Summer born children, delay school start year?

[Sunshinelife9891]

Hiya!

Looking for other people's thoughts / experiences, please. We have been told that our child can start school in 2026, rather than 2025 because they are summer born (June). The school has said they will join reception in 2026, and so will carry on their school journey in the school year under where they would ordinarily have been able to join.

Has anyone done this, and is your child now older and in hindsight would you still have made the same decision to delay the start year?

We haven't specific reasons, not developmental etc, more just having the choice, supporting the child from an emotional POV etc. Our child will continue to attend nursery until attending school.

Thanks!

My son was born late July, his GF early August, a mate mid August and my stepson early August. All started school at just after four. All went well (they are all adults now)! I don’t think any of them thought they were behind their peers in any way. Two of my sons closest a friends were born in October and it made no difference. In fact I’d go so far as to say my son was so ready for school that it would have been a real issue holding him back.

I think there's much more to it than the simple question of what time of year your child was born.
There's practicalities like, do you want to/are you able to pay another 12 months of nursery fees?
Difficult questions like, who's benefit would it be for? Do you genuinely think your child would struggle? Or is it because you want that extra year off with them?
Have nursery expressed any concerns? Is this something you could speak to them about?

I've a late August born, so these were the questions we asked ourselves too. But we sent him as he was ready and he wanted to go to school. He's now in Year 2 and he's quite emotionally immature compared to his peers, but he actually over achieves academically.
Also, I have a friend who's DS is 10 days younger than my DS, so started school the year after. Has no SEN, and struggles with every aspect of school life, so being the eldest doesn't automatically mean an easy ride either.

I’d be interested to know what LA this is?

Any school/trust or headteacher that refuses on the basis of exceptional circumstances have not followed the Schools Admissions Code. They must state in which year the child will start at CSA, and if Year 1, state why that would be in the child's best interests. The Advice to the Code states that "...it is not necessary for a child to have medical or special educational needs in order for it to be in their interests to start reception age 5". "Exceptional circumstances" includes summerborns as a stand-alone reason to delay your child.

Sounds like there’s unlawful blanket policies being used in your area.

August baby started a month after turning 4- no regrets! I don’t see how delaying her would have helped but make it more daunting and push her further behind tbh

My daughter started reception at Compulsory School Age (5) and it’s honestly been a great choice for her. She’s thriving, loving school, and full of confidence.

Looking back, she probably could have started school at just-turned-4 and been okay. But at the time, we didn’t know that for sure—and we felt that we may regret it if we didn’t take the opportunity. Giving her that extra year of childhood, time to grow, and not just “cope” with Reception but enjoy it—those felt like huge benefits.

We also thought ahead: starting secondary school as one of the oldest, not youngest; dealing with teenage transitions, phones, social media, and GCSEs at 16 rather than 15. It just made a lot of sense for us, even if it wasn’t an easy decision at first.

It isn’t for every child or family, but it’s definitely worth considering. I recommend looking into the research around summer-born children—it can be really eye-opening. And if you’re still unsure, join the Facebook group ‘Flexible School Admissions for Summer Borns’—it’s full of helpful info and other families experiences.

I think it makes sense in some cases if late August, but not June. We wouldn't think a May baby was too young.

It is part of the LA Admissions Policy. They also administer admissions on behalf of many trusts.

This is one LA where evidence of exceptional circumstances is required and decision taken.

https://www.lancashire.gov.uk/children-education-families/schools/apply-for-a-school-place/starting-primary-school/deferred-and-part-time-starts/?page=5

@BingBongBoo86 and another, with added reference to secondary.

https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/education-and-learning/school-admissions/guiding-you-through-admissions-process/making-request-admission-out-normal-age-group

I wouldn’t unless specific concerns. I’m an august birthday and would have been pretty annoyed if I had to do an extra year of school, I went to university at 18 and 2 weeks just fine

Update thank you all SO much. Each reply is so helpful. Ultimately, a deferral to Feb half term with a guaranteed school space would be the dream, however I understand why that cannot be. I didn't imagine the school would support a delayed start year and I am so grateful they would let us do this. I dont know anyone personally who has done this and hearing your experiences has opened my eyes. A lot to consider and as many of you have said, making a decision based on your child now is hard to do as you don't know how they are going to change over the next few years.

