PLEASE SCROLL DOWN TO READ PARENTS’ COMMENTS.
Please write to us with your experiences (example questions only below):
Have you been able to delay your child’s entry into reception class?
Are you facing/ did you face opposition from your local school and/or local education authority?
Why do you want your child to wait an extra year before starting school?
What has been the reaction from other parents or family members?
Have you been denied the opportunity to delay your child’s entry into reception but decided to defer their starting date until late in the reception year?
If you have an older child whose entrance into reception was delayed, are you happy with this decision or do you have any regrets?
If possible, please tell us the area you live in, as we’d really like to build up a picture of what is happening around the country. If you’ve had a positive experience with a very supportive school, please provide the name of that school, as we think it’s important to highlight good practice and to demonstrate that WHERE THERE’S A WILL THERE’S A WAY.
summerbornchildren 
We have just been told that my sons reception place can be defered. 🙂
He will start reception class in 2016, just after turning 5 at the end of august. We are chuffed and it was a very smooth process. I think things are changing and sending summer babies a year later into reception is becoming more accepted.
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Hi Emma I am so pleased to read your possitive comment. Please could you let me know what CC you are in as we are trying to do the same and I am still wating for CC to inform me as to what steps need to be done. Did you have to present a case with supporting evidence as to why you are asking for deferal? Thank you in advance for your responce and any helpful informations.
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Hi Emma
Could you please tell me at what stage did you have to apply for this? my daughter was born 31st August 2013 . She wouldn’t be due to go until 2017 but wondered how early I would need to start the process .
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Hi Emma.How did you do that?I have been trying for the same as my son has been born prematurely in June instead of October at 23 weeks.I am so upset school or council do not understand it.I had to apply for this year and the school we got would be happy to deffer but according to law we have to apply again next year and reject the school.The thing is that next year we may not get the place at the same school. So I asked council to write a document for me so if we get other school he will not go to year 1 rather to reception.So I have to write to council again and submit all documents again.Educational Psychologist wrote her repport to be politicaly correct worring about that if he was the only one returner to nursery it will make him loose confidence and learning ability rather then the fact he will strugle with learning…
Kasia
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Hello
I am so very pleased for you your child is lucky to have such caring parents, and your child will now have a fair start In life thankfully they are now addressing the summer born affect, my son had now just turned 11, ironically he would have had take the 11 plus at 10 years and 2 months, how unfair, he reached ks2 level 4 in everything except spelling and grammer , this is only after I got him a tutor for the last two years, so anyone saying it costs more to keep your son off school for another year is stupid, if you want your son or daughter to succeed in a world where exams mean everything then it will cost you more in the long run, please don’t allow anything to stop these changes , it breaks my heart when I see my son just cope rather than thrive , he is never picked for sport because he is small , so from A young age he is made to feel a failure , always being put in the bottom set and never being picked for the schools best teams, he works so hard and gets so let down, please can you let me know if there is going to be any help for those already I’m the system like my son . Also in sports year groups how will it work , will they have to abide by the new laws, again this country could be missing out on top sports people as summer borns tend to just give up as the go unnoticed. I am going to vote conservative because of these changes as this is a matter so close to my heart, I’m not a middle class parent overly worrying as some critics are saying of the new policy , I’ve lived it and it sure has cost me more 40 per week tutoring over 2 years, not only in cost but emotionally , my son is the real loser in all of this as the system and school who ignores his birth date have let him down .please advise what help there is for bots like him. Tks Sam Kent
Sent from my iPad
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Can you tell me how you managed this? I am trying to do the same for my son who is supposed to start in Sept 2016 but i want him to start Sept 2017. I’ve been told I have to organise it with the school head teacher once we’ve been allocated a school place. I’m American so this whole system is very confusing for me. Any advice on what you did would be greatly appreciated!
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Unless your child was a premie why would you want to defer their school place, it is your job to make them ready for school. My child will be 4 in august, he is ready for school, he was toilet trained at 2, can write his name, count to twenty, knows all letter sounds and is starting to read small words. I have been mindful that he will be the youngest in his class from the day he was born and made sure he has hit all necessary targets at the same time as other children that will be in his year group. Unless your child has mental or physical problems, you have been a lazy parent not making your child ready for school!
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Wow. Well done you. You’re an amazing, superior parent. I’m guessing that’s what you need to hear. Now it’s been said, how about not making anymore sweeping judgments about the rest of us.
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My child is 4 in August! He has speech and language difficulties! He knows all his shapes, colours, numbers can nearly write his name and yes I have worked extremely hard! I am also a EYFS teacher. However, he is not emotionally ready for school! If he was born 20 days later he would be going next year. I will be doing my best to defer his place! Why put my child through unnecessary stress when I can give him another year of nurturing in a beautiful nursery setting and send him to school when he is ready!
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Yes agreed, why did you comment just to make your self feel better or us worse? Go away.
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It’s not all about ABC & hitting targets. You have children almost a year older in the same class. The younger children can start to lose confidence if they are not doing as well, as it’s never pointed out they are younger & shouldn’t be expected to be at the same level. I always made my children aware of this & told them they were a genius for doing so well. Tests are not age assessed, as SAT’s weren’t, and were suppose to assess the school not the child, but that’s another issue. Then you get the older children who think they are superior, intimidating the young ones. I’ve seen young confident happy children, become less confident & unhappy once they start school. I have worked in Infant schools, observing behaviour. I am a summer born child myself & have 3 children who have been through the system, all adults now. Have researched this issue for over 30 years. I had written evidence from Harriet Harman, that research by top psychologists agreed the school entry system could be detrimental to Summer born children. Headteachers, teachers & psychologists I have spoken to, over 30 years, all agree.
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It is not about hitting all targets, there is also the emotional aspect that we should be sensitive about.
In all the rest of European countries the school age is 6 and there is a reason for it. Why the rush for the early education if children have all their lives to learn and enjoy their childhood while they can. Only the lazy parents are glad to push their kids to be raised by institutions as early as possible.
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Seriously?! What an ignorant view you have. How small minded of you to think parents who’s children are not ready for school haven’t done their job properly. I won’t go into my daughters problems as it no doubt it tedious for a person like you. We are fighting our council (Bournemouth) to delay her a year due to her complex special needs and have had no luck so far despite her having a EHCP (a statement). Well done to you for having prefect healthy children. Some of us aren’t so lucky. Ignorant!!
