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

August Born Child

26 replies

DMrob · 03/12/2019 15:55

Hi, my son is a August born child, I’m currently looking at schooling for him as he potentially starts September 2020.
This has probably already been asked a lot but I’m confused on whether to defer him or not.
What are parents opinions? Are there any benifits from doing this?

OP posts:
Report
areyouafraidofthedark · 03/12/2019 16:00

I wouldn't. My middle child is August born and now in year 3 no issues at all. He was ready to be in school full time at turning 4. Oldest is June born and yet again no issues, struggled at first but soon caught up. My daughter is 4 in a few weeks and I am worried she might find it hard at first regarding the school work but socially she is ready.

Report
SatsumasRock · 03/12/2019 16:08

I know that the plural of anecdote isn't data. But my mid August boy has been more than okay. He exceeded expectations in all 4 SATs subjects and has always been ahead on reading. Socially I think he found it a bit tougher than his older (September born) brother but I think that is down to different personalities as opposed to the age they started school at.

I really think it comes down to individual children and whether you think they are ready.

Report
Ilovewillow · 03/12/2019 16:16

Both of my children are August born - my daughter (27th) and is now yr 7 absolutely flew from day one. We spent a lot of time before she went on independence I.e. too letting, get dressed quickly, doing coats up etc. She exceeding all age related expectations in yr 6 SATs. My son is yr 2, socially he has not had any problems but academically yr R was good, yr 1 a challenge but he got there and now in yr 2 seems to be flying. He is also left handed so finds writing a challenge. I hindsight o wouldn't have deferred either of them.

Report
bookworm14 · 03/12/2019 16:20

Depends on the individual child. My DD is mid-August born and started school in September. She is thriving - has made friends, and is already on red band reading books despite being completely unable to read three months ago. I know people who have deferred though; it is a very personal decision about what is right for your child.

Report
Madaboutthem2 · 03/12/2019 19:39

My DD is Feb born and she's loving school but from the teachers point of view she's struggling. She isn't picking it up quick enough.. I can see she's not ready socially. She's also very tired sometimes. In other ways she's making progress. Seeing her learning letters, words and numbers is such a great thing.

I wouldn't hold your child back though as most people don't. Reception is alot of play. I'm really hoping by the end of reception my DD has improved in her social skills. If she was home until 5 she would of been so bored

Report
DMrob · 03/12/2019 20:37

Really appreciate all your opinions, really helping me with my decisions ☺️

OP posts:
Report
ChachyFace · 03/12/2019 21:01

DS2 is July born. Yes he was not on a par with the September borns when he started but it wasn't a problem whatsoever. He himself didn't realise it.
It's good to think about it in advance ... but there is still plenty of time for your child to mature before the school year starts. Make a positive effort now to get them school ready- get them used to going to new and different places, meeting new children and adults. Spending time without you. Make sure they can go to the loo unaccompanied, let them practise carrying a tray, encourage them to dress themselves without help etc. I think if they are confident about going to school, the 'learning' will follow.

Report
Andcake · 08/12/2019 07:25

TBH I’m torn August born DS was great in reception a very social little boy but then found y2 very tough and I always wonder if he had been born 2 weeks later he would be top of the class. He is no way bottom at the moment avg sats, exceeded for maths etc but he physically finds writing and spelling a challenge. Deferring wasn’t an option then but I do wonder

Report
BlueGingerale · 08/12/2019 07:31

I would defer him unless he’s very mature. Ie if he’s a normal august boy born I would defer.

Report
BlueGingerale · 08/12/2019 07:33

It’s not just how he’ll cope in reception but also at GCSEs he’ll be a year less mature. And when he finishes school.

Report
MiniMaxi · 08/12/2019 07:48

DS is premature August born (due in October) and we are planning to request deferral.

FYI there is a lot to consider, for example you have the right to defer admission to “year 1 at compulsory school age (age 5)” but have to make a special request if you want reception at CSA. Only a handful of places give an automatic “yes” and some are harder than others.

It’s worth becoming part of the “flexible admissions for summer borns” Facebook group if you are planning to defer.

Report
Quackymum · 08/12/2019 11:40

It really depends on the child. My daughter has a July born in her class, who doesn't seem read at all. He is not eating his lunch and he just doesn't understand much. During play my daughter tells that he pushes everyone. We went on a playdate and observed the same. I think, for him, it would have been so much better if he started reception an year later. On the other hand, there is an August born child in her class, who seems very ready for school.
All anecdotal, but it really depends on your child. Noone here can answer your question, since all kids are so different.
Our daughter is summer born as well and is thriving.

Report
IaIa3 · 08/12/2019 12:04

DD1 is August born and absolutely loves school, sure she was 'behind' some of the older children but I feel like keeping her at home would only have widened the gap as they all learn off each other as well. Being the eldest at home she didn't have an example to follow whereas in school she does. A lot of reception is learning through play so I don't think there was much pressure on her.

