Jumping from reception class to year 2

[yummymummypink]

My daughter is just finishing her reception year and her primary state education school want to move her up to year 2. At first when the head called me yesterday this massaged my, "mummy ego" but in retrospect my instincts are saying not to do it. She is 5 (born Feb 2006.) She is a bright child and has great social skills but I am concerned about her emotional well being. I also worry about her having to potentially repeat a year at some point as presumably the education system does not allow children to leave early? Mostly I just want her to be happy and with her peers. I have already called the school and requested an appointment to talk this through. I guess then we will have to see how she feels about the idea too. To be honest I wish the dilemma had never arisen I feel damned if I do and damned if I don't to some extent. Can anyone advise me please? x

[swash]

Every time this issue comes up posters tend to say it is a terrible idea. Easier for the school, because they don't have to plan extension activities, but not good for your daughter's social skills. And she will hate repeating a year.

[snailoon]

my son did this, and it never caused problems. No one has suggested he should repeat a year; that's a very strange idea.

[jenniec79]

Its a long way off, but if she stays for A-Levels at the far end, finishing at 17 rather than 18 is fine. If things keep going the way they are she may need to do sixth form and university to be competitive for jobs anyway, so not a leaving school early issue, really.

There was a guy at uni with me who started his (maths) course at 15, so if staying in FT education I think they're pretty much fine with "leaving school" earlier tbh.

Never know what the rules will be by then though, and can't really second guess them as too many elections to go. If it feels right for her, go for it.

[Jesusgirl]

I didn't know it was possible to skip a year as even kids born 1st september usually have to wait an extra year.

If the school says to move her up a year, I guess they must have assessed her and realised she is ready for it.

I personally do no believe in one size fits all. Some kids are more nature than others and if she is mature (socially, emotionally, academically) for year 2, then why not?

My ds is age 7 in year 2 now but his best friends(since reception) are 2 years ahead of him! He has friends in year 6 even. He tends to think kids in his class are babies!!! And kids adapt, she would soon get used to beingin year 2 and life goes on. It's only a year difference in age anyway.

I would advice, go with your instinct. You know your child better than anyone else. If you feel she's ready then go for it. But make sure they won't make her repeat a year down the line cos then she might have a problem doing the same thing for2 years

And one more thing- ok for your mum ego to be massaged!! Mine would be! I think people that say they're not over the moon when their child's achievement is acknowledged are just putting up a bit of a pretence!

[LovetheHarp]

It will entirely depend on how mature your child is, imo.

My DD1 is autumn born and much closer in age and maturity to children 1 year above her and even physically she towers over all her classmates, which makes her stand out. If it was suggested for her I would do it in a hearbeat.

My DS1 on the other hand is tiny AND August born, he is also massively immature and I would never ever entertain moving him.

So I think it can be a good think depending on your child's maturity.

[Dozer]

Will the secondary schools you hope to send her to let her start early? Have the primary school checked this, or are they planning for her to repeat a year?

Repeating a year would be rubbish.

All the research evidence suggests that it's better to be elder in the year.

[PatriciaHolm]

The issue with repeating a year is that state secondary are very very reluctant to take them out of their "normal" year, especially without reams of medical advice and support which she won't have as it's not a medical issue. She's likely to find herself having finished year 6 but with no space to go to as secondary won't take her. Private tend to be more flexible though, and it's not like it never happens in state, but you would have a fight on your hands.

TBH I would be suspicious that they are suggesting this to make their lives easier, not hers. Even if she's a prodigy (which you would have noticed!) they should be able to set ability specific work for her within her year group.

[yummymummypink]

Thank you so much everyone for your speedy responses (and Jesusgirl for allowing me my moment, yes I am very proud of her.) I have just been on the telephone to my daughters lovely reception class teacher who has explained things more clearly. She advised that this is to do with intake etc. They have 45 children in key stage one and only 30 can move up to year one. The old system differentiated by age but has proven to be an unfair way of splitting the children and does not account for ability. They are therefore looking at split intake levels. Bear with me because I am trying to get my head around this so may not be explaining it well. 15 reception class children (identified as the most capable/suitable) will go to class 3 which will be a 50% mixture of year 1 and year 2. This alleviates my immediate worries as she would remain with some of her peers and is not technically moving up a whole year. We are going in tomorrow to talk further and see the listings so I will know more then. I am assured that this is for my daughters benefit and not just the schools. To be honest the head teacher really didn't explain this well at all yesterday thank goodness for the front line. x

[sickaboutdad]

This is just a split aged class then rather then her moving up a year, she, and the 14 other Y1 children would still be in Y1 doing Y1 work (differentiated one would hope for ability) while the other half of the class would be Y2 doing Y2 work. This is a common situation in schools and it is not a child moving up a year so does not have the issues with finishing primary early and then having to fight the system for an early secondary space or repeating Y6.
There are lots of threads about split year classes and the general opinion (including mine) is that they can work very well.

[PatriciaHolm]

Ah, that makes much more sense!! As the above poster says, she isn't moving up a year at all, they are just arranging the classes in terms of ability due to roll numbers - it's quite common in schools which don't have a round number divisible by 30 in each class/year group. She and the rest of the class will have ability appropriate work.

[2pinkmonkeys]

my dd is in y1 and has been in a y1/2 class this year she is one of 4 y1 children with the 20 y2 children. I wouldnt worry about it at all, my dd has thrived this year and has made some good friendships with the older children. They will work at their level, mostly doing the same or similar work with different expecations.

[LoopyLoopsBettyBoops]

A split class is perfectly normal and quite common. Good for the older or brighter children.

If it were missing a year, i personally would do it if the child were capable, then plan a gap year at some point (year 4 or 5 probably) to do something really exciting, travelling for example. Obviously, that depends on a lot of other factors.