Defering reception til Jan...?

[rainbowface]

Hi my dd is 5 in Sept and I thought she would have to start school then, have since heard that I could defer her (if I wish) til Jan, I know doing this may have certain implications like could be holding her back etc but I was just wondering can this be right? Could she turn 5 in Sept but not actually have to start til after xmas? Does anyone know...Would appreciate any comments as need to fill in form asap!! Thanks.

Yes you are not obliged to send her to school (or I should say educate her at all if you were HE-ing) until the term after she is 5, so yes Jan.

I wouldn't hold her back tho. If she is 5 in Sept she will be the oldest in the class anyway. If she waits till Jan to start friendships will have formed and she will ahve work to catch up on, esp if the school only does one intake (as many do now).

Why are you planning to do it? Is she IYO not ready for school?

where are you anyway - haven't you applied for school last autumn

Yes , legally term after she turns 5. Agree with Clary re timing though , socially it would be to her advantage to start with peers. If they do have a second(younger) intake in January she would already feel more confident. iiwy I'd go ahead on the basis of September, get the place and review at the time. You don't need to say now as they can't withdraw a place once accepted if she still goes in that academic year.

hello! leaving aside her age, do you think she would benefit from delaying? where is she now? would she benefit from being at preschool for a bit longer and being the older one there?
tbh I don't think keeping her at preschool (or wherever) for another term would be "holding her back" in an academic sense. the curriculum followed will be the same in all settings, the only difference being the adult/child ratios being much better in preschool than school. also you can take her out of preschool much more easily.
the only disadvantage would be the social side, possibly. does your dd make friends easily? I delayed dd1 until January, and she is going parttime until Easter. tbh she benefitted hugely from being the "big one" at preschool and gained hugely in confidence in that term. she has made new friends at school and fitting in perfectly well. have you spoken to your preschool key worker about it?

Message withdrawn

harpsi your experience with dd is very interesting.

Good point about the staff/child ratios at pre-school.

Thanks for all the comments - have sent the form back indicating that I wish her to start in September. Idont want to hold her back socially but i know what you mean about the staff ratio being much better at pre school esp as she goes to such a small pre school anyway! Part of me just wonders whether I could achieve more with her at home in Sept, reading wise as she has a huge mental block when it comes to letters and trying to get her to sound out words etc. Went to visit the school yesterday apparently they use a look and learn method of learning to read - I didnt think schools used that now..