My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

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

Primary education

Removing summer born children from reception advice please

16 replies

MrsLark · 14/11/2018 14:05

Hello,
I'm not sure what to do to be honest. My Ds who was 4 in August started reception class in September and is struggling emotionally. He actually seems to like to go to school, gets dressed happily and goes in well, his teacher is lovely and says he's the one she asks too to help others/show them how to do things and is bright, confident and interactive in class.
But he keeps getting 'red' cards for hitting another child who has taken something from him/kicked or hit him. This has happened 3 times since he started and only on a Friday afternoon. I'm going to start picking him up after lunch time now on a Friday as he's just too tired to cope by then. He was falling asleep in class on friday afternoons but apparently his not allowed too anymore, so I'm happy to pick him up.
Also, he hates having to put pencil to paper to write and this seems to be non optional, they have to write everyday in class. He happily draws and practices writing letters at home without any problems although his pencil grip is not ideal, he is forming letters. The TA in his class says he just wont join in at writing time and is quite stubborn, will hide himself away under a table so that he doesn't have to do it. He's the youngest in the class and obviously emotionally younger too.
But my question is should I, or could I remove him completely for another year to help him cope better emotionally and restart reception class again next year if he's still struggling?

I really don't know what to do for the best.

OP posts:
Report
Orlande · 14/11/2018 14:08

It is possible but will depend on the school so talk to the head about it ASAP. You will need to get it sorted before Reception applications close in January or there might not be a space next year.

Report
Quartz2208 · 14/11/2018 14:09

Can you restart reception class next year is that an option

Whaat do the school think it the best approach?

Report
Patchworksack · 14/11/2018 14:12

I'm not sure you can defer for a year now you've accepted a school place? There was another poster in a similar situation who was told this wasn't possible. Your idea of taking him out of school early on one or more days sounds like a good solution if school support this.

Report
ShakespearesSisters · 14/11/2018 14:39

There were 2 children that deferred in my daughter's class and they joined in year 1 so missed reception entirely, which then I think has an impact on joining the group at a later date though. I assumed if they deferred a year they would have gone in reception but that didn't seem to be the case.

Report
Witchend · 14/11/2018 15:01

I don't think you can choose to take them out after they have started.

Report
MrsLark · 14/11/2018 18:12

Thank you for all your replies.
I'm going to have a meeting with the head and deputy head tomorrow (they called me today to ask for a meeting, didn't say why over the phone.) His teacher didn't know anything about it so now I'm worrying it's something more serious.

Ive always inforced positive behaviour management at home, so praised the good behaviour, modelled good practice etc. If we can't or don't need to remove him I think we will try to go less hours a day if they agree, so he has more time to adjust.

OP posts:
Report
Spiderhead84 · 15/11/2018 00:01

As someone has already stated there isn’t an option to defer reception and start a year later. The option is actually to defer but then rejoin that same class in year 1. This seems to defeat the point as the child will still be almost a year younger than the oldest children, with the added pressure of not having completed the reception curriculum.

Report
newmumwithquestions · 15/11/2018 00:24

As someone has already stated there isn’t an option to defer reception and start a year later. The option is actually to defer but then rejoin that same class in year 1.

This is very wrong. I am starting my DD at compulsory school age in reception, not year 1. It is becoming more common. How easy it is depends on your local authority.

OP what you want to do is possible and it sounds like your son would benefit. How easy it will be depends on your head and local authority. I would recommend you join the following Facebook group and post your question there. Sorry - I would like to help more but I’m better at knowing about summer borns that haven’t started school rather than those that have - there are really helpful knowledgable people in the group though that should help.

m.facebook.com/groups/121613774658942

Good luck!

Report
pollyname · 15/11/2018 08:09

To me it sounds like there is a lot your son is doing well - being helpful, a kind classmate etc.

In terms of the writing time, could the teachers do a reward chart for him for taking part? Also maybe start him off with some more engaging bits he can easily achieve?

I'd definitely ask to pick him up early 1 or 2 days a week, but since there is so much that is going well I wouldn't want jump to withdraw him. In my opinion all the negative bits can be managed.

In terms of the hitting, not great but you are picking him up early to reduce this. Don't let this be the reason to stop all the other things your son is doing so well at.

Report
NoSpend19 · 15/11/2018 08:13

This is very wrong. I am starting my DD at compulsory school age in reception, not year 1. It is becoming more common. How easy it is depends on your local authority.

Yes but isn't it the case that this gets corrected at a later stage ie at secondary entry when they have to start at the right time or go into the higher year group? That is far more damaging to their education IMO. Its important to check this out.

Certainly in our county they will let you defer reception but you then have to enter year 1. So basically all you are doing is opting out of reception.

Report
Quartz2208 · 15/11/2018 08:24

There is an option to do so but at the application stage - to remove and then reapply isnt common at all

Report
EdwardScissorskills · 15/11/2018 09:10

Yes but isn't it the case that this gets corrected at a later stage ie at secondary entry when they have to start at the right time or go into the higher year group? That is far more damaging to their education IMO. Its important to check this out.

Again, it depends by school and local authority. One school’s decision doesn’t bind another so you have to make another application for out of chronological year group entrance and risk it being turned down by the secondary school, but certainly our LA guidance is that they don’t like it and encourage schools to reject applications, but then once a child is out of year group it is usually in child’s best interests to keep them there. There’s a point about sixth form funding because this does have an age limit on it but basically as long as your child does the usual two years in sixth form and doesn’t have to start again you’ll be ok.

Report
newmumwithquestions · 15/11/2018 12:17

Certainly in our county they will let you defer reception but you then have to enter year 1. So basically all you are doing is opting out of reception.

That really really isn’t true any more. But it’s things like this that put parents off. The tide is changing and it is becoming common though.
Starting at Compulsory School Age (CSA) is a right, not something that the LAs are allowed to reject. Then the decision is if the child should start reception or year 1 at CSA. Some LAs are awkward and make it hard for you. Some parents are having to go through complaints and appeals and fight for their rights. But I don’t know of any LA that have never granted a reception start. The legislation does not allow for a ‘blanket policy’ on summer born children. It’s illegal and LAs that have adopted that approach are being challenged and defeated at appeal.
It’s unfair, as it’s a postcode lottery as to how easy or damn difficult it is. But the onus is on the admissions authority (usually the LA if the school isn’t an academy) to show that it is in the child’s best interests to miss reception.

Report
newmumwithquestions · 15/11/2018 12:32

Yes but isn't it the case that this gets corrected at a later stage ie at secondary entry when they have to start at the right time or go into the higher year group?
I have permission for my DD to stay with her adopted cohort throughout school including secondary. This applies to all schools for which my LA is the admissions authority.

I am lucky with my LA!

However if I move out of area or apply to a secondary school that is their own admissions authority (eg academy) then the admissions authority will have to show that it is in my DDs interests to skip a year. It is highly unlikely they would be able to do this. And what headteacher would want this?

Report
Mumchatting · 16/11/2018 08:50

Hi OP, you could collect your summer born child early every day if you wish too. The law allows you to send your child part-time Reception until the term after your child turns 5.
Join that fb group as pp recommended. It's a very helpful group and you will get answers to all your questions.

Report
lucy2204 · 21/09/2020 18:10

Hello @MrsLark I know was was 2 years ago but what did u end up doing? In the same situation and no idea what to do

Report
Please create an account

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