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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

Has anyone deferred their summer born child’s school starting year?

67 replies

StopGrowingPlease · 07/03/2023 16:58

My child was born at the end of August so will be due to start school just after he turns 4. I am really not happy with this and I don’t want him to start school until he is 5. From what I have read it seems that I have every right to keep him out of school for the extra year but that he might have to go straight to year 1.
This makes no sense to me at all. I don’t want him to start almost a year younger than he has to and skipping a year isn’t going to help that at all. It would make it so much worse. Reception is a really important experience and I want him to start at the appropriate stage in his development…
He is only 18 months old at the moment but I would apparently have to apply for the deferral when he is 3 in case it isn’t accepted 😩
He is behind on his communication development as he isn’t saying any words yet and I just want him to have the best possible start to school by having as much chance to catch up and develop before he starts 🤷‍♀️

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Ponymom · 07/03/2023 17:03

Flexible school admissions for summer born children on FB.

Have never regretted it a day in my child's educational career. She's year 8 now.. Good luck!

mdh2020 · 07/03/2023 17:06

I think schools have a problem when it comes to KS tests as they have to include all pupils in the age band so if your DS is in yr 5 he will be counted as a no show for the SATS and affect the school results. I was a summer baby and so was DD and we never thought it a problem but now I see my grand daughter (birthday 9 September0 is almost a year older than some of the children in her class.

Toffeebythesea · 07/03/2023 17:12

Join the summer born Facebook group.
We did lots of research and could find absolutely no disadvantages towards not deferring. All the statistics are clear. Summer born children do worse in many different areas.
It's a pretty straight forward process

QuinnofHearts · 07/03/2023 17:14

Here in Nottingham, summer born children started reception after Christmas or Easter.

DistrictCommissioner · 07/03/2023 17:17

another vote for the FB group.

deferred my July son currently in Y2.

Twilightstarbright · 07/03/2023 17:17

That Facebook group recommended is brilliant but remember it is biased. Deferring is a brilliant option for some summer borns but not all. I joined as I wanted to find out more but felt like I was failing my child if I didn’t defer.

It’s definitely worth researching and looking at the process in your local area so you know what your options are.

Brunelofbrio · 07/03/2023 17:19

My end of August DC is in year 4 now. Still absolutely the right decision.

Nandocushion · 07/03/2023 17:19

I didn't but now he is in teen years I can see many ways where it would have made a positive difference for him.

Hackn3ymum · 07/03/2023 19:13

I think all summer born children can now be deferred if you give good reason why to the LEA, so definitely research to find out your options.

I have an end of August born DC and in the end decided not to defer. I remember them starting reception and feeling terrible, they had literally just turned 4 and were so tiny... fast forward to now and they are in Year 6, its has honestly been absolutely fine, more than fine, they have thrived and love school.

There are so many children in each school year born in the summer, they all develop at different rates and most good schools know how to fine tune which child in the class needs help and support. No child, regardless of what month they are born in, starts reception caught up and fully developed! Ok the september babies can possibly write their name but the summer borns soon catch up, they don't stay permenently behind on everything.

Even though your son is just 18months, I would possibly identify which primary schools you might apply for and speak to reception parents there, go to the open days and see what the reception teachers and TA are like. You might be encouraged rather than worried. Good luck

Smogtopia · 07/03/2023 20:27

I was very passionate about deferring my late July born daughter.

However...

She thrived in preschool and was confidently doing her phonics, numbers, her vocabulary and communication was incredible and she was confident and sociable. She's now in reception and is comfortably at the top end of all academic expectations. She's also confident and well rounded socially. Personally if she was in nursery right now with some young 3 year olds it would do her a complete disservice not only academically but she would also be bored.

Smogtopia · 07/03/2023 20:28

I would say I think it benefits boys more than girls

ZebraKid71 · 07/03/2023 20:28

I didn't with either of my summer born kids as they were very ready but if they hadn't been I would have 100% deferred. I know quite a few people who regret not deferring but none that regret doing it. Anecdotal I know but a very clear distinction in my friends/acquaintances.

