Children to go to school at just 4

[mrz]

THE government wants all children to start school at the age of four, even if their parents think they are too young.

[needmorecoffee]

isn't that the case anyhow? All mine were 4 when they started school.

[Ivykaty44]

No children do not have to attend school or education until they reach 5 years old - it is just common for schools to intake at 4 years old and has become the norm in most areas of England and Wales - though not legal

[juuule]

[lingle]

See also www.mumsnet.com/Talk/in_the_news/661945-PARENTS-39-ANXIETIES-IGNORED-OVER-AGE-SUMMER-BORN-PUPILS-STA RT

Even though my own child is now "safe" (Bradford LEA have confirmed I can defer for a year), I am so sad. This is a sad day for all our children, but most of all for our immature August-born boys.

[SpirobranchusGiganteus]

It doesn't represent a change to the current policy, except that the report recommends that all summer-borns should have option of part-time start.

I'm not sure what the alternative would be. If they start later in the year they will have missed part of the education that thee older ones will have received, increasing their lag. If they defer to the next year , that school year will still have just as great a disparity of ages, the only diff being that the summer-borns are the oldest.

Someone has to be the youngest in the class.

[lingle]

Yes, Spirobranchus, someone has to be.

But not the child who is least mature for his own age anyway. Look at all the posts from parents complaining that their 3-year-olds are "ready for school". They will be delighted to send their 4.0 child.

Not one single person on the threads I've read has ever suggested that the Scottish system of allowing year-deferrals causes any problems whatsoever.

[SpirobranchusGiganteus]

What happens in Scotland? Do the deferred children start in Reception a year later, or do they start in the next class up?

[SpirobranchusGiganteus]

(Of course, no-one is obliged to send their child to school until 5 -- it is just a question of whether the school will make a place available for a deferred-entry 5-y-o)

[DoesntChristmasDragOn]

Nothing has changed. Most children are 4 when they start school. That report states the recommendation that "children are not plunged straight into formal lessons but start off part-time, spending 15 hours a week at school with an emphasis on play. "

[merrykittymas]

Up here in Scotland children can start at 5 1/2 or 4 1/2.

The cut off runs from March one year to February the next.

DD1 who has a July birthday will be 5.1years when she starts school, her sister who has a January birthday will be 4.6 years. She could be in a class with children a whole year older than her.

If you feel your child is not ready for school and has a January or February birthday you can defer for a year so they would just start Primary 1 the next year IYSWIM. There is no reception in Scotland only Primary 1-7.

[merrykittymas]

I meant 5 1/2 to 4 1/2 with everything in between.

In theory a child with a birthday of March 1st 2004 can be in a class with a child with a birthday of 28th February 2005.

In Primary 1 children go half days until September weekend.

[SpirobranchusGiganteus]

Thanks merrykittymas. That sounds good.

I'm not sure what happens in our education authority (in England) if someone wants to defer their child.

In any event, the report doesn't represent a change in policy, except to pake part time starts more available.

My own (socially immature) August-born son started at 4 and did fine, thatnks to flexibility by the teachers.

[DoesntChristmasDragOn]

"If you feel your child is not ready for school and has a January or February birthday you can defer for a year"

what if you feel your child is not ready for school and they were born in December, November, whatever?

[bobsyouruncle]

I'm in Scotland, and my dd has a november birthday, we chose to defer for a year. So she started in August this year and turned 6 in November.

[merrykittymas]

Dragon - I believe if you have a good case you can opt to defer for a year as bobsyouruncle has done with her DD

[nappyaddict]

NMC - some schools have january and april intakes meaning summer born children are 4.6-5 when they start. I think the article is saying the government wants everyone to start in September.

[nappyaddict]

I think the only way you can defer if it is not a late july/august birthday is by saying you will home ed once they turn 5 because once they turn 5 they legally have to be receiving some form of education. the problem with deferring is they usually end up having to skip year 7 so they are put in the right year for their age in secondary school.

Lingle what will happen with your DS when he finishes year 6?

[lingle]

nappyaddict - I think I've asked you the same question on another thread!

[clayre]

at dd's school (in scotland) if you have a nov/dec birthday it much depends on the child if they start school, if they are a jan/feb you are advised to keep them back till they are 5 and a half.