Five terms of pre-school due to September birthday?

[rainbowontheway]

Has anyone had a child do this please? DS just started school nursery as he's entitled to a place due to having a September birthday. He was in private nursery beforehand. But starting now means he'll repeat nursery year again starting in September, along with a few others in his class, while the majority move up to reception. Are there any issues or disadvantages to this in your view please?

[rainbowontheway]

Bump!

[madamginger]

My DS had 2 years of preschool as he has a September birthday.
What disadvantages are you worried about?

[NickNacks]

Dd has just done six terms, and is now is reception. She lived preschool though and it's an outstanding one who kept her interested and motivated and she didn't get bored. She was very ready for school and reading/writing before she went. This was because she was ready though, it wasn't pushed.

[Etak15]

I've got two December dc's one started nursery in January the term after they turned 3, but our nursery only has a Jan intake if there's space and there wasn't for dd2 I don't think there were any disadvantages really, if they did repeat things they didn't seem to notice!! Dd2 however then went to a different nursery from Jan and started there in the sept this was probably more of a disadvantage to being able to start in Jan but tbh it didn't seem to bother her!!

[Sickofthetantrums]

My September twins are in their 2nd year at pre-school and love it. They are really enjoying being the "big boys" after being the "babies" last year. They just get on with it, I rarely even get a farewell glance when they go in! A change of pre-school leader this year means that things are done differently from last year, so they haven't repeated too many activities from what I can tell.

[JasperDamerel]

My children both have October birthdays, so we're in a similar situation. DD had five terms as a preschooler at the Early Years Unit of her primary school. I think that she was really lucky to have a long period of play-based learning. By the time DS was 3, the preschool was oversubscribed, so places were only offerred for the school year before reception. I sent DS to a different preschool for a couple of terms, but it wasn't as good as the school one, and looking back, I think he would probably have been happier at home.

[StitchesInTime]

Following.

DS2 will be 3 in September, so we're currently considering whether to try and get him in pre-school as soon as he's eligible (so 5 terms), or whether to leave it until the September he turns 4 (so just the school year before he starts reception).

[Inkymess]

Both mine did 5 and 6 terms of school nursery before reception. It was ace and they loved it. The DC are differentiated by age and stage for some activities and for their expectations so it was never an issue. Both had friends who went up to reception before them but was never an issue - they just like having friends in the years above and below them in school. It's common at our school and never heard any concerns.

[RebeccaRHY1]

My son did 5 terms and absolutely loved it. He turned 3 in feb so started after easter holidays then restarted in sept with a new full class. He had no problems whatsoever. In his school the older kids are taught to help teach and look after the new starters so in his last easter term b4 starting school a group of newly turned 3 yr olds joined his class and he loved looking after them and feeling like the big boy.

[VagueIdeas]

My DD has a September birthday and has just started her sixth term at preschool (we paid for the first term and then her funding kicked in). She starts Reception in September.

Some children at her preschool start at two, so it's not unusual to do more than three terms. I'd certainly never view it as "repeating" a year because it's hardly as if little kids can remember that they did X activity last year. And besides, it's all play based so can hardly be considered repeating at all.

There are certainly no disadvantages that I can think of. The advantages of Autumn term birthdays are well documented.

[bibbitybobbityyhat]

I'm not really sure what you're asking. If you're worried that your child will miss any friends he has made in nursery, then please don't! They forget their friends within days at that age.

[HSMMaCM]

It's fine to do it whenever you like (or not at all). Most children love pre school, but if they don't, it's fine to leave it until they're older.