Would you defer school entry for one year in my situation.

deedee71

All my kids were amongst the oldest (March to May birthdays in Scotland) and the difference between them and the youngest in the year is vast.

I myself was a Feb baby and wish my parents had held me back. I felt behind all my class mates all the way through school including secondary school - not academically but socially.

I've heard of Jan/Feb kids being held back but not November, and it does only say you can apply for this. The local authority might turn this down. Also, I'd look into what pre-school hours you're entitled to - you might need to pay for a whole year of nursery.

Caleb11

It's not really about whether he is ready or not. I do think he will/could be ready but I also don't think it would NOT benefit him waiting. He isn't ready at the moment but obviously we still have 8 months to go which I'm sure will see him develop lots.

It's more about the school he will be attending. I just really really don't like it. I went to the high school he would be going to and I can honestly say 80% of my year were not the type of kids I want him to be around.

The high school I went to is the bottom in terms of exam results. The high school he could go to if he gets into the primary school out with our current catchment area is in the top 3 for exam results and just seems like a nice place to be.

I'm not sure exactly how it works, could I apply for the other school even though I'm not in the catchment area at the moment? Or is this likely to be refused.

I do hope the authority would approve but I would be more than happy to pay for the additional year at pre school if they refused to provide this.

missbiggles1

Caleb11 wrote: »

It's not really about whether he is ready or not. I do think he will/could be ready but I also don't think it would NOT benefit him waiting.

It's more about the school he will be attending. I just really really don't like it. I went to the high school he would be going to and I can honestly say 80% of my year were not the type of kids I want him to be around.

If you mean the school in Scotland ( a bit unclear to me), then why are you going back to that area?

balletshoes

Caleb11 wrote: »

It's not really about whether he is ready or not. I do think he will/could be ready but I also don't think it would NOT benefit him waiting.

It's more about the school he will be attending. I just really really don't like it. I went to the high school he would be going to and I can honestly say 80% of my year were not the type of kids I want him to be around.

but you have plans to move away from that area anyway before he's anywhere near going to high school, right? So if its the kids in the area thats putting you off, what difference will it make whether he'll be at primary school in p1 or at nursery, its still going to be in the same area with the same kids?

Caleb11

No we will move out of the area therefore hopefully go to a different school and highschool.

I'm worried he starts at the school in the current catchment area (bad school) then when we move into better area we can't get into the school in the new catchment area (good school).

And I would rather he starts p1 and stays at that school with the same people instead of move him again if this is an option (which would be the case if I defer him for 1 year)

Caleb11

missbiggles1 wrote: »

If you mean the school in Scotland ( a bit unclear to me), then why are you going back to that area?

Because I currentlt live in England renting a house but I want to go home as I'm isolated with no close family. I have a house which I can move into but I won't be able to sell it straight away to buy a better house in the better area in the catchment area for the good school.

balletshoes

Caleb11 wrote: »

No we will move out of the area therefore hopefully go to a different school and highschool.

I'm worried he starts at the school in the current catchment area (bad school) then when we move into better area we can't get into the school in the new catchment area (good school).

but that will be exactly the same situation whether he's at primary school or no school at all when you move into better area, won't it?

And I would rather he starts p1 and stays at that school with the same people instead of move him again if this is an option (which would be the case if I defer him for 1 year)

honestly? i think you're overthinking all of this, especially if its only for one year and you're sure that you won't be in that catchment area after one year. Moving school in primary 1 or 2 to a better area is not going to disadvantage him.

I think you've pretty much made your mind up, and thats fine, you know your son best after all .

Caleb11

Thanks. I'm just worried we move and because he's in another school which won't be impossible to travel to, that the school will refuse him even though we are in the catchment area.

I probably am overthinking it. Just obviously want to do what's best for him.

balletshoes

Caleb11 wrote: »

Thanks. I'm just worried we move and because he's in another school which won't be impossible to travel to, that the school will refuse him even though we are in the catchment area.

I probably am overthinking it. Just obviously want to do what's best for him.

if the new catchment school is oversubscribed in his year, you won't get a place whether he's at another school or not. You'll be put on a waiting list, and be offered a place at another school (which may even be the one he started at) until you move up the list. If the new catchment school has a place, and you fit the criteria for admission, he'll get a place there.
I don't know if its the same in Scotland now, but certainly here where I live in the Midlands its easier to get a place at a popular school in year 1 or 2 upwards, as kids move in and out of the area, compared to the reception year (so primary 1 in Scotland).

pigpen

Caleb11 wrote: »

It's not really about whether he is ready or not. I do think he will/could be ready but I also don't think it would NOT benefit him waiting. He isn't ready at the moment but obviously we still have 8 months to go which I'm sure will see him develop lots.

It's more about the school he will be attending. I just really really don't like it. I went to the high school he would be going to and I can honestly say 80% of my year were not the type of kids I want him to be around.

The high school I went to is the bottom in terms of exam results. The high school he could go to if he gets into the primary school out with our current catchment area is in the top 3 for exam results and just seems like a nice place to be.

I'm not sure exactly how it works, could I apply for the other school even though I'm not in the catchment area at the moment? Or is this likely to be refused.

I do hope the authority would approve but I would be more than happy to pay for the additional year at pre school if they refused to provide this.

I hated my high school.. I hated the children, most of the staff and above all the uniform I swore I would never ever send my children there... so.. my children went there... the staff and pupils are not the same ones that were there when I was.. and how much schools can change in 7 years (between now and when he starts) is massive.. you are seriously over thinking this.

You can apply for whatever school you like.. but obviously not the high school for a long while yet.

My mother kept my sister back and it seriously damaged her whole education socially and academically.. other children had been there 7 months before she started, friendship groups had formed and she was excluded from that.. they were so far ahead she was working with the children with learning difficulties, this delay impacted on her right the way through school until she was 16 and left..


reception class is just the same as nursery except the staff teach more detail about the things the children show an interest in learning.. I've had 9 children start primary school.. the next one starts next September 2 weeks before she is 5 and if I could have sent her this year I would.. she desperately needs the extra time the extra stimulation she would get from staff observing her and teaching her to her ability rather than this namby pamby waste of time being bored and naughty at nursery.. I don't think she is 'grown up' enough for school but I realise she will do better there and get more from it as would my grandson who is a June birthday.

No parent ever thinks their 'baby' is grown up enough but realistically they are, it is the parents who don't want to let go of the baby times.. which I understand, I really do.

In my experience.. holding them back is not doing them a favour, I've seen the damage it can cause (My sisters birthday is August 21st so she was supposed to start2 weeks after her 4th birthday.. my friends son was born 31st August .. he will start just days after his 4th birthday).. but your child is not my child so I don't know what is best for him... you need to look at this objectively.. is this you not wanting him to grow up.. he is in the middle of the school year.. It wouldn't even be a question here.. keeping an April or May birthday out of school for a whole year just isn't rational to me.