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Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

Primary education

Private nursery in to state primary

33 replies

mummyloveslucy · 26/08/2008 19:11

Hi, my daughter is at a nursery that is linked with a private school. I have decided that I'd like her to go to our local primary school when she's finnished nursery but they would take her in January when she's 5 because of her date of birth.
At my daughters nursery they go in to whats called transition at 4.5 where they are still in the nursery building but get their school uniform. She would be in that uniform for 6 months untill she moved schools. It's not the cost of the uniform that bothers me, I just don't know how she'll take having her new "big girls" uniform then having to move schools and getting another unifom.
Should I say "This is your big nursery uniform, and soon you'll have a big school uniform the same as your cousens".
I just don't want her to resent me for taking her out of the school.

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whatismyname · 26/08/2008 19:29

She is too young to resent you

mummyloveslucy · 26/08/2008 19:31

Thank you!

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CarGirl · 26/08/2008 19:40

which LEA/county do you live in, it's very unusual that they don't go to school at all until the January? Around here everyone at least does part time until the term they will turn 5, or they all start full time during the first term regardless of when their birthday is.

mummyloveslucy · 26/08/2008 19:43

That's what they've told me. I could double check but my SIL has two at the school and she's said the same.

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MadBadandDangeroustoKnow · 26/08/2008 19:45

My daughter went to school for the first time in the January - two mornings for the first two days and then full days after that. Schools in this borough tend not to do half-days because they're a child-care headache.

mummyloveslucy · 26/08/2008 20:01

It's also going to be a lot more laid abck to what she's used to at nursery. In transition they learn more formally to get them used to school, but when she goes to the primary school the first year she'll learn through play.
I don't know how she'll take going back a step.

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CarGirl · 26/08/2008 20:12

she will probably prefer it, or does she not enjoy playing? Quite often the do more formal learning in the mornings and more free play in the afternoons or a mix throughout the day.

mummyloveslucy · 26/08/2008 20:16

Oh yes, she loves playing. I hope she does enjoy it. I hope it'll help her to make friends within her class. I just don't want her to think school is a doddle, I don't have to try hard at all.

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gladders · 27/08/2008 10:37

was this the primary school that's nr your MIL's house? are you going to move in temporarily then?

mummyloveslucy · 27/08/2008 16:11

No, this is our local primary school. I decided against that idea. They are both good schools, our local isn't as big and grand but will probubly suit her better.

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AMumInScotland · 27/08/2008 16:14

Does the new school have a nursery she could go to for the term? Then she'd be getting used to the new place and their ways of doing things.

mummyloveslucy · 27/08/2008 16:17

My MIL has sugested today that she does the whole year in transition and starts the new primery in september. She will then be 5.5.
That is the latest you can leave primery school until. I think they have to start by law the intake that follows their 5th birthday.
That would be better I think. I'd get more use out of the uniform too. Although a friend has said that she will give us her daughters old one, which is a bonus.

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mummyloveslucy · 27/08/2008 16:19

No, this school dosn't have a nursery at all.

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CarGirl · 27/08/2008 16:19

I think it sounds like you've made good decisions. Are you going to pay for some private speech therapy, or have you got a referral for a paeds assessment to look at Lucy's speech/co-ordination as a whole and take it from there?

SqueakyPop · 27/08/2008 16:22

If she is at school, state or maintained, you don't have to worry about the law.

What you do need to know is if the primary school is willing to keep a place for her until the start of Year 1. Some schools force you to start in Reception, even if it is not in the child's best interests.

mummyloveslucy · 27/08/2008 16:29

Hi cargirl, thanks. Our speech therapist is working well with Lucy at the moment, so I don't think she'll need any private. She may well need extra help in other areas though but at least we'll be able to help her out with whatever she needs. I'd like her to start stagecoach when she's 4 or 5 to boost her confidence. I've seen the health visitor re co ordination. She said that she thinks it's fine. She can stand on one leg for a few seconds and touch her nose etc. She said that it's probubly because she's tall and was late to walk that she trips over a bit more.

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nooka · 27/08/2008 16:30

To be honest I think it would be better if she starts with the other later babies in January, unless there is some particular reason why you think the nursery will be better for her. Starting at the same time as your peers is generally easier, and the school will be geared up for settling everyone in. Whenever you do it you will still have an issue with the change of uniform, and your approach in your first post seems very sensible. I doubt that she will resent you, but I can't see why timing it a bit later will make much difference.

CarGirl · 27/08/2008 16:33

I would also advise starting with her peers in January, otherwise if she goes into year 1 friendship groups will be a bit more formed (although they tend to be quite fluid still at this age) but the others will know how the school operates, everyones names etc your dd will be the new girl so to speak which is extra pressure perhaps?

mummyloveslucy · 27/08/2008 16:33

I'll have to check with the school first to make sure this is o.k.
We are going to see the school in september with Lucy.
If they won't keep a place for her, where will she end up going? It is the neerest school to us. Will she go to the closest school with a place?

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CarGirl · 27/08/2008 16:35

yes the closest school with a place.

nooka · 27/08/2008 16:37

If the school is oversubscribed then you are effectively saying you don't want a place, so it will go to the next child on the list. When you reapply next year it will depend on the availability, so if the original school has a place you will get it (assuming there isn't competition), otherwise it will be the nearest school with an opening, although you may be able to apply to several schools.

Romy7 · 27/08/2008 16:40

i think it is the beginning of the term after their 5th birthday, not year intake, but i could be wrong - so it might be easter is the legal cutoff depending when her birthday is?

dd1 was at a new school (with new school uniform lol) every year until yr4 - she's very well balanced and all round girly swot, with lots of friends, so i wouldn't worry too much about friendship groups at that point. infant schools here often mix up the classes after reception going into yr 1, so that they have an even spread of ability in any case.

out of the normal application round, i think that a school can only hold a place for 6 weeks, so i think you would have to be very careful about planning to start in year 1... if she was allocated a place in yr R they would probably hold it on agreement if she was starting late, but i don't know whether they would be prepared to hold a gap for a whole year... depends where has a place six weeks before the summer hols start lol.

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mummyloveslucy · 27/08/2008 16:41

Yes, good point. I thought that the more time she could stay in the nursery the better, as the class is very small and she gets loads of attention.
It would be harder for her though to be the new girl making friends.
I'll probubly start her in the January.

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mummyloveslucy · 27/08/2008 16:48

Thanks Romy7.

I'll see what the school says. I don't want to risk loosing her place. She could be sent anywere.

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Clary · 27/08/2008 23:21

MLL I would check that start date. When is yr DD 5?

Even LEA's with 2 intakes (getting rarer) start anyone who's 5 before about March/April in September; only summer borns ie those who will be five in May-Aug start in Jan.

Child has to be in education (inc home edding) the term after they are 5, so if DD is 5 before Jan she needs to start in Jan at latest.

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