{"id":54940,"date":"2022-09-07T08:02:03","date_gmt":"2022-09-07T08:02:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tahrir2day.com\/news\/2022\/09\/07\/summer-born-wolverhampton-boy-refused-school-start-delay\/"},"modified":"2022-09-07T08:02:03","modified_gmt":"2022-09-07T08:02:03","slug":"summer-born-wolverhampton-boy-refused-school-start-delay","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tahrir2day.com\/news\/2022\/09\/07\/summer-born-wolverhampton-boy-refused-school-start-delay\/","title":{"rendered":"Summer-born Wolverhampton boy refused school start delay"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Parents of a summer-born child feel ‘forced’ to send them to school this week.<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Rajbeer Sandhu’s son turned four at the end of August and has developmental delays, believed to be the result of a temporary hearing problem.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The family applied to the Manor Multi Academy Trust in Wolverhampton and wanted their son to be in reception next year.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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However, the Trust said it had to start in the first year. It told the BBC it supports the needs of all children.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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David Coles, its chairman, said the school worked closely “with a range of professionals” and made “all reasonable adjustments” to support the ongoing needs of each child.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Mr Sandhu said his son was “not mature enough or ready to go to school”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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“He is still not speaking and is severely delayed from being unable to communicate verbally.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Legally, children up to the age of five are not required to attend full-time education, but schools must make provision – through reception classes – for all children from September after their fourth birthday.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The Department of Education (DfE) said parents of summer-born children – those born between April and the end of August – had the right to apply for admission at the age of five.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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However, the admissions guidelines also state that it is up to schools to decide whether to admit them to admissions or first grade, taking into account the best interests of the child. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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In 2015 the government outlined plans to change legislation to ensure the right of parents to make this decision, rather than schools.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The Parents’ Guide on the DfE website still represents this intention.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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But in July, Baroness Barran, Secretary of State for the Schools System, said the legislation would not be pursued and would instead be reviewed by the Government. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The news came as a blow to parents like Mr Sandhu, who said he felt compelled to send his son to reception this week.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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“If he had been born four days later, he would have been in the next year anyway,” he said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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“Medical professionals agree that he will benefit from being given extra time to catch up.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The DfE said the turning legislation was because the system was now working “much better than it did in 2015”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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His figures said about nine out of ten applications from parents have now been approved by schools and councils.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Although in the case of the Sandhu family, the school gave them the option to participate in reception later in the school year, Mr. Sandhu said he didn’t think his son would make enough developmental progress for this option to make a difference.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The parents’ plea was supported by a speech therapist, who said she believes deferring a full year would be of “great benefit” to her son, while missing out on reception and joining the first year would “impair his development and well-being.” would affect”. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Mr Sandhu said starting school this week was the least terrifying option on the table, although the prospect gave him and his wife “sleepless nights”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Follow BBC West Midlands on <\/i>Facebook, <\/i>Twitter<\/a> and <\/i>Instagram. Submit your story ideas to: <\/i>newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk<\/p>\n<\/div>\n