Deferring school start

[Twigglett1]

My little one is meant to start school next September. He's half his age developmentally so I'm thinking of delaying his school start till the following year but I don't know whether that's the best thing to do.

Has anyone done this? How did it work out.

Has anyone chosen not to? If so, why?

Does he have a diagnosis of anything?

We didn’t defer our ds (ASD) but I wish we had, really. Reception will likely be ok but as work gets harder each year, that’s when they can start to struggle. In year 1 they are expected to sit and work most of the day.

Have you visited the schools you are interested in yet?

We don't have a diagnosis. We've been told learning delay formally and moderate learning disability informally. He's had genetic testing which didn't show anything.

We're also waiting for an autism assessment.

I've been to see three schools. They all say delay. But my health visitor and disability support worker say I shouldn't do it. They think it will cause problems later on and as long as he has an EHCP he'll be fine.

We'll have an EHCP sometime next year but I have to make a decision about school before I know what's in it.

I've been to see three schools. They all say delay. But my health visitor and disability support worker say I shouldn't do it. They think it will cause problems later on and as long as he has an EHCP he'll be fine.

They don’t really know he’ll be fine though, some are, some aren’t. I think I would be inclined to take advice from the schools who are the ones with experience of schooling children. It’s good you would have them as back up.

What are your views on special schools? Is that something you’ve looked into?

Yes I've looked.

The special schools near me are over subscribed. I've been told there will be children with greater need who will take the places first.

Same with the local mainstream with specialist resource provision. They also heavily implied they didn't want any more SEN children in their mainstream classrooms.

Hi, I am in the same position. My son is delayed in speech and at his development assessment, the consultant put his learning ability at 2 and half. He is 3 and half. She also said she believed he had autism. He would be due to start school next September. He would only be four in April so as well as his delays he would very young. My problem is he is unlikely to get another year in his existing preschool as it is heavily subscribed. He would have to move to another one but I think if he got one-to-one support even in another nursery setting it would be better than sending him onto P1 at this stage. Would also be interested to hear from any other parents who deferred and whether they would recommend it?

Can I also ask what problems the health visitor thinks deferring now will cause further down the line?

The problem with deferring is the developmental gap often widens even compared to the deferred year group, so deferring doesn’t solve the problems many think it will. Which is why some professionals and SEN experts are of the opinion it is better to stay with the chronological year and have SEP in place to meet their needs in an appropriate placement.

We'll have an EHCP sometime next year

Where are you in the EHCP process? Many have to appeal which is taking around a year at the moment, so there’s no guarantee you will have an EHCP prior to next September.

The special schools near me are over subscribed. I've been told there will be children with greater need who will take the places first.
Same with the local mainstream with specialist resource provision. They also heavily implied they didn't want any more SEN children in their mainstream classrooms.

Who told you this? Admissions for those with EHCPs doesn’t work in the same way as normal admissions for those without EHCPs. Unless the school is wholly independent the LA must name your preference unless they can prove:
-The setting is unsuitable for the age, ability, aptitude or special educational needs (“SEN”) of the child or young person; or
-The attendance of the child or young person would be incompatible with the provision of efficient education for others; or
-The attendance of the child or young person would be incompatible with the efficient use of resources.

Being full is not defined in law, and on its own being ‘full’ is not enough of a reason to refuse to name your preference. The LA has to prove the school is so full admitting DS is incompatible. The bar is high, higher than an “adverse effect”, “impact on” or “prejudicial to”. Obviously there is a point they can do this, but LAs and some schools like to tell parents there aren’t any places when they can meet the threshold. Unless the school is wholly independent the LA can, and must, name the school regardless of the school’s objections unless they can prove one of the reasons above.

The way I look at the is that if I deferred this year and give him another year to catch up in development, he would be turning 5 in April 24 and there would be others in his class who would be turning 5 in July 24 who hadn't deferred and would be starting along with him. He would only 3 months older than some of the others in his class who didn't have any delays and were starting as normal. Again looking at it the other way, if he started school next Sept he would only be 4 past in April 23. He would also be going into a year group with 5 year olds but rather than being the oldest he would be the youngest and also have to deal with his other issues.

We've just had the needs assessment agreed. The fact that it might not be in place for September makes me more nervous for him starting school without it.

The head of the special school told me. Also I do get it for that school. I know some of the children that will be going there and their needs are greater that my little ones.

I think his needs means I'm looking at specialist provision. The one I have seen said they're full and also hinted they don't want any more SEN children as part of their mainstream classrooms too. Regardless of whether I could fight that and say they have to, I don't want him going to a school which off the bat doesn't want him.

@Thatsnotmycar why does the developmental gap widen more? I'd be keen to understand this more.

Often the developmental gap widens because DC often don’t ‘catch up’. For example, it is widely stated many autistic DC are developmentally ~2/3rds of their chronological age. So at 3 the developmental gap is around 1 year, but by 6 the developmental gap is around 2 years, and by 10 years old over 3 years. Therefore being placed outside of their chronological age group doesn’t solve problem as the developmental gap still widens, SEP and an appropriate placement for their needs is still required

Take what the headteacher told you with a pinch of salt. That’s not how the law works. Unless wholly independent being ‘full’ is not enough of a reason on its own to refuse a place and full isn’t defined in law. It isn’t personal though, it isn’t about whether the school want DS or not, it is ‘just’ how the system is. Btw none of the placements for next September will be set yet.

Have you requested all the relevant assessments as part of the EHCNA e.g. SALT and OT?

No, I haven't. I had a mediation session last week where they agreed to do the assessment (previously rejected).

I (wrongly) assumed they would get in touch with next steps. They already have all the names of the professionals in his life. Should I be doing something more proactive?

As part of the EHCNA the LA must seek advice from:
“a) the child’s parent or the young person;
b) educational advice (usually from the head teacher or principal);
c) medical advice and information from a health care professional;
d) psychological advice and information from an educational psychologist;
e) advice and information in relation to social care;
f) advice and information from any other person the local authority thinks appropriate;
g) where the child or young person is in or beyond year 9, advice and information in relation to provision to assist the child or young person in preparation for adulthood and independent living; and
h) advice and information from any person the child’s parent or young person reasonably requests that the local authority seek advice from.”

If you want to request anything under H such as SALT, OT, clinical psychologist etc. you need to request it in writing. Don’t rely on the LA contacting you.

Send them now but fight tooth and nail for specialist provision, tribunals if your preferred school refuses.

I’ve chosen to defer my daughter until August 24, we’re in Scotland. I met with nursery, Heath visitor and SLT team altogether and we all agreed because she is starting to slowly progress in a few areas it would beneficial for her to stay at nursery for the extra year. When she started nursery last year she didn’t say any words or socialise with anyone but slowly she’s started to say one or two words together and her social skills have got a little better. For me it just felt right for my daughter to defer until 2024.

Hi @nononononovom it'd be really great to understand why you think to send them now?