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Yes I agree, but why make most children struggle , my son is now 11 and was born in July, he has had a tutor for 2 years to help him keep up, had he been in the year below he would have learnt at a pace that suited him, children have certain dates they reach certain points, sadly these don’t always fit in with the governments struck rules, in America it is a much fairer system , beware my son was okay and then he joined school and I realised size .pen grip , body size all come Into play l so don’t be surprises if this happens to you
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RUDE!
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what a hurtful thing to say to fellow parents. your blinding ignorance is shocking! you’ve judged so many with your comment but im sure many more are judging you reading your post.
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You have actually had me in tears. I have an older child of 6 who is excelling at school, however my son of 4 is struggling completely in speech and toilet training etc. I have parented them equally and you have to realise children are completely different and develop at different times. You are so ignorant and frustating. It certainly isn’t lazy parenting as you’ve put it! It’s a lot harder to try to defer school placements than go ahead with the normal procedure. It’s called concerned parenting. Hope your child continues to excel and you can continue to be the smug parent you are. God forbid you have a child who doesn’t meet your expectations.
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What a nasty, immature comment – so judgemental and rude!
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I couldn’t agree more. So judgemental and clueless.
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If you think like that you have no knowledge about human development. Do your homework and get educated then form any opinion about lazy parents.
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There are various reasons for it Lisa!
Not every child is the same.
My child is bilingual for example and is not talking as all children her age.
I went to school when I was 7 and I don’t want to cut my child’s childhood short !
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Seriously..?? Think about it and you answer your own question!
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An interesting but ill-informed view. Did you know that Countries like Finland and Estonia top the class in Europe and they don’t send their children to school until they are 7 years old? Others around the world who do better than England do not start school before the age of 6. There is sound research which concluded that starting later is always better. In fact it’s even better for brighter children to start later. Parents who are aware of these research are making informed decisions instead of following the multitude without thought
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An interesting but ill-informed view. Did you know that Countries like Finland and Estonia top the class in Europe and they don’t send their children to school until they are 7 years old? Others around the world who do better than England do not start school before the age of 6. There is sound research which concluded that starting later is always better. In fact it’s even better for brighter children to start later. Parents who are aware of these research are making informed decisions instead of following the multitude without thought
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Wow! My son can do all those things you have just listed thank you very much. I am not a lazy parent at all, i want the very best for my son and sending him a year later will be best. Its a proven fact that 2 thirds of summer babies are in the lowests sets throughout school and are less likely to go to uni. Your the lazy one not bothering to hold you child back and give them the best start possible
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Here here I totally agree
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We decided to delay entry for our bright daughter, who at less than two weeks after her fourth birthday was not going to be ready to start school. She should have been born in October instead of August. The school were quite happy to put her in Reception and the LA kind of agreed. We had to apply the year before we wanted her to enter and then decline the offer. Applying the following year, it wasn’t clear what to do but she got a place at the school we wanted.
Issue is now she is doing really well at school and the school are claiming that the new curriculum doesn’t allow for children to be (assessed) out of their chronological school year so are talking of moving her up to Year 2 instead of Year 1. As it is a small school with mixed year classes half her class are moving into the new class anyway. However, if she was two weeks younger and doing as well as she is now I suspect they wouldn’t be suggesting such a move.
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I started my battle nearly a year ago. Built a support network of local MP/ school head/ pre-school teachers…everything in place.
Then the mp stepped down, the headmistress retired, and the school became an academy.
I did exactly as the council had asked (apply, then delay if you want to), which I did. I explained to them about the change in status of the school to an academy before Christmas (happening 1 March). When I received my child’s place and spoke to the council to delay, they then advised that the academy falls under a different council than before. So they had totally mis-informed me.
I managed to get to see the new head who started after Easter, and explained what we wanted to do and why.
When we met again, she asked if he was SEN etc which he isn’t. She also offered the possibility of part time education this year or “back-yearing” if he struggles, neither of which I felt would be beneficial to a prem child who was forced into a different year group.
After a further meeting with the school trustees they found in our favour at the end of last week……
My little one it’s due mid sept, came mid-August, so not massively premature but enough for it to matter, and to force him into a different school year.
After putting all the support in place, then gradually the support falling around my feet, I am delighted with the helpfulness and support from our school.
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I find Lisa’s comment surprising as most people I have spoken to from all different generations think the summer born case is common sense. All children are different and even those with the most dedicated and well educated parents not all are ready for full time school age 4. I am PhD qualified and specialise in disability and have basically given up my career to make my child as school ready as possible. To me that is not about him being familiar with the early years curriculum but about being able to go about his whole school day confidently and happily without my support. My three year old son is summer born and has a speech disability. But regardless of his disability he simply is not emotionally or physically ready to attend reception this September. Others, including staff at his preschool are less sure due to the fact he is ‘confident’ and ‘bright’. He may be confident and sociable but yesterday when his teacher asked me to take his umbrella home with me rather than leave it on his peg he cried uncontrollably for almost an hour. Despite being potty trained from the age of two he still has no physical concept of when he needs to go and thinks if he has been once at nursery that is enough. Last night he slept an eight hour stretch at night for the first time ever in his life. Up until this week he crashed asleep as soon as he got home from afternoon preschool or I had to carry him home as an exhausted, tearful wreck. These are the things that parents of summer born children are concerned about, we are not fighting for our children’s rights because we are lazy (ha ha) or want to give our children an academic advantage over others. My son, by the way, will be starting Reception 3 months after his fifth birthday and we feel that by making our case to the LEA we have given him the best chance to hold onto his confidence and eagerness to learn and to socialise with others. Research has shown that summer born and disabled children are at a higher risk of being bullied than their peers. Is it lazy parenting to address this by giving your child the best chance to start school on equal footing with their classmates?
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My son is a summer born baby and struggled in reception class. Accademically he is one of the top learner’s but school will not recognise this. They are more concerned about his emotional and social developement and have referred him to SENCO. This to me is fraud, the school receiving funding for a very bright child who was forced to go to school when he was not ready and now labelled. Incidently his SEN need only rear’s it’s head at school and the school really can’t tell us what the issue is.
