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School deferral

Lau

My youngest is 4 and is due to start Primary 1 in August. At his well-being meeting I brought up deferring a year. I was advised that he was ready for school (he has been allocated a full time placement in an ASN school) and that he seeks out interaction from one other boy in nursery so he is ready for school. I questioned further about deferring and they said they can’t recommend deferring as the educational authority does not allow them to say their opinion on a child being deferred. This shocked me. 

My concern is he has missed a great deal of nursery due to lockdowns and he was in a mainstream nursery for a long time and was unable to cope. Last year the mainstream nursery said they were unable to meet his needs and he was allocated part time placement in an ASN nursery which he has been attending since July 2021. My son still wears nappies for a poo and only pees in a portable urinal. He has never done the toilet outwith our home. He still has a dummy and a bottle and is very much like a wee baby at times. He has very little language. 

My son has progressed so much since starting his ASN nursery. I’m really happy with the nursery and my son manages 3 hours per day Monday to Friday. My thinking is if he had another year at nursery he would be much more prepared for the school environments. 

Has anyone deferred there child? Does anyone have any pros or cons? 

  • Compulsory school age isn’t until your child has passed their fifth birthday and although some nursery’s don’t like it I believe children can keep attending nursery up to that point. Follow your gut instinct 4 is so young to start school. most countries don’t start education until 6.  Me and my siblings were all home educated, not sure if that is something you have thought about. You could home educate until you feel he is ready for school (if he is still not ready by 5.) or you may find it is a path that suits you both and not go down the path of school at all.

    flexi schooling is another potential option where your child attends school part time but schools aren’t obliged to agree to it. It is worth suggesting this as it would be a good way of easing slowly into school. Hope this helps