Starting school at 4 + asd traits/dev delay (?)

[flibbetyjibbet]

Hi - what do people think about this news story -

((www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/10302249/Start-schooling-later-than-age-five-say-experts.html))

Don't know if I have created a link correctly, apologies if not.

My son has just started reception and was 4 end August, and we have struggled with various behavioural/sensory issues, which may be developmental delays or may be something spectrumy, we are still not sure. He is also super bright so am hoping it is just the 'out of kilt' of cognitive (high) and social/emotional (low).

Anyhoo, I have always thought our education system seems to be too formal too soon, and I would prefer a much more play based, let children be children type thing. Especially for my son, but the thought of home schooling is not appealing at all as he is such hard work (not at pre school, or school - 2 weeks in!) as he is not bored there. I have a toddler too which would make it very hard.

Reception isn't an issue but I do worry about him going into y1 at just 5 with his issues.

Has anyone got any experience or advice for me, thank you

Our son who has autism also turned 4 in August and so was due to start reception this year. However, we managed to get his entry delayed and he has just started in nursery at a mainstream school. It can be difficult to do this and you need a strong argument and preferably professional support. We got this written into his statement but the school and LEA told us that there are instances of children repeating a year so this may be something you wish to think about.
Is your son being assessed at the moment?

Our son was 4 in April but is quite significantly globally delayed in his development,with various sensory issues. We looked at local special schools but went for a phased p/t start (mornings initially) at our local mainstream school. He has a statement & f/t 1:1. He had already attended the attached preschool. We are going to see how it goes,but have heard that other children have repeated reception year. I'm just slightly worried as to what this means for high school entry-would they miss a year somewhere?

It's early days but he seems to be loving it. He was bored at home & I think will thrive at school.

As the previous poster said, have you started the assessment process for a statement? You can do this yourself & it is quite a lengthy process,so if not it might be worth doing so?

It's hard isn't it-I always imagined the going to school worries to be very different. Separation anxiety maybe,lost uniform etc. Not Statementing, fighting for SALT & OT provision!

Whats even worse is that we didn't get a school place in the village school so he has had to go to school with no familiar faces :(

I tried for SA but got turned down, he is being assessed at mo with paed, just been referred to cams for attachment discorder, to rule it out. I think he has something called pda and has good surface sociability so slips under the radar. He isn't very on the spectrum, more hovering around the edge and very day dependent. I think school think I am barking as he has been very good so far with no outbursts as he is also enjoying not being bored as he is very bright.

I had to fight for the school appeal which we lost so decided for my sanity not to fight for an assessment yet but see how it went at school and with paed assessment.

Hopefully, it is all going the right way and it does end up being developmental, and I think some things we are doing therapeutically are really helping (brain exercises and supplements)