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I’d appreciate any help. Here’s my story, I’ll attempt to keep it as short as I can: my daughter, 3, turns 4 end of July. Should be going to school this Sept. She’s got complex special needs and has got a ECHP, the new name for a statement. I had informal discussions with the schools we applied to about delaying; all said perfectly fine as long as it’s approved by the LA. We applied to our authority (Bournemouth) for delaying under summer born policy despite her special needs as they wouldn’t do it any other way. The authority have said no. One of the schools has now said no. As she’s got a statement I’ve now said she will not be going this Sept and they are now looking at it as part of the statement. It seems that they REALLY are not wanting to let her by delayed. She is absolutely not ready in every sense possible. She is partially sighted, development delayed by 2 years, has hearing problems, speech and language problems and sensory issues to name a few!!. I’m thinking if they say NO again, to just keep her at her pre school that she currently is at and keep fighting this. We need her to go into reception in 2016. I don’t get at all why they won’t allow, given the above ^^ obvious problems!!! Next steps if it’s a NO, please suggest any? I’m thinking local MP, and Chief Ex of council (I work for the said council and would be able to set up a meeting with him if necessary!) I’m fed up of fighting, but willing to keep going as I know it’s best for my daughter! Thank you in advance X
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I hope that you got this sorted and were supported?
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My comment is a reply to the lady from Bournemouth. Firstly, I hear you, I identify and as a mum of a 24 wk prem I care deeply for you and your circumstances. It has been almost more traumatic going through this process than the 4 months in neonatal watching my child fight to survive. We won his delay after a year in reception ( actioned by board of governors) not LA. Moved to Kent and fought again but they bumped him up a year he struggles but only accademically. This is a child with no special needs so can only imagine your anxiety and frustration given your little ones needs. Contact Bliss ask to make contact with Graham Vousdon an expert and a parent who has fought this battle and spoke in parliament about this legally. What I really want to say is keep fighting but rest Inbetween battles. Let go of arguments with that idiot who is either a troll or a fool. Save your energy and know there are far more people rooting for you and caring for you than not. You are not alone and you are understood Having a prem or a child with extra needs is singularly one of life’s most profound traumas but it affords you a wisdom and access to bypass petty competitive parenting. I wish you the best with your journey through this. Conserve energy and fight. X
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We’ve adopted our early august 2009 born son. He is now in year 1 and is barely keeping up. Dancing Bears sounds like a fun reading program, but he’s made to sit still with feet on the floor and hands on the table. We love the (ofsted outstanding) school, and they try very hard, but he is a playful, happy and very sociable gorgeous little boy – who needs to play!
I didn’t know about delayed starting date, but i did ask if he could stay in reception fir another year, which was denied.
I am so upset about our beautiful boy being forced into a mould that doesn’t suit him! Im talking to the SENco next week to be more involved in getting a provision that actually meets his needs and that will support him instead of forces him.
I feel frustrated and sad. This gorgeous boy has had a rocky start in life, has turned out wonderfully clever, funny and sociable. And i will not allow his self esteem to be distroyed because of a schooling system that belongs in the dark ages. Amen.
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After a long battle with our LEA we finally got an offer of a reception place for our August born child. Unfortunately the last mail we received with the good news, was actually mildly threatening in tone and told us we would have problems when we got to secondary school. Does anyone have more information on this? Would they really try and force a child to go straight into the second year of an inner city comrehensive?
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Lancashire County Council and Fulwood St Peter’s, Primary School Preston have just rejected our application to defer our daughter’s entry to 2016, saying it will set a precedent for all August born babies to do the same. Her birthday is 12th August. We are extremely disappointed.
We met with a lovely supportive Headmaster.
It seems the LEA advised against it but the Governors had the final say. They said “Whilst sympathetic” they “cannot make a policy change on this issue.” It’s not about policy and precedent: It’s about our daughter.
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Brighton & Hove City Council have accepted our application for our son to start reception in September 2016, five weeks after his fifth birthday. We had to argue exceptional circumstances (he is bilingual and young for his age), but he does not have SEN. We were fortunate to have the support of the head of our chosen school. Our application document borrowed heavily from some of the material posted in the Facebook group (which is accessible under the files tab). We will happily share it with anyone who needs help.
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We need help with our application to defer our sons entry. Do you have any example letters please to present to LEA? Or any useful statements, advice please. Thank you
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Dear Amy,
Many apologies that it has taken me so long to reply, we had a baby two days after you posted your message. I’ll be happy to send you an anonymised version of our application letter if you’d like to send me your email address to ja@writearm.co.uk.
Best wishes
John.
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Hi there, do you mind saying what school has agreed this for your son? Im also under brighton and hove, and although I haven’t tried to defer, I wanted part time and the school are strongly advising against it.
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Hi June,
Apologies for my delayed reply, we have just had another baby. The school is Queen’s Park. The head, Mrs Cox, was sympathetic and very helpful.
Best wishes
John.
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Hi John,
My son has completed 4 in July. Though he has got admission in a primary school. But I came to know about the advice about the summer borns quite late, otherwise, I would have applied for deferment long time back. I did send a mail to Suffolk County Council and they asked me put a letter with evidence. My elder son was also summer born, and he struggled in all activities in the school. He will be going to year 7 in September. Still I feel he should be in year 6. Please suggest me what to write to the council?
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Hi Rajesh,
If you would like to email me at ja@writearm.co.uk, in can send you an anonymised version of our application letter.
Best wishes
John.
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Hi John,
I find myself in the same situation and would like to apply for a deferment for my bilingual daughter (4 end of May). I wasn’t able to do the same for my son (born 27 Aug), who is now very much struggling. She is not ready, but doesn’t have SEN either. I just want to give her the most possible chance I life as I wasn’t able to do so for my son. Could you please help? Many thanks
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Hi John, read your post and we are currently applying for delayed application, a copy of your application letter would be great as we are struggling to know what to put. Many thanks
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Was asked to re-post this from a summer-born Faceache Group I’m a member of:
……
Hello, just thought I’d share a success story.
I’m ashamed to admit that we weren’t particularly strategic, but have ended up with a good outcome.
