Keeping daughter back a year!

[JKCR2017]

Hi, DD has just turned 3 and will be starting in the pre school class at the pre school she has been attending. I will be making her school application soon.

DD has global developmental delay. She didn’t walk until 2 and still has significant gross motor delays. She also has an expressive speech delay.

Have been trying to find some info on keeping her back a year in so she would start school in 2020 rather than 2019.

Would she be able to start in reception a year later or will she need to start a year later in year 1.

Trying to weigh up the pros and cons and really stuck on what to do.

I will be asking the pre school staff and the professionals DD sees for their opwnion on this too.

Thank you 😊

Parents have the "right to request" that their dc can start in Reception a year late, but that is not the same as the right to demand / insist. It does vary from one authority to another. In our LA, all the academies make their own decisions and those schools that are still under LA control, the decision is made by the authority (schools admissions).

It has not been established yet, what happens at secondary transfer, which is something that seems a long way away now, but, when the time comes, where it is down to individual HTs - what happens to the 'out of year dc' if the secondary HT says no?

If your dd is considerably delayed, then would you think about applying for an EHCP ? In many authorities, that would make a school agreeing to her going through her schooling a year behind, much more of a possibility.

Thank you. This is why it’s such a difficult decision to make. I was given the option with DS as he had autism but we decided to go into school at the correct time with a EHCP and he’s done well. But he was also slightly older and DD’s age worries me most of all! She is the youngest in her age group 😢

My son has a June birthday and is just about to start school aged 5. Delaying his school start was definitely best for him and also bought me more time to secure an EHCP. If you are on Facebook I would recommend joining the Flexible School Admissions for Summerborns group. My impression from that group is that securing a Reception start for a 5 year old with SN is fairly straightforward but there are a few councils and academies who do not follow the rules properly - they are meant to determine 'in the best interests of the child' whether they should start in Reception or Year 1.

I have found it v easy in my authority. The HT of my son's school was fully supportive. Sometimes when you talk to prechools, schools and even the councils they do not always understand how it works. I spoke to local secondary HTs too and they all confirmed that they would never agree to a child skipping a year and that they would remain with the adopted cohort in secondary.

Good luck with your decision

If your dd has a August birthday and you are in England, then you now have the legal right to defer her entry to reception by a year. As an August child myself (no special needs) I would totally recommend this.

Your lea will be able to tell you how to go about it. I believe you apply now, for next September, then defer, but do check.