reception teachers and ed psychs/heads please help

[RacingSnake]

Hi. This is the second time I am writing this hugely long question, but the first seems to have mysteriously disappeared. At least this one should be shorter!

DD was born 8 weeks early, in July not September, so she will I presume be expected to start school in '10 not '11.

I am very concerned about this as she is much 'younger' than her friends born full term in the summer of 06.

What grounds would worry you most about a child coming into reception? On what grounds woukd you recommend back yearing?(Apparently this can be possiblo, even without very special needs and a statement.)

this may vary depending on where you live BUT , in Devon, a parent can defer a childs school entry into reception class( after a place has been offered and accepted) untill the term they turn 5. So for a summer born they could start at Easter. however to defer until yr one requires a new application for a yr one place. And deferring reception entry till AFTER they turn 5 requires exceptional social or medical need. The county will continue preschool place for ( currently) 12.5 or 15 hours per week ( area dependant) until child starts school. parents can also ask for flexi time schooling in reception. some schools cope with this better than others.
You "should" find all this info for your LEA on teh LEA web site, you may have to dig a little.

It's the same in Worcestershire UniS.

Whenever you start you will always find children who can do things that yours can't. When ds started in reception some of the children could read well and some couldn't recognise their letters. Age seemed to have little to do with it in terms of what they actually knew. The only impact age seemed to make was emotional maturity and then not in all cases.

If you have developmental concerns then you should ask your GP for a paed referral.