Report
BubblesBuddy · 08/12/2019 14:48

I never found learning to read and spell was through play. However I wouldn’t delay just because you can. My DD was in a class with 3 other summer borns and all were offered places at Oxbridge. Yes, it can happen for summer borns! My DD was more than ready for school.

If a DC has to go into y1 from home or nursery I think that’s a big problem too. If all summer borns deferred then April borns become the youngest and then they will notice it. And so it goes on. Someone has to be the youngest in any given situation!

Report
IaIa3 · 08/12/2019 16:08

That's why I said a lot of learning is through play, not all. In my (very recent) experience there are a few set times throughout the day for serious reading, writing and maths. The rest of the times the children are working with a theme and they may do role play, painting, outdoor play etc. Within these activities there will be plenty of opportunity to practice their reading, writing and maths skills. They're having fun and learning at the same time. I'm fully aware this may not be the case for all schools but the op did ask for people's experiences.

Report
Awkward1 · 08/12/2019 20:15

I think it is child dependent.
However a country only has a finite anount of money.
Read the threads on aibu or here and see even severe difficulties dobt get 1-2-1 so how much can they help the ones struggling a little.
IME learning to read was mainly on the parents. Dc1 read 1-2 times a term at school.
If your child does fall behind yes there may be intervention groups but the main affects are on you (having to help extra at home and deal with behaviour issues) and on the child who is less likely to achive their potential.

I dont think being eldest is great either as you may do well for a few years then drop back as the work changes and becomes harder.
Eldest are not guaranteed top spot but youngest has to be achieving above their age (6m) to even be average in the year.
The damage of not being good at something happens very quickly. Dc felt rubbish at maths by yr 2.

If say 1/3 aug borns fail the sats for them the expectation is not to pass the ks2 sats and their marks from that predict gcse grades.

Report
fairislecable · 12/12/2019 13:00

My DD was August born and was more than ready to start school in September.

My grandson was very immature (born end of August) and I did suggest to DD to defer but he started in September and I have been proved wrong.

He has settled in really well, his teacher is excellent and there are several summer born children in his class who have also coped admirably.

Report
Aroundtheworldin80moves · 12/12/2019 13:09

Academically, I think my Late June girl would be better in the year below. She was still struggling on pink books in Yr1 for example, her handwriting is illegible in Yr4, (but her Maths is brilliant, despite flipped numbers). Socially... She's a bit younger than her peers in some ways, a lot more mature in others. The decision needs to be based on the individual child. (And there are a lot of Sept norms who would be better in the year above)

One thing to remember- it won't be 29 autumn Born's plus your August born. With 30 in a class, you will have on average 2-3 born each month.

Report
CallmeAngelina · 18/12/2019 18:42

Both mine are August-borns. They were both more than ready to start school.

Report
Haworthia · 18/12/2019 18:56

Since deferring is so unusual, the majority of responses will be that they sent their August borns to school at 4 and they were fine.

What matters is your individual child.

Report
lovemenorca · 18/12/2019 18:58

I was so so worried about my August born boy
Ghastly first year
Now year 5 - he only went and got himself a maths and sports scholarship to a local prep school!

Report
Khione · 18/12/2019 19:10

My daughter was 31st August - so couldn't get much younger. Was definitely ready and coped well, always close to top of class - until secondary school, emotionally she wasn't ready for the different world of secondary, educationally she was but not emotionally. I now wish (30 odd years too late) that I had deferred her although that wasn't a known option to me at the time.

Report

Don’t want to miss threads like this?

Weekly

Sign up to our weekly round up and get all the best threads sent straight to your inbox!

Log in to update your newsletter preferences.

You've subscribed!

fallfallfall · 19/12/2019 05:09

where i live the cut off is december, but i know of a couple november borns who struggled massively.
both were boys, who ended up playing the class clown because they couldn't grasp the material at the same pace.
both were socially immature and played with the younger class at recess.
both were tiny framed, short and never on par physically and relegated several times to the sidelines never strong or coordinated enough.
their self esteem was very poor until they left school and found their niche.

Report
BackforGood · 22/12/2019 00:03

What special needs does he have ?

Report
RainMinusBow · 22/12/2019 00:12

I'm a teacher with an August-born who is now 12. He was emotionally not ready for school at four so I kept him part-time until he was five. I do realise I was in a fortunate position to be able to do this as my ex-husband was a high earner.

Son won a place at secondary by getting top 10% in aptitude tests (state school) and remains one of the top achievers in his year group. I became a single parent when he was just six and he's had a huge amount of trauma in his life so very proud of him.

Sadly I didn't have the same luxury with my second son as money was very tight but he was May and far more ready.

Don't regret keeping him pt for one second.

Report
Please create an account

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