Our daughter is late August born and when her reception place came up last year we felt that she was just too young to move on from nursery. We didn’t take up the place and instead kept her with the statutory 15hrs a week at nursery. As the year went by we started to feel more and more nervous of the situation being unresolved. We visited the school she was now due to join straight into year one. They were hesitant at first, but fuelled by reading stuff here and on the Google group about the changes in admission policy I convinced the head teacher to provide a statement of support for our daughter to join the school in reception rather than year one. I got a similar statement from her current nursery head – who provided some data about our daughters records alongside average attainment stats of completing reception. I submitted these two statements along with a letter from us firmly outlining our position (Google group had lots of useful guidance on content) and I referred to precedent in the LEA which I’d read about here. We heard back from the local authority a few days later saying that they accepted our position in principle, but that we’d need to do a late application for sept this year. We did this, and the place was offered 10 days later meaning she’ll go into reception as the oldest in the year. The LEA is Brighton & Hove. The school is City Academy Whitehawk, which may have made things easier in terms of getting the Head teachers support as they are still slightly undersubscribed. But the head is doing excellent work there to improve the school, and the reception setup particularly is excellent.
Cheers all. What a mad stressful system this all is!
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Hi all. Just an update from my last message regarding my daughter. After a long 6 month battle with our local authority (Bournemouth), we have finally succeeded in getting Georgia delayed admission to start in September 2016. This is irrelevant of her age, though she is back end of July so not yet 4, but is due to her special needs. She has got an EHCP and it is not written into that to be “back yeared”.
My advice to anyone going through a similar process to get their child delayed is not to give in. I made it absolutely crystal clear that she would absolutely not be going to school this September and reiterated it at every meeting we had with the authority. I also got the school on our side. I gave them no room for manoeuvre as they knew that if they didn’t agree the request then we would take legal action. As in the words of the SEN liaison officer “those who shout the loudest usually get what they want”. Make your voice heard and don’t budge, take legal advice, don’t give in regardless!! It worked for us, hope it does for all you others.
Kate x
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Wow you have guts! I am really happy for you and impressed. I don’t think I can face the possibility that our Aug born daughter will not be as successful and end up forced into Year 1. We have been rejected and she is due to start in September. The fact you kept with it and got what you wanted is really inspirational. Congratulations!
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What are the options for children who were already enrolled at 4? My daughter was born on the 24th August, and is will be 8 in August and about to commence middle school in September. For the last two years she has been placed with the SEN group for parts of the day, albeit she is not statemented. She has suffered socially as a result of this, does not receive specific support, and is demotivated, and unchallenged, quite often I have been left feeling that she has been fobbed off, as she is not achieving the key stage targets, and yet does not have special educational needs. It is devastating to hear her refer to herself as stupid. All of this because 7 days short of September, when she would and should be in now in year 3 rather than year 4. Unfortunately I was unaware of this website when she turned 4, otherwise I would have battled to defer her entry into reception for a year, and paid for her to continue at nursery, where she was thriving, sadly I was informed that if I deferred her entry, she would enter in year 1 and not reception. Are then any options for children that are already in the system, or are they just doomed to be treated as failures, until they are able to “catch up”?
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Our son will turn 4 in August and was premature so should have been born in September. No learning disabilities but bi-lingual, and mostly very physically small for his age. We asked for out-of-cohort entry from Wandsworth Council and they “agreed in principle” and have given us a very short deadline to decide. However, in the process of discussion they have brought up concerns about secondary school, as there is only one community school in Wandsworth and the other 9 that admit boys are all academies or voluntary-aided schools, and if they have an out-of-cohort policy it is very case-by-case-basis and very vague. So we are thinking about potentially not holding back our son because it would discriminate against him later. Anyone with similar concerns?
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Hi, we are in wandsworth too, although my summer baby is a girl. My little girl has some delays in physical skills but no other issues. I would be really interested to know what you decided and everyone’s feedback for the impact on secondary schools.
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Hi,
I have moved to Kent last week, from Saudi Arabia and my older child is 4 years old (D.O.B. April 2011). I have been to the county council website and they only stated method to apply for school is before January 2015.
Can anyone please guide me how to go on about getting my child admitted in school.
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!Could I be sent the letter of application please? I am keeping my son back a year and have been advised his speech and language delay won’t be enough to be granted the deferral! But would still like to try! I have decided to keep him back a year and will put him in private school If we are not successful! Thanks
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Hi Natasha,
I’ll need your email address. Please send it to ja@writearm.co.uk.
Best
John.
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Sorry thought I had sent it. Tashmoyassin@msn.com thanks
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Hi John
Could you please send a copy of the application letter? I need to delay my son’s entry, being bilingual and still not at all ready for school! 🙂 I sent you an email with my address, any help will be greatly appreciated.
thanks
Charis
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Hi John
could you please send a copy of the application letter? I sent you an email, any help will be greatly appreciated.
Many thanks
Charis
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Hi All,
Hope you can help. My son was born on Jun 2011 and has already been to the Nursery From November 2014 to end of term this year. He was undergoing Speech therapy since around mid 2013, but we never knew that some Summer born children have certain issues with learning. We also dint know that there is a DFE guideline that can delay start of Reception class.
So, after getting concerns from the Nursery about his Speech and Language, we searched on-line and found a information on how to get an appeal, etc.
Going through this website and others, I have appealed to Reading council with Doctors letter, speech and language therapist report and also have contacted my local MP who has been very helpful.
His last years Nursery have accepted him to rejoin Nursery again from September 2015 if this is what we want. Also, the Nursery school was our 1st preference for Primary School when we applied. unfortunately we dint get our first preference, but got the second preference, which we are ok about.
The Council have now advised that they will contact his Nursery and take advise from them. Basically, when I spoke to the Council, they advised, if the Nursery Governors (as its a Academy) accepts, then the council will accept our appeal. The reason they gave is because they know your child well to decide if its in his best interest to delay for an year.
This is really concerning, as they are not looking at the Medical proof or Doctors advise.
Just wondering if anyone can advise?
Thanks.
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This might be useful to you:
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So,at last very good news for summer born babies. Government is making it mandatory for summer born babies(April to August) to start reception at the age of 5 (Guardian).
On 1 September 2015 at 05:43, summerbornchildren wrote:
> summerbornchildren commented: “This might be useful to you: > https://summerbornchildren.org/2015/07/21/nga-deserves-praise-for-its-position-on-summer-born-admissions/ > “
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Just to clarify quickly. The government is not suggesting that age 5 should be mandatory; there is still the option of enrolling a summer born child at age 4.
