To defer or not to defer?
8 Key Considerations
In Scotland, the traditional age for a child to start school is between 4.5 and 5.5 years old. However, if your child will not be five on their first day of school, you have the right to defer them. In this case, you will receive an additional year of nursery funding from the Scottish Government. While deferral is more common for Winter-born children, Autumn deferrals are on the rise.
Here’s what we would do if unsure about deferral:
1) Seek advice from professionals who know your child well
Request a meeting with your child’s key worker and the head of their nursery. They should give you an objective view of how socially and emotionally mature and ‘ready’ your child is. It is rare for a child to be deferred solely for cognitive reasons.
2) Observe your child in social settings
It’s worth remembering that a child’s behaviour will often be different at home. By observing your child interacting with their peers, you’ll get a relative sense of how mature and resilient they are.
3) Consider family circumstances
Every family is unique, and children’s home lives vary greatly. So it might be worth considering whether your child could benefit from extra time to adjust and prepare for school.
4) Think long term
Would you prefer your child to be older when they make decisions about school subjects, exams and careers? There is an emphasis on play in P1 & P2 in Scotland. But it’s worth thinking ahead.
5) Look at the whole child
It’s easy to obsess over measurable details such as a child’s height and reading levels. But it’s important to consider social and emotional readiness because they have a huge impact on a child’s overall school experience.
6) Consider your child’s friendships
Is your child socially flexible? You obviously don’t want them to outgrow the nursery too soon. Does your child talk about school a lot already? Remember that most children are adaptable and friendships evolve.
7) Think about your child’s needs
Might your child qualify for additional support, now or at school? If so, speak to your health visitor and the nursery. Support should, ideally, be in place when a child starts school, so it’s never too soon to get the ball rolling. For children with additional needs, an extra year in a good nursery could help prepare them for school.
8) Is there a good reason to defer your child?
Some children won’t benefit from deferral; some are unusually mature at four. If you and the professionals think your child is ready for school, send them. If unsure, the advice tends to be to defer rather than regret not doing so.
