Advice, should I send my child to primary school?

There's no harm in keeping him another year. Boys mature a little slower than girls so the extra year will make school a lot easier.

Bite the bullet and send him.

If he’s developmentally ready then another year of playschool isn’t a great idea, he’ll be bored. The early days of junior infants aren’t that dissimilar to playschool anyway.

You’re also assuming that the extra year will solve the issue, but you may just be kicking the can down the road.

As another poster said …you know your child best 🙂 Consider the long game.

My 2 cents…

If developmentally, you feel he’s ‘not ready’ & you’re in a (fortunate) position to hold off on sending him to school. In that scenario I’d do just that. Here’s why…

Early years development doesnt directly match those of similar age, though tends to level out over time…generally entering teens. If it really seems he’s not ready yet, hold off if you see potential value in it.

You’re the child’s primary educator. In a class of say 25+ a child's going to get less attention. Parents are the optimum source of support during developmental years (whether inside/outside of school). If you/family have the time to spend with your child during formative years, it’s well invested and pays off in future years. Couple that with other social settings (like xtra year in pre school).

Early primary education gave more emphasis to play in the past. Less so today. Consider that there are developmental advantages to that scenario be it in a home & playschool setting. The more opportunity for play in the early years the better. Advs to having an age advantage amongst peers in school:

1. Better Focus and Learning: Older kids brans have matured more, - helps them concentrate, understand instructions, and learn new skills more easily.

2. More Confidence: Being slightly ahead can make a child feel more capable- boosts confidence and makes school a more positive experience.

3. Stronger Social Skills: They may be more emotionally ready for school life—like sharing, cooperating, and handling frustration—making friendships and classroom behaviour easier.

4. Physical Readiness: Older children often have better coordination for handwriting, sports, and other physical activities.

5. More Opportunities: Teachers may see them “advanced” and offer extra support or enrichment, which builds even more confidence and skills over time. A subconscious bias plays its part here.

Bottom line:

Being older in the class can give kids a helpful boost early on—especially in confidence, attention, and learning. Over time, that early lead can grow into real long-term advantages.

Some of these ideas I read in a book by Malcolm Gladwell which was an eye opener for me at the time.

is there a possibility of autism here?