Is it compulsory to start them at 5??

[littleraysofsunshine]

[MrsKCastle]

Yes, unless you choose to home ed.

[Chennai]

Yes. It's not compulsory to send them at all but if you choose to go down the school route I think it's compulsory to start by the term following their fifth birthday (or it was when mine were that age!)

[Hurr1cane]

The term before they're 5, terms are autumn (sept-dec) spring (jan- April) and summer (april- July)

[PacificDogwood]

Move to Scotland - school age is after they are 5 if born from 1.3.

Yes, it is very young IMO.

[LIZS]

Most will start at 4 but it is the term after they turn 5 form which education is compulsory in England. However if child is summer born it will mean they join year 1 in September not Reception and your choice of schools will be limited to wherever there is a place. Reception really isn't the nasty formal schooling environment it is often made out to be though ,more on a par with preschool/kindergarten in other countries ad following the same Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum as Nursery/Preschools/childminders.

[Hurr1cane]

Are you sure Liz? I was told it was the term before by the LEA when wanting to hold my child back.

[SoonToBeSix]

It is the term after they turn five.

[Floggingmolly]

You're right, Hurricane. They have to actually be in education from the beginning of the term in which they turn 5.

[LuckyLopez]

It's the term after they turn 5.

[Floggingmolly]

Well, not in London...

[LuckyLopez]

It really is across England.

[LuckyLopez]

Please google and it comes up with it on the gov.uk site

[LuckyLopez]

www.gov.uk/school-attendance-absence/overview

[ChunkyPickle]

Definitely the term after they turn 5.

DS went at 2 weeks after 4 though, and he's absolutely thriving - the first half term was basically playgroup (handy the weather stays good so they could play outside) - he did full days, but some kids were too tired and just did half days so they were very flexible. He only started reading books after half term and he's already doing so well. Bounds in every day, absolutely loves it.

Make a call on your own child when the time comes - but remember it's not all sat down in rows these days, it's much more fun (they have lego, toy cars, bikes, painting - plus a room full of friends)

[Hurr1cane]

How odd. Did it change recently or something? We were definitely told the term before because we would have had to start him at Easter and not September like we wanted to so we didn't

[LuckyLopez]

No it's not changed but in your scenario if you hadn't have taken the space during that academic year, you would have had to reapply. Your space can only be deferred for the duration of one academic year. He would have gone straight into year one and missed reception completely.

[Riverland]

No, not compulsory. You can opt for home ed until you are ready to join mainstream ed.

[prh47bridge]

Hurr1cane - No it has not changed recently. It has been the start of term following the child's fifth birthday since the Education Act 1997 became law. LuckyLopez is right that if your child had started in September he would have missed Reception and gone straight into Y1. You would also have had a very limited choice of schools.

[PlasticPinkFlamingo]

My 5.5 year old (Y1) would attend school on the weekend given the opportunity. This is despite us being relatively fun parents and doing child friendly things on the weekend. She loves school.

Whether it's an issue starting at 5 depends very much on the child. Reception year should be really fun in that it is mostly playing with some subtle learning thrown in.

[littleraysofsunshine]

She's in a lovely preschool 4 mornings a week now. She turns five at the end if October next year but they said she will have to go that sept (when technically still 4?)

[littleraysofsunshine]

I would love to home ed but not sure how it all goes? If you need to meet certain standards? We do crafting, learning and playgroups. I just think 5 seems so tiny. She's very forward but just in general 7 is a good age surely?

[CecilyP]

You could defer till January. She may well have outgrown the lovely preschool by this time next year.

[PlasticPinkFlamingo]

She'll be one of the oldest in the year if she's an October birthday. Reception is really not that different from preschool.

I think this country starts formal learning too young but that phase happens in Year One, not Reception.

[hiccupgirl]

Tbh if she's an Oct birthday I would just start her in September as you can only defer until January anyway. This means for the sake of 1 term your DD would miss making friends straight off and all the fun of the lead up to Christmas.

My DS started in Sept. He's 5 in December so could only have missed 1 term. He did find settling in hard but so the change in friends than the playing etc that he does at school. He did have to stay at his nursery for an extra 2 weeks due to the start date of his school and he hated it. All his friends had left and he was with the younger children who he didn't really know.

If you find a good Reception that doesn't push formal learning too early there isn't a big difference from a good preschool. Also if your DD stays for an extra term, will her friends stay too or will she be on her own with younger children?

[prh47bridge]

If you want her to go to school when she is 5 you need to apply for a Reception place as if she is starting in September. That doesn't mean she has to start in September. You can defer entry until January if you wish.

If you wait until she is 7 she will have missed Reception and Y1 completely. Also you may find it difficult to find a school with a place available. Your choice of schools will almost certainly be more limited than it would be if she starts school at age 5. You may be lucky but you may find that the only places available are at unpopular schools some distance from home.

As other posters have pointed out Reception is very similar to nursery or pre-school. It follows the same curriculum with the emphasis on learning through play. It is designed to prepare children for the more formal schooling that starts in Y1.