I agree very much that having more time with your child our of shool is a real gift and I won't ever regret having that time with them, I just don't want to leave them feeling singled out in the future or mentally unstimulated and worry that other children further down the line may be unkind. Or, the alternative is to regret putting them into 2025 cohort and they take more time to settle with more tears and worries and frustrations, than if we had let them go a year later.

Thank you all again, so so interesting and I'll deffo check out the FB groups, etc. 😊

I think this article is informative although about the US: https://parentdata.org/should-i-redshirt-my-kindergartener/.

I would do it if I felt my child might struggle with the expectations around sitting still, etc.

I'd do it

They they'll be the oldest, give them their best chance eh

This.

I didn't have the option to delay mine, they both struggled, I asked school to let them redo a year but it was refused. They both have had awful difficulties despite being really clever children but they just weren't emotionally at the same level as that higher year.

I would always defer. The damage to not doing so doesn't become evident initially, but which time it's too late.

My DD late July baby was far more ready to start school than her brother had been as a November born, so age isn't everything.
We didn't delay and had no issues at all.

The only time that her young in year situation became more obvious was strangely Y13 and into her first year at uni, when she suddenly did seem much younger than her peers, and struggled at uni. That could have had something to do with covid though with lockdown hitting in Y11-12.

It’s pointless. My late August born child started in the correct year. Was a little behind others academically at first (as expected) but soon caught up, and did very well at school. Just start her at the time she’s meant to start.

My child was summer born and I have no regrets about sending him to school at the usual time. However, I wouldn't say he had been 'ready' as such, but he was definitely ready half way through the year. Also, it was a long time ago (2004) and since then reception has become more child led.
I'm curious to know what happens with funding if your child starts school a year later and then also requires an additional year later on. My son spent three years in sixth form instead of two after changing subjects so required funding until 19 without starting school a year later.

I am considering it for my son for next year (July) but will see how he gets on over the next year. However, I agree with others that I don't think it is something that should just be done 'because you can'. As with all decisions there are upsides and downsides and it's for you to decide - I don't agree that there are absolutely no downsides as someone above suggested.

Something that worries me about it is that my son would be seen as 'different' which kids will absolutely notice as they grow up. As a June baby, your child could be well over a year older than the youngest child in the year which is not an issue if it is the best thing for them, but is just a consideration for me.

I also think a 4 year old would find it difficult to understand why all his nursery friends have gone off to school, and he has to stay in nursery a whole year longer, with children mostly all younger than him. I think being with children older than him would be more beneficial personally.

It is also worth considering that your child will legally be able to leave school in Year 10 - you don't know what sort of teenager they will be and it may be that they don't do their GCSEs if not forced to (obviously they probably will but it's important to consider their whole schooling!). I remember someone in a thread saying their son really didn't try in the last years of school and got fed up, because they were well aware they 'should' be put living their life at uni/work but we're still in school at an older age than all their peers. Again, just something to consider. I think it just depends if you think they are better having an extra year out of school now, and adding that to the end - this will be entirely individual.

I have also heard about some children having issues going to secondary, but don't know too much about that.

Overall I think it's a hard decision and it does feel unfair sometimes having to make it - you don't know what your child will be like in a few years to know if it's the right one which does worry me, but I think unless there are specific concerns we will probably send our son in the year he is supposed to be in as personally the cons outweigh the pros in my opinion.

I think this is really important that I often don't see talked about on this point, and really does make me reconsider whether it's the right choice! Children will quickly become aware they 'should' be a whole year ahead and that can be tough, especially if they are clever or mature. You just don't know what they will be like which makes it a tough decision.

