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to think ALL children, regardless of their birth month should be able to start school in september?

13 replies

tryingtobemarypoppins · 17/05/2009 20:07

The choice should be there at least?

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tryingtobemarypoppins · 17/05/2009 20:08

Sorry, start in September FULL TIME if wanted.

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Mung · 17/05/2009 20:09

I think it should be parental choice, but I also disagree with schools that only have a September intake. Parents should be able to choose which term they want their child to start in that academic year.

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choufleur · 17/05/2009 20:09

don't they? where we are all kids start full time the september after they are four. that means some are nearly five while some are just four

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PuppyMonkey · 17/05/2009 20:11

Where I live, all kids start school in September, no matter what month they were born in. Best system, imho.

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tryingtobemarypoppins · 17/05/2009 20:12

No here its 2 intakes, September to Decemeber Full Time, December onwards Part time until Christmas then full time.

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Northernlurker · 17/05/2009 20:13

Does your school enforce a par time option? That enfuriates me - fortunately our school leaves up to the parent but I have friends who have spent terms trailing round after their child. I think a full day at school may be too much for a child who has just turned four the previous month and has been mostly at home up till then. An older child who has been at nursery is perfectly able to cope with a full day and this whole part time crap seems designed to me to make life hard for parents who work outside the home - which is most of us after all!
Our school has two entrys - Sept and Jan - perfectly workable and means no only just 4 children starting reception.

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thisisyesterday · 17/05/2009 20:13

i think you can request that they go full time from the off. but I also think it wise to take the teacher's opinion on how well your child is doing and if they think they'll cope ok as well.

mung, you can choose which term your child starts. by law they don't have to start until they are 5. so, my ds1 is due to start in Sept, but if I wanted I could hold him back til february, when his birthday is

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Pamboli · 17/05/2009 20:15

DS started in September as his school only had a september entry. It was not beneficial for him: He was always comparing himself and his work to that of the older children and obviously saw himself in a disadvantaged position. At that age, in development terms, 6 months makes a huge difference.

I remember having read an article somebody linked in Mumsnet (BBC?) about evidence showing that children born in the first part of the year, and who joined the school being younger than their peers, grew up with a lesser idea of their capabilities. There is also evidence that children born at that time of the year were less likely to attend University later. I think the different starting times may be owed to this.

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Littlefish · 17/05/2009 20:15

Who are you suggesting should make the decision between part time and full time? Personally, I think that almost all children benefit from some shorter days at the start of Reception in order to get used to new routines etc.

I think the decision about when to go full time should be based on a discussion between the parents, the previous setting (if there is one), and the school, and should be done on an individual basis, not purely by age.

That said, I think that schools are right to have some sort of guidelines/framework for their intake which says, for example - most children born before Easter will be full time by October half term, and most children born after Easter will be full time by Christmas. This then still gives the flexibility for certain children (older or younger) to go full time either earlier or later but also gives parents a rough rule of thumb when trying to think about childcare etc.

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Mung · 17/05/2009 20:16

I know the law states that, but many people dont like to go against the school policy, thinking their children will miss out on something. I also agree with you that the teacher should also have a say in whether they think the child will cope with full time.

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ellingwoman · 17/05/2009 20:16

Possibly - but definitely only do half days until the term they turn 5. Maybe start staying for lunch in the term before they turn 5.

Full time, even for children who are 'ready', is too full on for those just 4. And not fair - they should be enjoying a non-institutionised life while they can!

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Pamboli · 17/05/2009 20:18

Thisisyesterday, I tried to do that with my son, but I was told he had to start in Year 1 rather than in reception. So not exactly the best solution for him. I know a woman who managed but that was at a private school. I supose that it depends very much in the views of the headteacher..

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tryingtobemarypoppins · 17/05/2009 20:19

Sorry its 3 intakes!!!!!!!! And the head at our school gives no discussion on it!

Sep 2004 ? Dec 2004 Full-time
Jan 2005 ? Apr 2005 Part-time then Full-time
May 2005 ? Aug 2005 Part-time till the summer term then Full-time

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