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I was so angry when I found this out! After being told by my local authority Liverpool, that my son would need severe medical conditions to delay reception! I have now sent him to reception when I knew he was not really ready. I don’t want to unsettle him more by now taking him out of school and back to nursery! So I am hoping and praying that he settles well and is happy at school. If not I will be applying for reception again next year and he can do it twice!
Hopefully you parents held out and have got the right decision for your children.
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Hi
I would presume that the nursery Governors would have asked for medical information from speech & language etc to be able consider your request. They surely can’t make an informed decision without medical information? I’m surprised that having speech problems would quantify getting delayed admission, I know it wouldn’t in the area that I live. In my local authority you have to have got to be late summer born and with educational psychologist reports, consultant/specialist reports have had assessments by SEN team and have complex special needs to even have a hope in hell of being delayed. Even then it’s very uncommon but we did get it approved.
If I was you I would just offer every recent copy of reports that you have even if they don’t ask for them and get get the SEN team to do an assessment of your child’s needs and they would also then have a report that you could submit.
I hope that this helps. Good luck X
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Thanks for the reply and the Link.
I have supplied them with all the reports and also upcoming appointments for Speech therapy.
I am waiting for the School to re-open and then I will speak to them directly as well.
Will update with the outcome – hopefully Positive.
Thanks.
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I wish I had found this support in 2008/9. I was the only person wanting to delay my son’s entry, it was just so unheard of, my anxieties were met with a total no, not possible, from everywhere. The powers that be said going back a year was not an option and I was told numerous times that he could start later in the year or join the year after and miss reception but there was always a sucking in of teeth, like it was a really bad idea having less time at school. In fairness, I knew he needed the extra year too, not one less, so what choice was there!
I therefore opted for a small school who supported my decision to start him part time initially, but that didn’t stop the tears every single morning for years. We moved some years ago, to a large school, which I specifically chose because they the mixed age groups, but that stopped 2 years in frustratingly. Long story short, he’s in year 6 now, and has struggled through school emotionally and educationally. Ive considered home educating him for years but he’s so demand avoidant and anti learning I just haven’t felt brave enough to take that leap. I’ve brought up with various teachers in the last couple of years the possibility of holding him back a year and it’s been dismissed as creating a stigma for him, setting him apart for ridicule, and wouldn’t be possible anyway, the LEA would never agree, etc. Hes absolutely nowhere near ready for secondary at this point, he would go in a years time and I am absolutely dreading this.
So I think it’s worth this last shot at trying to hold him back now, give him another year at primary, but where on earth do I start? I know the changes are specific to primary entry but we missed that boat and his need for another year still remains. His school is now an academy, do I approach the school or the trust part running it? Help, please!!!!
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I’m so sorry to hear about your experience. May I please suggest that you join the facebook group (link on the top right hand side of the website), even if you have to open an account just for the purposes of this. You will get the greatest pool of resources, help, advice and support there. Thank you.
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Ok, definitely will do. Thanks 🙂
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To everyone going through this process- stick with it! Our premature, end of August born 7 year old started year 2 this week. He is average ability for his peer group, loves school and is thriving socially and emotionally. Had the application to defer the start of school failed 3.5 years ago he would not have been able to access a mainstream setting and would have remained in a special school setting with us hoping that he would catch up sufficiently to transfer at a later date. Our LA is Worcestershire for reference. Excellent news from the House of Commons today- would suggest anyone who is facing opposition forwards a copy of Nick Gibb’s letter to the decision makers.
Click to access Nick-Gibb-open-letter-summer-born-children-admissions.pdf
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Thanks for the link.
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KENT told headmistress that a Delayed application would go to bottom of pile along with other “normal cohort”
Applications. Also threatened that my child may have to skip a year when going to secondary school
tHis was in the last week
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We moved from London to Kent with our extreme prem boy in November 2013. They had taken his prematurity into account and he was in year 1. We had bought the house and had moved when they informed us he would be put straight into year 2. It has been devastating for us as a family. We are desperately trying to move back to London. All of Kents attitudes to education are completely regressive and incompetent.
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We notified our schools head teacher yesterday that our daughter would not be starting school next week and our decision to delay her entry until September 2016. Although the head was understanding, she sent a strong warning, that having spoken to Portsmouth LEA they would deny a reception place for 2016 and our daughter would be put into a year 1 class. Our next step is letter to LEA here at Portsmouth. Highly didsapointed that this just the beginning.
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Hi we live in Devon and my son was born on 31st may and due to start school in September. I think he will be too young and would like to delay it by a year. Does anyone know when the new rules/legislation will be put into place officially ?
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I’ve just started my 4 year old in Reception he has speech delays and behavioural delays. He’s very reserved at school and looks like a rabbit in the headlights. Does anyone have any experience of being able to pull a child out of school and start again in a years time? The teacher spoke of having to consult governors and head for authorisation, if this comes back as a no, am I right in thinking I have the right to pull him out until he turns 5? Previously when I’ve spoken to East Cheshire they’ve seemed fairly flexible, the school seems concerned about loosing cash if they lose a child.
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Can anyone advise me how this would work in practice for children still in the school system?
My son is currently in Year 2 – but he is an August (27th) birthday and my local area refused to allow him to drop back a year on entry.
If the admissions code is changed can we force the school and LEA to drop him back so he repeats a year?
Also he has a chance to move schools when he goes into Year 3 (a local secondary school takes some children at 7) so again can we force them to consider his entry a year later?
Lastly if this change does apply to children currently at school as well as new starters, will this apply to private schools as well or are they negotiated on a individual basis as they have no obligation to follow the admissions code?
Or does this change only apply to new starters in which case a whole generation of summer born children will underperform!
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Hello
My son has just started year 7 and is a July birth, it frustrates me no end to see him suffer. If he was in the correct year with people similar ages he would thrive, he is so much smaller than the others and I’m fed up with the school not taking into accounts that he is a summer born, not surprisingly all other summer borns in his year are in the bottom set too, great for self confidence and a winning mentality . I hope this new ruling will have effect for children that are suffering now, i also wondered how it will pan out in sports ie u11 , u12 can a younger boy keep to this new year group at outside of school as well then at least then they may have a chance to succeed school sports and clubs . This ruling is Long overdue , now perhaps summer born can reach there true potential rather than being finished before they even start , frustrated parent Kent
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I have 4 children, 2 are summer born in year 6 and 2 and I would love to hold them back a year. The difference between my two autunm babies in school is incredible in terms of coping and performance.
