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

Pixie5740

Goldiegirl wrote: »

So does that mean, by deferring, he'll leave school a year later as well?

Not necessarily. It is possible in Scotland to leave school at the end of S5 (16 to 17 years old) and go straight to university (or wherever) with Highers if you are capable of sitting and passing them (usually 5 I think). I had only just turned 17 when I started university because I skipped S6.

snowleopard61

peachyprice wrote: »

Yes. In England you miss reception and start in Yr1.

That seems a really strange practice! Surely it would doubly disadvantage the child - firstly s/he would have missed a whole year of school and never get it back (unlike just starting a year later at the beginning of Reception), and secondly s/he would still have the disadvantage of being among the youngest in the class as would have been the case if entry hadn't been deferred.

OP, I haven't any very helpful advice to give, but I hope you manage to resolve your decision in a way that suits you and your child.

GwylimT

Jagraf wrote: »

Sorry does that mean that if you defer in the English system you don't go back a year you actually miss a year of teaching?

It depends on the individual school, most will let you start in reception, it isn't something they have to offer. Daughters school allows those born from May to August to start reception a year late.

peachyprice

snowleopard61 wrote: »

That seems a really strange practice! Surely it would doubly disadvantage the child - firstly s/he would have missed a whole year of school and never get it back (unlike just starting a year later at the beginning of Reception), and secondly s/he would still have the disadvantage of being among the youngest in the class as would have been the case if entry hadn't been deferred.
.

Exactly, that's why many of the English replies are 'no way, Jos!!'

silvercar

GwylimT wrote: »

It depends on the individual school, most will let you start in reception, it isn't something they have to offer. Daughters school allows those born from May to August to start reception a year late.

If it is an over subscribed school, this is rare. If the reception class has pupils that were offered a place in the previous year but chose not to take it, that leaves less places for the new cohort.

And if you think it unfair that the babies of the class have to cope with sharing a class with children up to a year older than them, it is even more unfair to have children over a year older than them in the same class.

Jagraf

silvercar wrote: »

If it is an over subscribed school, this is rare. If the reception class has pupils that were offered a place in the previous year but chose not to take it, that leaves less places for the new cohort.

And if you think it unfair that the babies of the class have to cope with sharing a class with children up to a year older than them, it is even more unfair to have children over a year older than them in the same class.

It must mean that those deferred but stay in the same year are then so much older than the younger ones of that actual year, which makes it harder for other children ... I don't get it really, doesn't make sense .

lulu_92

I'm a July baby and we moved shortly after I turned 4. I started reception that year but at my old school I was in nursery, so I assume I would have gone up to reception when I was five there.

It didn't do me any harm and I didn't have any difficulties keeping up. In fact, my reading level was higher than a lot of the older kids in my class!

Only you know what's best for your child.

GobbledyGook

If your gut feeling is to defer then apply to defer. He won't be the only child in his nursery who defers, it's really quite common (although not as common now that childcare is way more expensive).

The Scottish system is very different. Deferring and starting early (for kids who just miss the cut off, but are ready) is much more usual than in England, and doesn't have the same impact because of the not skipping reception issue.

From what I remember though for November babies deferral isn't automatically accepted. So you can't bank 100% on it as the person who does the assessment may not agree (I only know the assessment process the other way - my friend's daughter missed the cut off by a few days and was assessed to start early).

With regards to moving, unless it has changed in the past year or so, as long as you are within the school's catchment area on enrollment day (i think that's around February time) then they must accept you - I don't know if it's the same in year anymore. It used to be that in catchment meant a guaranteed place, my P4 class got changed halfway through the year when we got a new girl, her and her sister (P6) arriving meant jigging about with classes and creating a 4/5 composite.

You can apply to out of catchment schools with a Placing Request, but they don't have to accept.

My DH was in his 'proper' year at school, one of his friends was deferred and another started early (his birthday was a month after the cut off). The only difference it made was that he could legally buy the booze a bit quicker. They all got similar exam results, similar university placements and their families just did what was best for them individually, which is all you can do really.

GobbledyGook

This is how Edinburgh Council do it

If your child’s birthday is in January or February you are entitled to receive a continued, funded nursery place at a nursery run by or in partnership with the City of Edinburgh Council. If your child’s birthday is between August and December delayed entry is at the Council’s discretion, even if you have received only one year of preschool
funding.

also there is no guaranteed place at a RC school, they have their cut off and don't have to create more spaces.

Jagraf

Is there an assessment in the English system like in the scottish system, or is it at the discretion of the parents?

Scotland seem to have it so much more regulated. What if a parent just decides it's inconvenient for their child to start school? And if you defer in England, how are they educated during that time?