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.

Further flexibility could make rare scenarios much less so. If it gets to the point where only a few children in a class start school before turning five and some are six then where does that leave a child like the one in the article if they are February born and already deferred? Defer twice?

I know I'm a bit late to this chat, I deferred my own December born child due to health issues and lengthy hospital stays during the 2 previous years, and we were granted additional funding to stay at nursery. August to December born children are applying for additional funding really as you do not need to be in school until you reach age 5, and we only have 1 intake. In years gone by there were 2 intakes per year (showing my own age there).

The legislation is very clear, if you are 5 you must start school unless there are exceptional circumstances, and unfortunately GDD isn't classified as exceptional, and schools should be well set up to cope with additional needs (inadequate funding is a major issue though). The system needs cut off points in place otherwise it would be a total free for all and a class could be made up of 4 -7 year olds, how would a teacher cope with that range of ability in a class, impossible I would say.

Also was there a specific question in any FOI request about the number of children that would be starting P1 aged 6 when the time came?

Posted too soon, I presume the parents are in the Deferral Support Scotland Group. I was added into a messenger chat for my local authority and it was invaluable.

@Notthisnotthat

Also was there a specific question in any FOI request about the number of children that would be starting P1 aged 6 when the time came?

It was Q10 in the FOI requests sent out by the individual.

I took from question 10 that the figure includes those who turned 5 in the August to December period, and would still be aged 5 at the start of their deferred P1 start. I don't think that includes only the children that are already 5 and would be aged 6 on commencement of their deferred P1 start.

Sorry have reread it again, and see how the question is asked.

The cost of offering a deferred nursery place must have shot up now that you get 1140 hours, compared to 600 previously and 300 before that. Our council will still provide funding to partner provider nursery for an extra year in nursery, some councils will only offer an extra year provided its in a local authority run nursery so the cost isn't real, but it does stop another child getting a place. I guess the acceptance/rejection of another year could be down to the financial situation of the LA.