Exceptional Circumstances Application -- Anyone Done One?

[ilovemydogandmrobama]

Am in the process of submitting one for deferred entry as DD is a summer born child, but would like advice on what people included on supporting evidence, reasons for exceptional circumstances and the results?

Any advice would be very welcome

Do you mean deferred (starting reception later in the year/starting straight into year 1)

or

Delayed - starting reception a year later than his chronological age?

Sorry her

Thank you for responding! Well, good question! DD is a July baby and am hoping to defer her starting until April 2011, and keep her in the brilliant nursery school she is currently attending. Her teachers would back the deferral based on her physical/emotional needs. She is not special needs, but rather she acts quite young for her age. It is noticed by others that she is a very nice girl, but for instance hugs all the others in nursery school as she thinks they are all her friends. She just won't be ready for school in September and her teachers agree.

You don't need to 'prove' anything or provide 'special circumstances'. The legal starting age is the term following her 5th birthday. You can defer within the school year but not beyond simply by informing the school. So you need to have applied for a place for September and been accepted by the school. Then, probably a little nearer the time, you need to let them know that you don't want her to start in September but would prefer April. They then have to keep the place open until then. But, if you wanted to delay till the following September (meaning she would go straight into year 1), you would need to reapply).

She doesn't need to go full-time either, so you could start her on just mornings till half term then extend to afternoons as well. Or if you think that by Christmas she could cope with half days, send her just mornings till April and then full-time. It really should be up to you.

Unfortunately some schools will put pressure on you to send her according to their system but they cannot force you.