FAYRAZZLED - are you still out there? What did you decide re deferring school for DS?

[MoosieGirl]

Well the offer for the primary we wanted has arrived and have until next fri to accept or deline the place.

Was adament we were going to defer our august born DS to start reception until 2010 (we are in Bradford LEA) but now not so sure (especially now they are changing their policy from this year).

Just wondered what you decided?

I am still here, yes! We too have had our offer of a reception place this week and we got our first choice school. I've thought long and hard about what to do over the last few months and I think I've decided to go with the reception place and see how things go. This has been driven by a number of factors: my son's pre-school won't have a place for him next year as they're fully booked so he'd need to start again at a new pre-school if I could find one. His teachers also didn't seem to think there were any particular reasons they could see to justify starting him a year later. Then, there's Bradford's change of policy from next year: it just feels like it would always be a fight to keep him in "the year below" and I'm worried about what happens at the end of primary- whether there'd be increased pressure to put him back in with his current cohort.

I'm not happy about him going to school at just 4, I think he'll find it very tiring and I'm not convinced he is emotionally ready. He's very aware also of what he can't do (e.g. hold a pen well) compared to his peers and I worry about what is happening to his self-esteem. But we'll give it a go and I'm quite prepared to stand our corner and argue for longer than the usual "induction" part-time attendance if I think it will help him.

What are your thoughts? (Have you changed your name, BTW?)

So it's just my DS2 not going in Bradford this year then ?

Did the Bradford policy change go through - have either of you been following it?

I lost heart and stopped following it as I already had written confirmation that any policy change wouldn't affect me personally.

Should add that my application form went straight in the bin so haven't got any agonising choices now! don't envy you.

Hi Lingle,

I thought MoosieGirl was you and you'd changed your name.

Yes, Bradford LEA has changed its admissions policy for reception from next year: if you defer a year your child will go into year 1 when they start school rather than yearR:

www.educationbradford.com/%21+School+Support+Services/Admission+Arrangements+2010-2 011.htm

Depressing. It just seems so daft that a matter of weeks or even days makes a difference as to what year your child starts school. I so wish there were more flexibility in the system and the needs of inidivudal children really were considered.

Ive thought about nothing else over the last few months! The fact Bradford have changed the policy means that it will not become more common place and I dont want DS to stand out unnecessarily espcially at high school. Since Christmas he has really come on and has made some lovely friendships all of whom will be going to school and there is no particular reason other than being August born that I want to defer him. DP thinks we should send him,so does the head at the primary school.

Like you though, I think he's not emotionally ready and is still shy and quiet when the older children are around but Im not sure those are good enough reasons to defer him. Im speaking to his pre school teacher at lunch time to see what her thoughts are (athough last time I asked her she thought it would be good for him to have another year at pre school - and we have a place).

The head at the primary thinks he will cope well and they are more than capable of dealing with August borns (they have 10 in reception at the moment!)

Lingle - yes Bradford have changed the policy the new admissions arrangements came out on the 20th April but they do state that the would consider deferment for children with a special need or reason, so not sure if that is kind of a halfway house???

Also your DS is not the only one this year! A girl in DS class at pre school is deferring until 2010 as she is really tiny etc...

Moosie,

yes, I have a bit of an irony to deal with which is that ds2 has got 3 or 4 children he really likes in his year, one of whom is a "best friend" (in the 3-year-old sense!).
Thankfully the "best friend" lives on my street so all is not lost.

Trying to be balanced here (hard because I think this is a dreadful dreadful decision), Year 1 is, I believe, to become more play-based so that will be one hurdle he's less likely to trip over.

Moosie, could you please introduce me to the mum of the girl at DS's pre-school. Do I remember correctly that you are in "village in the valley?". She, my other friend in that Valley and anyone else we find could then keep in touch just to make sure our kids don't hit any problems because of our decision to offset their education.

Re the special needs exception - I'm torn. There's a clear benefit for kids with immature language/behaviour. But on the other hand it means that after this year deferment could become something that "labels" you........ parents of the most vulnerable kids are unlikely to have even seen a paediatrician.....on balance it's better that they left the door ajar I suppose. I can tell that they read my submission anyway because the wording of that "special needs" paragraph is lifted almost verbatim from my submission.

Hi Lingle - used to "bump" into you on these summer born threads! We are in Kirklees - that's Huddersfield not Scotland

We have had DS place through - they have a January intake but I have heard via Playschool that they are scrapping it this year and moving to just a September intake. We haven't been informed of this officially which I am astounded about. Anyway, we have decided to definitely hang on with DS (Aug 25th) until later in the year. Probably Easter but maybe January. He is just so young for his age and although he is very confident, mixes well etc, I just don't think that full time school is right for him so early.

We got some good info from the LEA about when you can start during the year and how school can't force the issue nor allocate place to someone else if you don't start in September, so I'm pretty happy about that. I was beginning to worry we might have a battle on our hands - just have to tell the Head now!

sounds like good progress fatzak.

Hi Lingle

I will introduce you if I can but I only the know this girls dad as her mum works full time and I dont really see her. If you let me have your email address I will pass it on.

Since I posted last week ive been speaking to everyone I can who could give me some input on my decision. I came across another parent who has already deferred her August son who is now halfway through primary school. She said it was the best decision she ever made and her son is confident and doing really well.

If we decide to defer will post back to let you know!

My email is [email protected] and I would really appreciate an introduction. I don't need to meet them - just an email contact to say "hello" is fine. Ditto with the lady whose son is halfway through school.

Hi Lingle

We finally made the decision and accepted the school place for our DS so he will start in Sept09.

I have passed on your email address to the family of the little girl who is being deferred this year, and they have said they will email you to say hello.

With regard to the other parents I dont know them at all so cant pass on your details (as I dont have any for them).

Hope this helps.

Thanks for all your help and advice over the last 6 months on this rather emotive issue!

Moosie

Congratulations Moosie, decision made!

Enjoy shopping for the uniform and maybe I'll meet you one day (we'll probably chat for an hour at some party and only at that point realise we "know" each other!)