Start school at 4 or 5?

[KevinStuartBob]

Hi. I'm looking for advice on how best to support my son. He's summer born and due to start school next year. He hasn't been diagnosed with anything yet however he doesn't really talk! He has improved in his ability to communicate a lot in the last couple of months but he struggles socially and is noticeably behind in his development compared to his peers.

Has anyone any advice on how to approach starting his schooling at 5 rather than 4? I can't see that he'll be ready next year. As well as the speech, he is also a bit clumsy, has sensory issues and cannot concentrate or focus. I feel he may have some SEN. He has had SALT and has been referred to a paedeatrician but I understand we are in an area with no diagnostic service I wouldn't be interested in delaying him starting school until later in the year but still the same age group - I can't see how that would help. Has anyone any experience?

My son has just started Reception aged 5. It was very straightforward for us but I understand that some local authorities and academies can be very difficult. Essentially if you tell them that you don't want your son to start school until September 2020 then they just need to decide whether it's in his best interests to start school in Reception or Year 1.

The best thing to do first is to contact the head teachers of your favourite schools and find out if they will support a Reception start in 2020 for your son. I was lucky and all 3 HTs I contacted were supportive. I then had to apply for a school place (for the year before I wanted him to go to school) and applied to the Council for their agreement to a CSA Reception start. They agreed and cancelled my school place application. I then applied for a school place last year.

I'm so glad I delayed my son's school start. Due to his SEN he still needs extra support in school but he is much more confident than this time last year and is making friends.

If you're on Facebook I would recommend joining the Flexible School Admissions for Summerborns group.

Firstly you should definitely decide if you want to wait a little bit more or not. If you want to start in 2020 then start by making a list of local schools. Next step is to make phone calls asking if they can give you a tour of the school. In the meantime get the ball rolling on his school place.

Email the head of each school.

Honestly it seems like he will probably do well at a special needs school with a qualified speech therapist. Basically if you tell them your preferences without arguing you will probably have a better chance of convincing them.

Hi OP, I am in exactly the same boat as you. My son has been diagnosed with severe verbal dyspraxia. I am unsure what we will do. We are currently trying to get him statemented. Providing that all goes through I think we have three options:

1. delay his entry by 1 year, so he starts Sept 2020. We just hope he will catch up by then and that the delayed entry would be honoured all through his education (in our area you have to re apply when going from infants to juniors and again for secondary). Look into how happy your area are to handle these applications, I've heard it's very mixed depending where you live.

2. send him sept 2019 to our local primary school where his older sibling goes. Assuming his statement is granted we should be able to have a SALT visit him at that school, but I've heard often they don't turn up as there aren't enough therapists around. I'm also not convinced they will be specialist enough for his very severe dyspraxia.

3. send him to a school about 45mins away which has a very specialist speech centre attached. I think this would be best for his education but would be shitty for our family life. It's an awful drive and he wouldn't be at school with his siblings.

Would be worth googling schools in your area to see if any have a specialist speech centre attached.

I delayed my Summerborn son's school start until he was of compulsory school age (5). He was diagnosed with ASD at 3. The extra year of play/development has really helped him although he is still struggling a little in starting year 1.
In my LA (hertfordshire) it was straightforward - I just applied a year later. The post above by Spinabifidamom is, no doubt accidentally, factually incorrect. You cannot, in the UK, ring round schools, go to open days and then decide to send him to a special needs school even if you put forward your preferences without arguing. In order to do that you would need an EHCP which will require assessment and probably 6 months work to get (much easier to get if your son is already in a setting).

I second the post above recommending the facebook group "Flexible School Admissions for Summerborns" - loads of great advice and knowledgeable people on there.

Does he go to Nursery ?
What do they say ? (They are more likely to know the local area)

You have the "right to request" that he be educated out of year group, not the "right" for him to be educated out of year group. I would far rather my dc started school in Reception rather than straight in to Yr1, if he isn't able to to start Reception a year late.

Would he qualify for an EHCP ?