Sorry for the delay in replying. My email notifications weren't working - seems to happen quite often

Thanks for all of your comments.

nic - Your experience definitely helps. Interesting that the decision to hold your DD back has had such long-term benefits. I was really only thinking of next year but it's great to hear that it has worked out so well for you guys.

ausgirl - I have some 'contacts' that will give me the necessary paperwork to hold DD back if I want to. I would only hold off if she was able to start in Prep as I can't see the benefit of keeping her out of school only to throw her in to Year 1, IYKWIM? Which is the same as starting half way through the year now that I've had a good think about it. She is in childcare 3 days a week and she does really well there but she does require a lot of 'emotional support' from her teachers ie, extra cuddles and spending a lot of time with her on mornings that she doesn't want me to leave. I usually stay until she's happy for me to go but some mornings it's not practical for me to hang around so one of the teachers will take over. Through-out the day she goes to her teachers for reassurance more than most of the other children and I worry that a single teacher in a room of 25 children just won't have the time (or inclination) to give her what she needs. I have really good relationship with her preschool teachers and they agree that she is ready socially and academically but not emotionally.

I'm not really sure what to do with her if I keep her back though. I don't know that another year with younger kids at preschool is a good idea and she would be so bored if I kept her at home as all her friends will be at school. I thought about enquiring at the local C and K to see if they have any other children DDs age that are doing something similar. Aggh, it's such a big decision to make!!