Would we be able to hold summer babies back a year who have already started school?
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I am absolutely overjoyed to note that the government have finally come to their senses over this matter. I myself a late August born baby felt my whole schooling that I was behind the others academically and in sports. It was made worse as my best friend in senior school was the eldest in the year and I was the youngest, so clearly when I judged my understanding of things my example was exaggerated. I felt I was hindered during all of my schooling being the youngest, I was a middle of the class student but I was never going to be top and I firmly believe being the youngest in the year was the reason. I have a son born 22nd July and I did ask if if he could be held back a year, I was told yes but then told he would have to start in year 1 (ridiculous) I tried to argue it but was told a resounding no. I clearly believe it has had a similar affect on my son and I would have definitely held him back had I been allowed to. I believe a year is too long if the cut off was 1st March I think that would work, and as more people use the option the class numbers and ages would even out. I am so very pleased at this decision just disappointed I was unable to benefit from this. Parents should clearly have the choice, the choice being the parents not the local authorities as they do not know your child and no amount of testing would help as development at this young ages is so varied.
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Are they making it easier for parents to get their child into school after they turn 5? I rang my local council and they said it is down to the school. My nearest school has said that they are waiting for new information from the government which they will receive in October this year. My son turns 5 in July 2017 so I am hoping it will all change before then!
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What a ridiculous comment! I am a teacher, education is my profession! I done everything I could to teach my son so he was ready for school! But due to all children developing different he was just not mature enough in my opinion for reception! Is nothing to do with what parents do or may not do!
Am glad your child is ready for reception! But it’s not on you to decide it’s down to the parents that children are not ready!!
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Absolutely! I couldn’t of said it better myself, my son was born 28.08.2012 and is due to start reception next year but like a lot of parents I am weighing up the pro’s and con’s and trying to work out if he is ready.
I am not lazy, I enjoy educating my son and spending time helping him learn however I do not feel he is ready for that big step, unless he comes on leaps and bounds in the next eleven months. I think you are truly lucky to have a child as young as three that is ready for school. It’s a burden for summer parents as we are all aware of the consequences that starting too early could have for our children.
There should be more options available for parents to choose as it is us that knows our children best. I would also point out that for the majority the decision to not send would be a financial responsibility and one not taken lightly. I too am very happy that those parents above of who’s comments I disagree have children who are ready early, mine however is not and would like to not be tarred wrongly with the proverbial brush!
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Hi Pippa
Can i send you private message, my twin boys were also born 28.08.2012. I would like to share out experiences regarding admission to school. thanks
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Hi,
So grateful for this organisation!
My son Rory is due to start reception 2016. A long way off but he turns 4 ;16th auguest that year and was 3 weeks prem. Rory has add but cannot be diagnosed till he’s 4. He had grommits fitted march this year,Scarlett fever a week later that attacked he’s tonsils. After a long battle they were removed July this year. He has severe speech delay, and is very much behind emotionally. All my family are saying send him to school next year and its driving me wild!! He cannot get he’s head around potty training yet. He’s nursery is great and working with the pedritican and Essex county council to get extra funding and help with will be great. Was wondering now the education MP has put forward a consultation to change at the parents request the age of reception entry till 5, when are we expecting a announcement officially of this change? Any news has it gone through parliament? Also would it mean come April 2016 when we know what school Rory has would we still have the place and defer or cancel the application? So confusing…. Thanks any advice really appreciated xxxx
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Can anyone advise me on where to find information on how to put together a robust application for deferring my son’s entry to reception until he is 5? His birthday is at the end of July. I have no medical evidence and his nursery says that they think he will cope fine with school. He’s not yet potty-trained despite our best efforts but apart from his need for an afternoon nap that’s really the only concrete ‘evidence’ I can give them. I’ve always parented him by instinct and my instinct is that he won’t be ready for school next year. But I can hardly submit that argument to the council. I want to be smart and make the best case that I can with the little I have to work with but the council was not very forthcoming when I asked what kind of evidence they took into account. Any help anyone could give me would be greatly appreciated.
I was overjoyed when I read the letter from the Minister for Education but then dismayed when I contacted East Sussex Council and they informed me that their position remained the same and it was for them and the school’s headteacher to decide if my son is ready to start school. Should I give up before I start? I see so many people here fighting and getting no where with children who have clear medical evidence. Am I on a hiding to nothing? I know my son will ‘cope’ but as it says on this site I don’t want him to just cope, I want him to thrive.
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I totally feel your pain! My son is 4 August. He yet is not potty trained, despite our every effort. He suffered with tonsillitis for 2 years and recently had he’s tonsils and adnoids removed. He is speech delayed and emotionally a 2 year old in many areas. So today I called up Essex county council. Spoke to a sweet but totally untrained member of staff. I spoke of Mr Gibbs open letter to the la and schools on the proposed changes. She asked me who Mr gibb was and how did i spell that was her words… She said they haven’t been given a briefing on this at all. I said we send our son to nursery year round, 4 times a week and with all the waiting around for speech therapy we now will be starting him privately. £75 pounds for 90 minutes per week. By no way are we loaded. We are using the small amount of money my mum left us when she passed away. My husband works 6 days a week in order to pay for our sons nursery. Her attitude was to send him part time. I explained we could do with saving £400 a month and we are not paying it for the fun of it. Most people think you are mad for delaying you child when you can get “free childcare” by sending them to school early. If I have any funny business when I request my son to start school at 5- I’ll be outside nick Gibbs office and will not leave until he helps lol x
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Hi, we live in East Sussex and found out today (6th October) that our request to delay our August born son’s entry into school until next September has been rejected. He can either start next year in Year One or go in now after everyone else has started. This has been going on since January and because the school became an academy earlier in the year the LEA will have nothing to do with it. Despite appealing to the LEA in April as advised neither they nor the school dealt with our complaint. I am sick of hearing that academies can do ‘whatever they like’. The school finally acknowledged our complaint when we involved the Education Funding Authority in June but it has taken them until today to make a decision.The school knew their decision when they allowed my son to start at their nursery two weeks ago but didn’t feel we as his parents needed to know the outcome. To allow a child to start at a nursery knowing that they would be unlikely to stay as they would be expected in school hardly suggests that the school has my son’s best interests at heart. I have spoken to the LEA today. I have been informed that I cannot reapply for a reception place this year in a different school, I can only apply for a Year One place.I have also been told that Nick Gibb’s letter to the schools regarding parents of summer born children having the right to defer to Reception a year later will not apply to children that are affected before next year. The fact that they have not dealt with our complaint in a timely manner has been totally ignored. How is it that schools can do whatever they please without any comeback or not being accountable to someone? Basically we have been shafted by our local school. They ignored our complaint and have only dealt with our complaint now when we had stressed all the way through that, if he had to start this year, we wanted him to start with everyone else. There is little information regarding what we can do from here. We do not have the finances to tackle it legally. I am absolutely beside myself. We have an education system in this country that doesn’t actually care for the children it is supposed to be protecting the best interests of.