Same with me. I am end of August birthday. I was only 10 when I started secondary school, a week shy of my 11th birthday. But I never felt disadvantaged by it. Was in top sets etc. Someone will always be the eldest and the youngest

I get it if DC are SEN but if not then I would not hold back.

Exactly this

I struggled to decide with my August born but didn’t in the end. In year 6 now and finds the work too easy and is bored.

Personally, I’d only defer a June baby if they were showing signs of being behind average socially or in terms of development. July and August are when I’d be seriously considering it for “average” children.

I’m generally very pro deferring, btw. I was a teacher and could still easily pick the summer born children out in my Year 4 classes. Most summer borns were all doing “fine” academically and I’m sure their parents didn’t regret deferring them, but I’d always wonder if they could be doing better than “fine” if they’d been given the chance. Not all summer borns were in the less able groups, but the vast majority of the less able groups were summer borns.

Thanks for getting back to me about the LA.

I’ve heard about Lancashire being difficult. That said, I understand it is becoming easier for parents to delay school entry—largely due to the persistence of some parents and the Ombudsman upholding complaints. Hopefully, Lancashire will catch up with more flexible areas soon.

I think the whole system is very unfair. If I can fill in a simple A4 form to request my child starts school at age 5, stating the reason as she’s a summer born then no other parent should have to go through multiple rounds of complaints just to do the same.

In Northern Ireland, summer-born children (July/August) must opt in to start at 4, and in Scotland there’s a minimum school starting age. Most European countries begin formal education at 6 or 7—yet somehow, we make parents fight for the chance to give their children more time. As a country, are we the ones getting it wrong? Perhaps something we all need to start thinking about.

Would end of april be too 'old' to be considering deferral (also in NI). Our child is awaiting grommets surgery and we suspect adhd possibly but given his age can't be 100% certain. He's already done a preschool year and made friends. Everyone else is going on to primary school and he is the youngest in his group. They will all be kept together in P1 typically. Not sure what's for the best.

Honestly, it's a really important point to consider.
I realise this is anecdotal, every child is individual so this won't apply to all children, but....
A boy in DD's class, he should be in the year above, but he's in DD's year because he's a summer baby so on that basis his mum delayed his school start by a year. At the time, she felt he was too young to start reception so deferred him by a year.
Now he's in year 6 but should be in year 7.
All the kids in his year group have worked out he should be in year 7 due to the fact that when they started year 6 in September he was already 11 years old. There's plenty of smart kids in their year who matter of factly said at the start of yr 6 "Why are you in our year group if you're already 11? You're in the wrong school year!" drlivered in that blunt, loud and insensitive way that kids say things.
On the first day of year 6, the teacher went round each kid in the class with the question "When is your birthday date and when will you turn 11?" to create a visual display on the wall with photos of the kids, oldest to youngest, on a rainbow. I saw it. It was designed to be a celebration of their birthdays and ages. This boy of course had to answer "I'm already 11 my birthday was in July". So they all know and now he is constantly asked by classmates why he's still in primary school when he should be in secondary school. Why did the teachers make him stay in primary school instead of letting him go to secondary school? (The teachers didn't of course, but the kids think this must be what happened). Many kids ask him in a genuinely confused way. Many other kids mock him and burst in to laughter at others who make jokes about it. DD tells me he goes bright red in embarrassment every time the topic of birth year gets raised. There's no way he can keep his age a secret, so that means all the other kids know he's the age of year 7 secondary school kids yet he's in year 6 primary. DD said she saw him frantically and desperately begging the teacher not to join in with a class activity that involved researching and writing about things that happened in their year of birth. She's seen him in tears over it several times when it gets raised and questioned by classmates, with teachers comforting him. I know the mother, and she tells me he has spent most of year 6 asking her to put him in to secondary school "now" saying "It's where I should be! I should be in year 7!" and he tells her he is angry about it.
Obviously this is only his experience and of course there will be kids who don't have this experience. But it's worth thinking about.