Moving from abroad - keeping son back a year

[FumingMoomin]

Hi all,
This summer we are moving home to the south east after many years in Norway. My son was due to start school here in August just after he turns 6.
However in the UK system, he should be going into year 2. Does anyone have any experience or advice on holding him back a year so he starts in year 1? He is still at nursery here, which is very much play-based. He will only be a couple of months older than the next oldest ones in year 1 so I am hoping that any school we apply to will allow this, but am I being naive? I am not so worried about his social/emotional readiness, more the academic side of things.
Thanks in advance!

You would need to talk to the admissions authority for the school, which may be the Local authority or the school itself. They will decide whether they will allow it - there is much more scope now in terms of delaying a summer born when first entering reception, but older than that its very variable.

Your application will also be an in-year one, as he's not starting in reception with the regular admissions round, so you may have little choice anyway - the LA have to find you a school, but it will be the nearest with spaces, not necessarily one of your choice. Spaces aren't held for people moving into the area.

So I would start with a conversation with the LA, as well as figuring out whether your preferred/local schools are their own admissions authority or not.

My advice would be to ask to be educated out of year group on your initial application to schools in the UK. We would look on it more favourably in that instance. Everything you've said above would be fine in an application to our LA - we receive our applications through the LA's co-ordinated in-year scheme, even though we are a Trust.

We have had several families apply from overseas this year to find that some of our schools are full, to them submit an application asking for their children to be educated out of year group in the year below, This appears as if the parents want the school rather than to be looking into the best interests of the child.

In our case you would apply through the LA and they would then consult with all of your preferences (provided they were maintained schools or part of the scheme). Following the responses from preferenced schools they would provide an answer back to the parents.

Thank you both! That's really helpful 🙂

@elmooie
Many many schools take DC in their correct year group even when they speak no English. It’s perfectly normal and a child needs social belonging as well as academic help. Being in the right age group is best. You just have to work hard to catch up as many fantastic immigrants have done. Look at their achievements and aim high too.