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Click to access Nick-Gibb-open-letter-summer-born-children-admissions.pdf
They really should follow there minister, as per this letter, if I were u I’d go back to nick
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Hi there,
Our son was born late August and has just turned 3.
He has started nursey this week, we really want to defer a year as the thought of him starting reception in sept 2016 seams crazy.
If anyone could give us some advise on how to start the process it would be great as we dont know where to start.
Would be great to hear from anyone in ealing also as thats where we are based.
Thanks
Great site
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Daniel, See below, from Reading council’s website, you have to apply to for an offset when you apply for a primary school:
http://beta.reading.gov.uk/Primary2016
“In some circumstances, summer born children may be admitted to a reception class in September 2017. This will only be agreed if it is in the best interest of the child and normally only when the child has development delays due to premature birth, illness or other difficulties. If you think this may apply to your child, you must apply as part of the 2016 round but submit an accompanying written request to us, giving your reasons for wanting to defer by a full year (called ‘offsetting’). The admissions authorities of your chosen schools will then decide whether to allow this and, if they do, you will need to re-apply the following year. ”
Also, just to update all members, Reading Council have rejected our request for an offset. According to them, their decision was based on his Nursery’s Head Teacher’s and Governing body’s decision. They totally disregarded his Speech and language report and GP’s letter of recommendation.
I am still in a process of requesting more Statistical details from his previous Nursery and will not give up.
Any advise would be great.
Thanks.
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Click to access Nick-Gibb-open-letter-summer-born-children-admissions.pdf
Show this to your school
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Hi Danielle, Jacqueline and Daniel (and everyone else who needs help),
I might be able to help. We live in Brighton and successfully deferred our son’s entry into reception until next September, when he will be six weeks past his 5th birthday. He has no SEN. It can be done. Email me at ja@writearm.co.uk and I’ll send you our application letter.
Best wishes
John.
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As a mother of 2 summer borns and having an older Autumn born baby already at school (he has just gone into Yr1) I really worry about this. My husband is a teacher (secondary science) and he insists on my not worrying but I can’t help it. My middle son particularly I worry about – he is end of may, has no reason to not go to school but I feel is a million miles away from when my eldest was at this stage with less than 12 months before he enters reception. I can’t help but feel like that extra year that my eldest got as an October baby has been invaluable to his confidence, his capabilities and to his emotional development. I don’t think though that I want to send them to school in a later year group as I feel it may isolate them further from their peers later on (at senior level for example). Can anyone tell me if it’s possible to defer by a term/have a January or Easter entry like you used to be able to? I think this would be the best for my sons, and I see very little about this option which I was led to believe used to be quite common. Any advice would be gratefully received.
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Click to access Nick-Gibb-open-letter-summer-born-children-admissions.pdf
Show this to your unhelpful school
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Hi Aimee have you got any further on this?
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Hi, we live in East Sussex and found out today (6th October) that our request to delay our August born son’s entry into school until next September has been rejected. He can either start next year in Year One or go in now after everyone else has started. This has been going on since January and because the school became an academy earlier in the year the LEA will have nothing to do with it. Despite appealing to the LEA in April as advised neither they nor the school dealt with our complaint. I am sick of hearing that academies can do ‘whatever they like’. The school finally acknowledged our complaint when we involved the Education Funding Authority in June but it has taken them until today to make a decision.The school knew their decision when they allowed my son to start at their nursery two weeks ago but didn’t feel we as his parents needed to know the outcome. To allow a child to start at a nursery knowing that they would be unlikely to stay as they would be expected in school hardly suggests that the school has my son’s best interests at heart. I have spoken to the LEA today. I have been informed that I cannot reapply for a reception place this year in a different school, I can only apply for a Year One place.I have also been told that Nick Gibb’s letter to the schools regarding parents of summer born children having the right to defer to Reception a year later will not apply to children that are affected before next year. The fact that they have not dealt with our complaint in a timely manner has been totally ignored. How is it that schools can do whatever they please without any comeback or not being accountable to someone? Basically we have been shafted by our local school. They ignored our complaint and have only dealt with our complaint now when we had stressed all the way through that, if he had to start this year, we wanted him to start with everyone else. There is little information regarding what we can do from here. We do not have the finances to tackle it legally. I am absolutely beside myself. We have an education system in this country that doesn’t actually care for the children it is supposed to be protecting the best interests of.
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Really sorry to hear that Sharon. If you haven’t done so already, I would get your MP involved. Both the academy and the LEA are swimming against the tide of government thinking and if the MP was to point this out, it might persuade them to reconsider.
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As previous posting said this is directly in contradiction to current government thinking. I’d contact Nick Gibb direct as this is the opposite of the letter he sent to all schools and LAs on 8.9.15. Good luck!
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I have a letter from an mp to show schools to back up summer born campaign , this is the mp who bought in the ruling, please email me and I will forward to you, samwadhams@icloud.com, it’s the education mp really impressed that he replied
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Click to access Nick-Gibb-open-letter-summer-born-children-admissions.pdf
Show this to you bad school
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‘I wanted, therefore, to set out the government’s position on the admission of summer born children, and our intention to amend the School Admissions Code to ensure that summer born children do not miss out on an important year of schooling.’
