Delaying school until six

theotherfossilsister · 2024-10-08T09:32:40+00:00

Has anyone done this? My child is two years and two months but was born prematurely and has a few areas to catch up in. Waiting on SALT referral. I know that it’s possible with letter about delays etc to treat him as a September baby and day school until six. Obviously years in the future but just wondering.

Callisto1 · 08/10/2024 12:08

I haven’t done this, but I know of a child at DCs school who went to p1 at nearly 6.5. It wasn’t easy to do this, I think they had to get special permission. But given that at 5 they still could not toilet reliably and there were other delays it made sense. In your case I would see how things go and keep the option open.

Original poster

theotherfossilsister · 08/10/2024 12:25

Thank you @Callisto1

Maybe he will have a huge leap and catch up, but at the moment he seems like such a baby compared to other two year olds

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TickingAlongNicely · 08/10/2024 12:29

My understanding is they are supposed to start between 4.5 and 5.5, but the right to defer has been extended to any child who is not yet 6 when the year starts? So is he just the other side of this cut off?

Original poster

theotherfossilsister · 08/10/2024 12:30

@TickingAlongNicely

Yes, but he was born early. If he was born on his due date he would be the other side of the cut off.

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BodyKeepingScore · 08/10/2024 17:25

How premature was your LO?

mskingbean92 · 08/10/2024 18:07

Is he an early August baby then? Was he only about 6 weeks early?

Why do you think he’ll need the extra year? With much younger peers will he have good role models to help his development?

Is nursery actively monitoring ‘freeflow’ activities or essentially leaving him to his own devices? Will another year of being able to say no to activities he doesn’t fancy help him progress?

I wouldn’t recommend this as a P1 teacher.

Original poster

theotherfossilsister · 08/10/2024 18:37

@BodyKeepingScore 5 weeks but severe iugr songwriter a kilo. Needed a lot of help initially

@mskingbean92 Late July but still small and behind
milestones

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Original poster

theotherfossilsister · 08/10/2024 18:40

Nursery is three days a week and very play based

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WheresMyChunkz · 08/10/2024 18:52

I work in a Reception class and there is SUCH a range of abilities at the start of each year that I wouldn't worry about him being 'behind' his peers with any kind of academic stuff. Or anything really, they do catch up in skills and settle in quickly when they learn routines and observe others.

An ability to play nicely with others (not necessarily making up games, just sharing building blocks for example) and generally follow instructions or copy what others are doing (eg if everyone else is lining up by the door, you should copy them even if you didn't hear or understand the teacher's instructions) is important, and an ability to dress themselves (at least put the polo shirt on even if buttons are too much). But even those skills are lacking in some of the Autumn babies in my current class so I wouldn't automatically assume a premature child will stand out if that are struggling.

WhyIhatebaylissandharding · 08/10/2024 19:52

The question I would ask is how many Sept / Oct children are now deferring in your council area?? If it’s still uncommon then I would question the value of deferring.

Although v common to defer Jan / Feb I think it’s been a slow trickle to Nov /Dec and still unusual for Sept/Oct.

There is a huge amount of growth between two and five you might find that your DC is very ready at 5! Also remember not everyone defers Jan/Feb so there might be some 4.5s in the mix.

Vettrianofan · 09/10/2024 19:27

DS 9 was deferred. He's September born. Four years on and no regrets. He needed that extra year and required intensive SALT input.

My youngest (7yo) also was born very premature and needed lots of SALT help too. Unfortunately couldn't get him deferred and he has actually excelled anyway.

OP with lots of parental input your DC will do well in life. Refer if in doubt, look into OT referral too if need be as your DC gets older. Get help and support put in place as early as is possible.

Original poster

theotherfossilsister · 09/10/2024 19:39

Thank you @Vettrianofan x

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Booobs · 13/10/2024 21:33

I’d noticed you posted this thread in Scotsnet, but you’re talking about September babies - just checking whether you’re in actually in Scotland in which case the age boundaries are completely different and run February to January? So an August/September baby is right slap bang in the middle… I know that deferral is technically permitted but there is SO long to go in relative terms until they start school irrespective of birth related issues that I wouldn’t make any decisions yet.

Original poster

theotherfossilsister · 14/10/2024 07:56

@Booobs yes we’re in Scotland. Our child should have been born after the cut off for deferral but was premature.

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Karatema · 14/10/2024 11:16

I wouldn't worry. My DS was 6 weeks early, August baby, and he'd caught up by R2.
As an adult, we've been talking about this regarding his own children, he was pleased I didn't hold him back. He remembers there were many children who struggled. And these were the days before TAs in the class.

MrsSunshine2b · 14/10/2024 12:26

I'm not super familiar with the Scottish system. Would he have to go in with other children of the same age, so he's just missed Reception? I think that would be really damaging if he's already "behind" as Reception is all about building readiness for later years and more formal learning. What would he be doing in these "extra" years where his peers are at school? There's not many activities on school days open to those age groups and most nurseries won't take a 5 yo.

You have a really long time to get him more support and work it out, I wouldn't rush to make a decision, but if the aim is to "catch up" with other children, withdrawing him from the experiences they are having would be the worst option I think.

snoopyfanaccountant · 14/10/2024 13:59

MrsSunshine2b · 14/10/2024 12:26

I'm not super familiar with the Scottish system. Would he have to go in with other children of the same age, so he's just missed Reception? I think that would be really damaging if he's already "behind" as Reception is all about building readiness for later years and more formal learning. What would he be doing in these "extra" years where his peers are at school? There's not many activities on school days open to those age groups and most nurseries won't take a 5 yo.

You have a really long time to get him more support and work it out, I wouldn't rush to make a decision, but if the aim is to "catch up" with other children, withdrawing him from the experiences they are having would be the worst option I think.

Scotland doesn't have Reception. Any child who is deferred starts Primary 1 a year late rather than joining the year they should (due to their age) have been in. Nurseries are geared up to take these children for an extra year.

Klippityklopp · 14/10/2024 20:30

My DC is a January birthday and started school when he was 5 and 8 months.
We did so much research and have family who are teachers and head teachers and every one of them said to defer as although in p1-3 there isn't much difference they said the difference between that year makes is very noticeable.
My DC loved school, thrived at both primary and high school.
I have friends who have Jan/Feb birthdays and everyone one has opted to defer their DC's start date

GlobalCitz · 14/10/2024 20:37

We did this for DD.

Local authority initially said they wouldn't authorise, and we quickly pointed out they had no legal authority over that decision.

In our case, we (the parents), her nursery and her educational psychologist all agreed it was for the best.

The only thing the local authority can do is refuse to fund the additional nursery year (which we could live with at the time)