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.

Yes I have acknowledged that I read that part in error N0PE, but you can see for yourself other local authorities have granted older deferrals. I am not reading that wrong.

The law: www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1980/44/section/32

Note particularly (9)In this section, “primary school” does not include a nursery school or a nursery class.

We know nothing about the older children in those foi but if they were not the responsibility of the council until the summer when they turned 6 then the council may decide to start them in P1 instead of P2. Eg if they were refugee children who arrived in the country in July.

As I mentioned in my first post, the mum could home educate for a year then try and argue for the child to enter school at P1 instead of P2. There would not be the same legal barrier to this but the council is still likely to say no.

I do know anecdotally of those who have got their children deferred so they begin P1 when six...all medical reasons including prematurity. It does happen Tibtom.

You are deliberately twisting things. This mum doesn't want to use nursery as P1! She wants him to have more time in nursery then start P1 as a 6yo. She has valid reasons for this, pointed out clearly by medical professionals.

@HarrisMcCoo

You are deliberately twisting things. This mum doesn't want to use nursery as P1! She wants him to have more time in nursery then start P1 as a 6yo. She has valid reasons for this, pointed out clearly by medical professionals.

Nobody is twisting anything. We just don't agree with you.

flashylamp there are others who do agree with my point of view though. Prematurity should be taken into consideration here.

So is the argument that the child was due in September, and if born in September would be able to defer? If the child was due before the start of the school year, say born April, due July, all else being equal they shouldn't be able to defer, is that where you think the line should be, to start by sixth birthday based on due date? Or no line at all and every child starting when they are ready, whether they are barely four or almost seven?

My elder boy was born extremely prematurely and we are in England. Scotland’s school admissions system is far more flexible than the English system. Unfortunately there does have to be a cut-off point somewhere!

I am not sure kowari but what I do know is that life isn't black and white. It isn't as clear cut as a child has to start school when 5 without exception. There is a deferral process for a reason.

The deferral process is already very flexible if it allows children born in the seven months before cut off to defer, the line has to be somewhere.

@kowari

The deferral process is already very flexible if it allows children born in the seven months before cut off to defer, the line has to be somewhere.

I agree to an extent, but where does that leave babies who were born very premature?? They don't fit into just chronological terms like the average child of school age (some do, others don't).

I can see a problem if there are many September to December children deferred, who are bright and able, just with middle class parents who want to give them an advantage. That would make it more difficult for children like the one in the article. Is this the case, or is it the September to December children born prematurely or with delays who are deferred?

DS was May born where all but a few children in the class were born January to December the previous year. I can understand wanting to defer a December born child with developmental delays in that system as they would also be younger than most of the class.

If Scotland is strict on September to December deferrals then the seven month deferral cut off should be adequate. They would be in a class with other children due in the same birth month and others younger.

So you admit that there is already flexibility of up to 7 months in the system. How much more do you want. Do you want deferral for children who are 2 years older than the youngest in the class? Where’s your cut off as it appears that the system already builds a generous time into the system. There will be children of varying abilities in P1 and schools are able to deal with that.

They would be in a class with other children due in the same birth month and others younger.
Other children born in the month they were due I mean.

It's not impossible, dd has a friend in p3 who is already 9. Was still in nursery when turning 6 (funded council place) and turned 7 in p1. Very much discretionary though and don't necessarily think it would help hugely when the dc will likely always need extra support regardless

You also have to think what happens the other end. If the school leaving age is 16/17/18 then a child can legally leave before they have done their GCSEs/Highers/whatever.

Deferring September to December is relatively unusual and mostly would be for children with delays. January and February would be more likely to defer for the sake of it

Looking at the numbers it would probably be no more than a couple per school in the September to December group, and in all likelihood more would be from December so in all probability they would be the oldest in the class by some way!

August - December levels were previously low as the criteria was strict for these deferrals though this has newly changed so you may see more. As said previously, DD has a 9 yo in her class alongside dc who have turned 7 less than 3 months ago so further flexibility, rightly or wrongly, is still there!

@randomsabreuse

Looking at the numbers it would probably be no more than a couple per school in the September to December group, and in all likelihood more would be from December so in all probability they would be the oldest in the class by some way!

www.gov.scot/publications/deferred-entry-primary-school-statistics/pages/2/ As only 14% of December born children were deferred in 2018, then most children in a school year would be born from January of one year to the February of the following year. So the child is likely to be middle of the year group by birth month, and unlikely to be the youngest by due date.

*If started on time

*14% of December born boys I mean

@TeenMinusTests

You also have to think what happens the other end. If the school leaving age is 16/17/18 then a child can legally leave before they have done their GCSEs/Highers/whatever.

I appreciate that point, it's a valid one. I must admit it isn't one you think of if it's miles ahead in the future. Just like when I was getting prepped for theatre in August for an emergency CS, it just never occured to me that it would bugger up my DC's chances of ever getting a deferral to P1 when the time comes 🤷😂

@midnightstar66

August - December levels were previously low as the criteria was strict for these deferrals though this has newly changed so you may see more. As said previously, DD has a 9 yo in her class alongside dc who have turned 7 less than 3 months ago so further flexibility, rightly or wrongly, is still there!

DH was telling me years ago in primary school there was a girl in his class who got deferred three times. Incredibly sad. Could be similar in your DC's school. These must be incredibly rare scenarios though, let's face it!

DH was telling me years ago in primary school there was a girl in his class who got deferred three times. Incredibly sad. Could be similar in your DC's school. These must be incredibly rare scenarios though, let's face it!

Different situation. A determined, educated parent in this case. I believe this is what it comes down to for many things. The ability to word things to your advantage.