This bit of his letter indicates that it is policy now, not in a year’s time …
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Click to access Nick-Gibb-open-letter-summer-born-children-admissions.pdf
This is the attachment to a letter from nick gibb the education minister, show this to any school that won’t allow you to defer, hope,it helps x to,late for me as my son is 11, but hope it helps you
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Hi All, I’m wondering if anyone has had any success in the Mid-Sussex region, or can offer any help / advice. Our son is due to start reception next September 2016, but we would like him to start reception in 2017 as he clearly would benefit from this. His birthday is 31st August (born quarter to midnight) and it would be such a shame for those 16 minutes to potentially have such a massive impact on his schooling. It’s ironic as his younger sisters birthday is 8th September so she would get a whole extra year at home before starting school.
Cheers
David
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Click to access Nick-Gibb-open-letter-summer-born-children-admissions.pdf
You poor thing , your childrens birth dates show just how unfair this is, please find a link to a letter from nick gibb, show this to the school, also he is the pm for education and Bognor Regis, I got in touch via is Webb page, it’s his ruling after all so they should follow it . Take care and best of luck
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hi everyone,
Just a quickie. Has anyone had any dealings with Essex county council? Do I state whilst applying for schools my intentions to defer my son school placement ? Or waiting until April 2016 once we find out which school our son has got then deal directly with the school ? I have my sons health visitor and head of senco at he’s nursery writing letters of support- hightlighting the main reasons for deferring. I’ll attach mr Gibb open letter and statistics findings too. Little bit fed up really as whilst I called Essex county council last week, the member of staff I spoke with didn’t know who Nick Gibb was…. Asked me to spell he’s name… And informed me she had no knowledge of a open letter forwarded to all La… Deep joy!
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Click to access Nick-Gibb-open-letter-summer-born-children-admissions.pdf
This is the direct letter stick it up their bums lol
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I spoke to mid sussex north’s schools admissions manager, she informed they are currently not taking note of “the letter” but she thinks it will probably passed through government this December, in time for the applications deadline. Once it has been passed they will have to respect the parents wishes! So it does seem strange to not apply it even if they know they will have to in a couple of months time.
Bit more confident now!
David
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I feel that I have a good insight into this issue. My daughter was born 31st Aug 2002. At the time we were living in the UK (Nottingham) and I begged her school at the time to hold her back as she was still napping and nowhere close to be being emotionally ready for full time reception after JUST turning 4!!! Sadly, at that time there was no chance.
I would pick her up after school and she was in a small ball fast asleep most days. Progress was slow and it was a real battle with reading at night and practicing sight words. We stayed at the school three years before my husband got a transfer to work in America (suburbs of Chicago). We enrolled her into the public school into the ‘official’ school year which at the time was second grade. She was six years old and just turning seven (as they start back at school in the middle of August). It took that teacher two weeks before my husband and I were called in to the school. She explained that they had tested her in reading, writing and found that her reading level was an academic year behind and suggested that we move her to the lower grade.
At the time I was devastated thinking that we had failed our daughter, that we knew was a bright creative spark. Long story short, we moved her into first grade with kids who had only one year of school AND they only went to Kindergarden half-day. Happy to say that only then did she start to thrive. Now she has just turned thirteen. Tests show that she is at school district standard and in most subjects ahead.
I know for sure that if we had stayed in England she would have continued to lose confidence and would have fallen further and further behind. We didn’t have the money for tutors or private school at the time and with the pathetic resources that have in Nottingham schools, I know she would have never gotten the help she so badly needed.
I firmly believe that parents should have the right to hold back their summer born child. So please keep fighting for this cause. Your ‘future’ child will thank you for letting them have a fair start in their academic life.
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We didn’t go through the LA initially, as I was told ‘we don’t do that in Worcestershire!’ Instead I visited a number of schools and sounded out heads. Once I had the right school with the right head I then applied, with a supported deferment request, which the LA were very responsive to. We did eventually get a statement, but there was no diagnosis and statement in place at the time of decision. LAs are currently under massive pressure due to EHCP problems and failing to meet the shorter deadlines- so a supported request is likely to meet much less opposition. There is the rumour that this will get passed by the end of December, but worth getting the support onboard in advance. Heads are much more likely to listen- and one who dismisses you out of hand tells you everything you need to know about the type of school they run! I went to the meeting with the Head armed with stats and information about our son- it’s a lot more difficult to say no when they are turning down a real person.
It was a battle, but worth every minute. We were lucky- hopefully this won’t be such a lottery for much longer.
Good luck!
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Hi everyone
My daughter is a 23rd of August born baby and is due to start school September. She is nether emotionally or physically ready.
In sept I upped her pre school days to 3 days a week and she physically only just manages this. She is so tired afterwards she can’t eat and can’t rationalise anything emotionally.
The days she’s not at pre school she still naps and appears to still need this.
I wish to apply to delay her start of reception till the sept after she turns 4 but have no idea how to Start.
Do I make an appointment with the school
First or white a letter to Suffolk county council?
Does anyone have a template letter what do
I need to include? What evidence Do I require?
Thanks so much in advance.
If you would rather contact me direct my email
Is lhanhamshave@yahoo.co.uk
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Hi Lorna
Without trying to sound patronising well done for pushing this- sounds like absolutely the right decision for your daughter.
We got a sympathetic Head onside and then put in an application to the local authority which was supported. This changed a ‘we don’t do that here’ response to a supportive answer. Given the letter from Nick Gibb- link is in these blogs- having a head onside will get a positive outcome. If you ring your catchment/ chosen school and request an appointment with the Head. Do your homework on the school/ read Ofsted reports. This will enable you to go armed with lots of positives about the school and why they are best placed to meet the needs of your child- also Heads like to hear the positives about their school. Be very positive about the benefits of deferring for a year and specifically link this to your daughter- it’s much more difficult to turn down an actual person, than a name. If you think she’ll cope sitting in a meeting take her with you so they can see the gap that needs closing ahead of starting school. If not, offer the head to opportunity to visit her in her preschool setting, we used this as it was nearby. Either of these will reinforce that they are making a life changing decision for a real person. Basically you need to be clear that you have chosen them for all the right reasons. Good Luck- hope all goes well.
Caroline
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