DorritLittle · 07/03/2023 20:31

I did. It was right for my son, he was not a fan of preschool until the year he would have been in year R. He has thrived due to the decision. Had it been my daughter born in August I would not have done it as she was desperate to get to school. See how he is doing at 3.

Wittow · 07/03/2023 20:32

In all honesty I couldn't wait for mine to start. Free childcare??!!

Dodgeitornot · 07/03/2023 20:36

I think it really depends. We didn't defer DD but thanks to that she is now able to retake Y10 without a problem. She was absolutely fine with it and I don't think it would have made any difference in her schooling.
The group is helpful, but again it is biased. You seem to really want to keep your child home. Is there a reason why?

WeightoftheWorld · 07/03/2023 20:37

Join that FB group everyone's mentioned, it's fantastic. It is very unlikely that your child would need to go in to year one.

My child is summer born and will be going to reception this coming September at the age of 5.

snowbellsxox · 07/03/2023 20:45

My son is august baby and has settled in practically straight away. He did however go to a pre school primary school nursery. So the structure is very much the same apart from it was Monday to Friday half days and obviously school is full days but he was totally ready for the full days.
His learning is all on track too.

The only thing I would say is every child is different and only you know if they are ready or not.

Jorvik1978 · 07/03/2023 20:49

Our mid-August DS was deferred for a year, joining Reception with the following cohort. Absolutely no problem with either the LEA or our catchment school. For him it was the right decision. Whilst being academically quite bright, socially and emotionally he wasn't ready. He's in Year 2 now and doing really well.

TwilightSilhouette · 07/03/2023 20:51

I wouldn’t defer just because they were summer born but I would if they were behind and sumner born.
Schools are very used to sumner borns and differentiate work. All assessments are standardised for age.

sunandfog · 07/03/2023 20:52

Don't defer if you are interested in grammar schools - the eldest in the year need a higher score than the youngest. Also it can be horrible for them if they go through puberty etc earlier. I come at this as Aunt to a teenager who was deferred and wishes she wasn't!

Gonewiththewind123 · 07/03/2023 20:58

Hi there

You absolutely can ‘offset’ your child (rather than defer) and they can join reception. It’s really hard for a school or admissions authority to decline in reality or to make them join Y1. And for our grammars and secondaries it’s not an issue.

My little one started a year later this last September and it’s the best thing we did. I was never concerned academically or developmentally but I do believe that the longe children can play the better. I was and am less worried about reception and more about later on. I honestly can’t see any disadvantage whatsoever so always struggle a bit to see why anyone wouldn’t offset a summer born tbh but get that we all make the decision that’s right for our family. My son is thriving now.

AftersomeAdvice234 · 07/03/2023 20:59

This is interesting op, my daughter is also 18 months and born in august 2021. She was 6 weeks early so I didnt ever think id have this problem.

like you I have considered this but I think it’s best for each parent to look at their child and see where they are developmentally. I believe and have been told my daughter is on track and doing well and thrives being in that type of environment so I am not considering deferring, but is still an option should I feel she needs it.

I think you have some really good advice here and I think you are doing the right thing by looking at your own child to see if he is ready.

I will keep an eye on this thread and advice should I also find myself in the position of wanting to defer

LuluBlakey1 · 07/03/2023 21:06

We are thinking about doing this with DS2. He will be 4 at the end of July and is a very young 4 socially and emotionally but quick academically. I think it's because he's used to being 'the baby' and everyone helping him. The thing that worries me is that he will stay that way if he stays at nursery for another year.

Yoyo2021 · 07/03/2023 21:09

Defer, defer, defer…. My child is in year 6 now I really wish that I had deferred if I knew what I knew now about the education system. Its been so hard for my child.

Tiredandannoyed2023 · 07/03/2023 21:17

Our August born son started reception when he’s just turned 5. He’s now in year 4 and we’ve had no regrets as he’s thrived in his adopted cohort. He would have coped with the academic side of school if he’d started at 4 but I think he may have struggled socially. I feel that the 12 month difference in age is so significant with regard to starting school.

I’d definitely recommend the FB group for guidance and support.

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