult to grasp.

If 20 out of 32 local authorities are authorising older deferrals, there must be a need for it.

www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/scottish_las_discretionary_defer_25#incoming-1637744

49 older deferrals granted.

Shetland Islands Council.

His "right age group" should be according to EDD, not birth date, given the extent of the prematurity.

Why have you got such a bee OP. Are you the mum in the paper? 😂 The council have done nothing wrong clearly. So rant & rave all you want, probably isn’t going to change anything. Write to your MP rather than mumsnet maybe ..

@HarrisMcCoo

www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/scottish_las_discretionary_defer_25#incoming-1637744

49 older deferrals granted.

"Hello,

Please accept my apologies - I read the question incorrectly.

None if the deferred entries this year were 5 on or before the school commencement date in August 2020, therefore the answer is 0.

Thank you for checking.

Best wishes,
Dayna"

@HarrisMcCoo

www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/scottish_las_discretionary_defer_25#incoming-1637744

49 older deferrals granted.

Have you even read your own link?

There were none. Not a single one.

I understand the frustration and helplessness of wanting to do the best for your child and getting hit with 'computer says no.' But it really is the law and they won’t change it and if you or anyone thinks differently it’s because you've misread the rules, I’m afraid.

There's no point fighting this and time and effort would be better spent elsewhere.

@nocoolnamesleft

His "right age group" should be according to EDD, not birth date, given the extent of the prematurity.

Exactly. Lots on this thread should have a look at one of the prem information websites.

Fair enough. Shetland one was an error but others like Fife granted more than 10 last year.

@N0PE

I understand the frustration and helplessness of wanting to do the best for your child and getting hit with 'computer says no.' But it really is the law and they won’t change it and if you or anyone thinks differently it’s because you've misread the rules, I’m afraid.

There's no point fighting this and time and effort would be better spent elsewhere.

Have you even bothered to read the information I have posted? Lots of local authorities grant older deferrals in Scotland! The issue here is that it's a postcode lottery.

www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/scottish_las_discretionary_defer_12#incoming-1649186

13 granted last year in Fife.

I did read it. You've read it wrong. There's a correction in the comments under the report. It shouldn’t have read 49. It was zero.

Your info is wrong. Your understanding of the law is wrong.