Should I defer my August-born son starting primary this September?

[Sarah1584]

I’m so unsure on whether to send my August born son to school this September. He is currently having sessions for speech and language, he can talk just in short simple sentences and missing some sounds in words. He will turn 4 a week before being in the following school yr. He currently goes to preschool and loves it, but does seem quite immature still.

I applied for his primary school place not expecting to get our first choice it’s not our catchment school, or the school where his brothers go (we have moved house). It’s in another village much closer than where his brothers go.

I was expecting for him to get where his brothers are also where he goes to preschool, had he have gotten that school I was going to hold him back a year but now we have our first choice I’m worried if I hold him back he might not get that school next year.

We also want our 9 month old to eventually go to this village school.

I am so torn on what to do.

I work in a reception class and agree with those saying part time or starting in January or April is likely to create more issues than it solves. I would either defer or stick with September.

A lot of our SALT, social skills etc interventions are done during the afternoon as we find it easier to fit it in there than the mornings.

I’d defer. There are no downsides. You mention he’s having S&L therapy- he’s already struggling in some areas so I wouldn’t risk putting him in school so young and struggling to communicate.
He’ll be so much more prepared in a year.

Sigh. It's disappointing when people think they know how the system works all over the country.
You're absolutely right that going straight to y1 or going to y7 early would be a bad idea. But unfortunately some people in charge of education don't take advice from teachers and other experts and don't always do what is right for the child. The teachers on this post have simply pointed out to the op that she needs to be aware of the possibilities so that she knows to ask the right questions now.

How I've described is how it's supposed to work in England. National guidance an all... If some LA's try to wriggle out of it, then surely that's the fault of those LA's. Teachers shouldn't be giving a false impression of what the position is, and if a good thing, not a bad if parents are educated enough that they can change the LA where needed.