Starting school

[dmb85]

My daughter is due to start school full time in september but she will not be 5 until the jun after she starts. I have a few questions on your experinces to help me decdie what to do..

• How old were your chidlren when they started school full time?
  
• Do your children start school full time in september or are there other ways in which children start?
  
• Has anyone kept their chidren home until they are 5 and then put them into reception class, even though all the other chidlren started in september?
  

Hopefully this will help me decide what to do :-)

[lorisparkle]

My DS started school in September and won't be 5 until July.

At his school he was morning only for 5 weeks with the 10 youngest children in the class. I thought this worked really well as for the first week they only had the 10 youngest in and then gradually added the older children who subsequently went full time quicker.

I was concerned that he was really young to start but the teacher was geared up for the children she had.

I think the first year is crucial for forming friendships, learning the basics (social and academic), and unless the school operates a three term entry for reception I would be concerned they would be missing out.

You do not legally have to send your child to school until the term after they are 5 but they will go into Year 1 and they will not keep a place open for them at most schools.

Girls generally are ahead of boys so she does have that advantage and my DS coped really well.

[pooka]

In our area they still have two entries - children born between september and the end of Feb start in September and children born between March and August start in January.

So dd, born in July, started school in the January before she was 5 (4yrs 6months).

DS1, started school on his actual 5th birthday because he was born in early September.

I have heard that they are now giving parents the option of starting in September even if in the past they would have started in January.

My concern is that from people I've spoken to, lots of parents are going to start children in the September, even with late summer birthdays. I suspect that if this happens, there will be ammunition for the LEA to change to September starts only - which is what they seem to want (had a consultation last year, and resounding response was to keep system as it is).

[LargeGlassofRedPlease]

Have a DD who turned 4 in the Aug and she didn't even go to the school nursey so I was a complete stress head about her starting reception! I knew she was ready deep down as another year of pre-sch stuff would have bored her.

She was totally fine. She's in the most able group for everything and loves school. Here if you hold them back they still have to join the same class but in Yr1 so that would be a disadvantage IMO.

Wish me luck for sept too - I have a tiny 3.5yr old (4 in Aug) DS too. Now that will be a different story I'm sure!

[evolucy7]

My eldest started full time September 2010, she will be 5 in May this year. She did full days right from the start, she is tired by the end of the week, but I believe so are all the others who were 5 at the start of the school year. I cannot see that it is beneficial to delay entry in most cases, obviously they will still be younger whenever they start and will have missed out on joining at the same time as the rest of the class.

[Clary]

My oldest and second DC are both end June b/days.

DS1 started school full time but in January as the LA did a January intake for summer b/days then. It was the last year of it.

It was not great for him, he was playing catch-up all thru FS2 I felt. It meant he also struggled IMO with friends as friendships were largely established. School start date of course not the only issue as it goes.

DD 2 yrs later started in Sept, so she was 4 yrs, 2 mo and was totally fine. Mind you they are very different children (DD more academic). But I still think it would have helped DS1 to start FT in Sept.

Our school now (ie since DD started) has the foundation stage children in age-streamed classes, so DD was actually in the middle of her class, age wise. They can only do this tho because the intake is big, 80 per year so sometimes 3 classes.

[ilovedjasondonovan]

My DD started at 4 and 6 weeks - July Bday.
2 weeks of just mornings and then full time.
Last year I was worried how she'd cope, but she's doing great. Learning loads, really stimulated, not that tired (maybe before Xmas she was a bit by the end of the week, but showing no signs this past 1/2 term) and I'm glad she didn't have to wait until she was nearer 5 to go.
Your daughter will be fine - she'll love it.

[mellicauli]

I agree with Clary. She will be disadvantaged in that she will have to break into friendship groups. All the other kids will be bigger and more confident than her at that stage. Better she sees them all not being quite so confident on the first day of term. And if she has trouble settling, in September you know she will not be the only one.

Reception is mainly about learning how to learn. Your daughter will benefit from those lessons whether she is 4 or 5.