Has anyone's child repeated a year at junior school?

[year0]

Our 7 year old son is late-July born and one of the youngest in his year. Having started education in Scotland, he has a year's less schooling than his class-mates. He is struggling in some subjects, nearly average in one. His confidence has taken a knock since he started at this school last March.
Home tuition was suggested, but the tutor simply reckons he feels 'outfaced' (lovely ?northern word) by the tasks they are expected to do.
To our surprise, his teacher agreed to pursue the idea of his repeating a year, which I tentatively suggested at the last parents' evening.
He relates well to his class-mates but hasn't got a very close friendship as yet.
It's like giving him an extra year of childhood isn't it? You've got to think it through to a huge rising-19 year old still at home. I don't know how to decide.

[Joe1]

Year0 I wish they had this option when I was at school. I feel totally let down by my school years. I too was the youngest in the year (birthday 31/8) and was in the year they decided to reduce the secondary school years from five to four so had to spend an extra year in middle school, with them not knowing what to teach us really, a total waste of a school year. If I had had better school time I would have gone to college. I think education is very important and should be enjoyed and not struggled with. I think I would go with the extra year but I suppose in the back of your mind is what the other kids will say to him. Good luck on your decision.

[janh]

year0, if he isn't bothered then go for it. He will only be 5 or 6 weeks older than the September-borns in the year below (who will also be huge rising 19s when they take their A levels. We get stuck in the notion of "yeargroups" but there is a year between the oldest and youngest in the same "year" - he is much closer in age to the older ones in the year below than the older ones in his own year.)

Possibly when he gets older and feels more confident he can move back up with his "peers". If not, it doesn't matter and it gives him more chance of success at every stage.

[ChanelNo5]

year0 - go for it. I agree with jan's and joe's comments. I think it will be a real boost to his confidence, to beable to cope with the work than feel like he is struggling. Would definitely consider this option for mine should the need arise. Good Luck to you and ds!

[SueDonim]

Repeating a year is an accepted way of helping some children, where I live, and seems to benefit both child and parents. I think it would be easier to repeat a year now than say when your son is 10, due to the firmer friendships made by that age and so on. I wouldn't worry about the hulking great 19yr old - he'll likely be hulking by the time he is 15 anyway, and an extra year won't make any difference!! Good luck.

[Alibubbles]

In Switerland it is very common to repeat a year, once they start kindergarten, you are not moved up until you are considered mature enough, rather than old enough!

There feeling is children should not start school until they have lost their babyteeth, as this is when they are old enough to learn to become independent from their mothers. Also a Steiner theory.

[SueDonim]

That's fascinating, Alibubbles! I read once that in countries where children often don't have a birth certificate they can't start school until they can reach over their head with one arm and touch the opposite shoulder.

[Alibubbles]

SueDonim, the family I looked after until August, went to live in Switzerland this summer. The boy will be 8 in May. He goes to school mornings only until September. THEN.... his afternoons are for sport or activities!
The little girl, 4 last Sept, goes to play group two mornings only, they cannot find anyone to take her five mornings. They could of course go to the international school, but the parents want them to learn German as they are there for 4 years. In the boy's class, no one can read yet, he achieved high level 3's in his Sats, and I had started to reach the little girl to read!

My own children went to pre prep at 3.5, its only what I know now , that I would have done things differently. I could be accused of being a pushy mum, it suited my daughter, but not my son. With all I have learned on my recent child care courses, I would say, HOLD HIM BACK!!

I have several friends with August babies and they all held them back a year, otherwise like your son would only have been 4 nd 3 days old in full time school. He is only little for such a short time, my head teacher of the school wwhere I am a governor has no problem with this, she says it's in the best interest of the child. Go with your heart feeling!

P.S. My 14 year old son is 5ft11 and wears size 12 shoe, his best friend is not even 5ft and older than him!!!!!

[mollipops]

year0

We were in the same position as you at the end of last year with my dd. She turned 5 in November and was third youngest in her pre-primary class. (Our school year runs Feb-Dec; it was based on Jan-Dec birthdates, ie the year you turn 4 you go to kindy, 5 is pre-primary and 6 is year one. They have just changed this to a Jul-Jun birthday system - confusing I know. Basically my dd just missed out on this change of rules, or she would have been in kindy last year and not pre-primary and none of this would have happened!)

She lacks social maturity compared to her classmates and also has some gross and fine motor skills delay (she can't hop very well, can't skip at all, can't catch a ball or bounce a ball, has difficulty with balance and climbing, finds writing difficult.) After discussion with her teacher we decided to have her assessed by the school psychologist, who recommended she continue pre-primary this year. She didn't feel she would cope with Year 1 and that it would be more damaging to her self-esteem if she had to struggle compared to her classmates, rather than simply having to make new friends in a new class. We had her privately assessed just for our own peace of mind and she agreed that she was definitely not ready for Yr 1. So we were happy to make the decision, and actually feel relieved that we are aware of her situation and areas of difficulty so we can help her now rather than finding out later when it is worse. She is now going to Gymbaroo (like Tumbletots I imagine) and dance lessons.

So my dd is back to school today with the same teacher (that was the more difficult decision! The new pre-primary teacher was a graduate so we thought she would be better off with someone who knows her strengths and weaknesses and who she already has a rapport with) and she seems quite happy about it. Further down the track I don't think she will even think about it.

I would much rather she was one of the older kids in the class feeling good about herself, than being "the little one" who always has to struggle to keep up (that was me as a student, btw!) I think repeating at this age has to be a lot better than repeating later in primary school when peer pressure and teasing would be so much more likely.

So go with your instincts; if there is any doubt that he will cope, don't force him thru the system. Speak to his teacher and with the principal, the school psych if you have one. Or have him assessed privately if you are uncertain. Good luck, I know you will make the best decision!

[janh]

Suedonim, I read that too about touching opposite shoulder (over head) - they do it in Africa, I believe, don't know where else. I tried it out on 2 of mine, completely different sizes and shapes, and it worked. Weird.

[Copper]

Year0
just check to make sure that your child will not have to catch up a year at the end of primary - some London boroughs won't take children into secondary schools out of their year group as apparently it messes up their SATS results or something daft. Otherwise I'd go for it.

[Rhiannon]

I agree, do it. I am an August baby and felt I was behind all through my school years. R

[year0]

Thank you all vey much - amazing unanimity.