You might be right wysiwyg, but in the mean time, if the system is not going to change, then I am prepared to adjust to fit the current system, ITMS.
The thing to also remember is that the article is about the UK, where as long as you are 4 by September you start that September - so it is a younger starting age than here and from my understanding (my parents are still in UK and my mum was a nursery teacher over there) it is also already a more formal school system than here - so really I am not sure the article applies to the original post.

Back to the original question - I still think that each relationship between a family, a child, and a school is different and it really only with an understanding of those three components can you make a decision, and that really you can only make that decision when the child is nearer to school age (basically at last possible moment). There shouldn't be any 'mama guilt' associated with it, it isn't wrong to send your child if you and other professionals think they are ready whatever their age. As another poster said, for some children it could be considered detrimental to wait. Sometimes you have to look at the pro's and con's over a much wider period than just that first year (and if you have multiple children you have to factor that in too) - depending on careers a year not working or an additional year not working can have a big impact on future - and thinking about your careers and financial future as a family is not something that should be dismissed - it is an important part of being a parent too.