My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

AIBU?

Anyone know when formal education begins - posting for traffic

21 replies

ThisIsTheLast89 · 14/05/2021 19:08

Does anyone know what age formal education begins, not mandatory, but formal education?

OP posts:
Report
TeenMinusTests · 14/05/2021 19:12

In England it will be in the Sept of the academic year they turn 5, where academic year is 1 Sept-31 August.
Only mandatory from the term after they turn 5.

Report
17bluebirds · 14/05/2021 19:13

I'm not sure what you mean by formal?

Report
funnylittlefloozie · 14/05/2021 19:16

Can you define "formal"? The PP above has explained the compulsory education age, but is that what you actually mean?

Report
MildredPuppy · 14/05/2021 19:18

What do you mean by formal?
Reception is part of early years so is play based
Then year 1 and year 2 is ks1 which is 'formal' but how formal varies a lot between school. So where i work year 1 is still mainly play based continuous provision stuff, but by the summer of year 2 its much more teacher at the front, children at desks to ready them for the next key stage.

Report
ThisIsTheLast89 · 14/05/2021 19:21

So I basically have a court order which states that Dc contact is to change once in formal education, not Mandatory or compulsory. Hence why I say formal as it's the wording that has been used.

As to me formal would be anything tracking their learning, or from reception (so 4) onwards. If it said compulsory or set out a date that would have been easier.

OP posts:
Report
thatllberight · 14/05/2021 19:22

Primary school. Surely? Weird wording.

Report
Riv · 14/05/2021 19:22

I’m also not sure what you mean by “formal education”.
Do you mean sitting in rows and “chalk and talk” type learning? (Not really done often in primary at least in England). Or when do children begin the National Curriculum, or ….

Report
Oilpyii · 14/05/2021 19:24

Well home education would throw a spanner in the works wouldn’t it!

Formal education is usually used to mean ‘at school’, following a formal curriculum that is age appropriate.

Report
Howshouldibehave · 14/05/2021 19:26

I’d go for 1st September in YR; it’s a rather odd turn of phrase though as it’s open to debate!

Report
randomsabreuse · 14/05/2021 19:30

One could argue for starting reception but there might be a case for school nursery class within a primary school...

Rubbish drafting by whoever wrote the order.

Logically I think they were trying for start of reception but avoiding compulsory school age as that is not necessarily the same age, because it makes sense that contact should change to suit the very different needs of the child once they're at school.

Report
JaneExotic · 14/05/2021 19:31

Headteacher here. Formal education usually means the reception year, whenever they join it, which would usually be in the September of the school year they’ll turn 5.

Report
Riv · 14/05/2021 19:42

Sorry, I took so long to post that you’d explained before I hit send.

Report
normalsaline · 14/05/2021 20:02

I’d take formal to mean compulsory. So 5/ primary 1

Report
Cocomarine · 14/05/2021 20:08

Why did you accept the wording without knowing what it means to you both?

Most children in the UK go to a primary school in August / September of the year that they turn 5. It’s isn’t legally mandatory until age 5. It also can be deferred. Or education provided elsewhere.

But for the vast majority, Aug/Sep into P1/Reception they go.

I would say it’s fairly obvious that would be the intended meaning of the parties involved. It’s an obvious trigger for change, and it’s by far the most common scenario for UK kids.

Just - when they start primary school.

Why is it an issue? Are you wanting to defer a late year born child, wait until 5 exactly, or homeschool?

Report
Antiqueanniesmagiclanternshow · 14/05/2021 20:28

Most children in the uk start school in the September following their 4th birthday which is why you get some just 4 year olds alongside almost 6 year olds.

Formal education means school not nursery.

Report
Cocomarine · 14/05/2021 20:34

@Antiqueanniesmagiclanternshow

Most children in the uk start school in the September following their 4th birthday which is why you get some just 4 year olds alongside almost 6 year olds.

Formal education means school not nursery.

How?
The oldest child is 5 on 1st September.
The youngest child is 5 on the following 31st August.
So the maximum age difference is just 4 vs just 5. One year.
Not just 4 vs almost 6.
Report
Subordinateclause · 14/05/2021 20:37

@Antiqueanniesmagiclanternshow

Most children in the uk start school in the September following their 4th birthday which is why you get some just 4 year olds alongside almost 6 year olds.

Formal education means school not nursery.

Most children in England, not the UK. Education is a devolved issue. Anyone in Scotland born March - July will start the August after they turn 5.
Report
Antiqueanniesmagiclanternshow · 14/05/2021 20:48

Yes sorry. Friday brain.
But a full year difference which will mean that by the end of reception, the oldest child will be heading for 6 and the youngest still not 5.

Report
kowari · 14/05/2021 20:52

@Antiqueanniesmagiclanternshow

Yes sorry. Friday brain.
But a full year difference which will mean that by the end of reception, the oldest child will be heading for 6 and the youngest still not 5.

Then they are not just 4, they are almost 5.
Report
Antiqueanniesmagiclanternshow · 14/05/2021 20:58

But they are still only 4
Ffs i acknowledged my mistake straightaway. Let it l lie ffs!

My august born son didn't have his fifth birthday until the week before he started year one.

Report
Abraxan · 14/05/2021 21:00

Based on English schools, reception:

Eldest will be born 1 September (unless differed entry) so 5y 0m at the official start of term.

The youngest born 31 August will be just turned 4y.

The option to delay entry for summer born children change this slightly so you may have some a couple of months older than others. In reality, in my school's experience, this only applies to one or two children a hear from a cohort of 90.

Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.