Not to send my child to reception year?

If your child is I. F/t nursery why are you not wanting reception ?

You will also find nursery dependant some won’t take them after school age.

I would have loved my August born DS to have started Reception a year later. Unfortunately it wasn't possible when he started. We could have kept him home until Y1 but I thought he would have been at a huge disadvantage to miss Reception, compounded by being so young in the year. Hold him back if you can/want to but don't miss Reception.

From personal experience my DC who was in reception during covid and missed the last term of reception was disadvantaged compared to my other DC's who did full reception years. A lot of basics are starting to be embedded during reception and it really is fundamental to how learning continues in Y1.

Agree. My summer born was bored and way ready for school.

You can start reception at 5 OP if your child is born between the months of April and August. That's what we did with DC1.

Do people in general send their kids to reception at 4 or do they wait till 5? Or does it vary quite a bit?

where else would you send them? another year at nursery to the tune £££? You must be mad!

what they do - play based stuff. But they learn academics too. My non learning disabled was able to read simple books, write short sentence, the basis of phonics were taught and simple maths. Other than that a lot of play.

My tween still pines for reception year - best year of her school life!

Disagree. My late summer born child was much happier at school with qualified teachers than in a nursery with lovely but largely very young, underpaid staff. Both should be a play based environment anyway. The children I know who turned 5 in September and essentially had an 'extra' year at nursery were mostly quite bored by it.

My summer born is currently in reception and like others I’m amazed how much he has learnt. He’s learnt about countries, cultures and languages. He’s reading books, learning to write sentences, punctuation etc. They have been learning the difference between 2D and 3D shapes. The curriculum is so varied and while he went to nursery full time, somewhere “outstanding” for what it’s worth I doubt he would be where he is academically by remaining at nursery . He also does after school club 5 days a week and even swimming etc after that

It’s an odd one. It is of course, but school won’t let you think that and you still get emails/calls/nudges on the app that attendance is low (at 95% or something daft!!!)

A child missing reception and going straight to year 1 would really struggle. Not only would friendship groups have been formed but year one is mostly sitting and learning whereas reception is mostly play. They would be so far behind with reading and writing I think they would struggle to catch up.
Very few people skip reception. Some summer born children defer their first year and start a year later but even that isn’t commonplace.
I can’t imagine why you wouldn’t start reception when your child is already in full time nursery though. They will be more than ready to start and likely bored at nursery by then

Attendance is optional before compulsory school age.

I should add, mine do wrap around 4 days a week and love that too.
also summer born kids so young in the year.

9-3 so shorter than a nursery day.
Id send or you will struggle to get them a place on Yr 1..
it’s all play learning like nursery, mine all loved it.

The day is a length of a school day, 8:55-3:15. Two of my children are summer born and we haven't deferred them to start a year later. But if we had I would never have considered just skipping reception and going straight into year 1. Their perception is of playing all day yet they are also learning to read and write and early maths. I do think we start young in this country but, given the system we have, I think it's a lovely year for them.

Completely agree with this!

My niece ended up missing her reception year due to moving between the Scottish and the English system (summer birthday). She went from nursery straight into Y1.

My sister was surprised at just how much learning she had missed out on. She caught up quickly, but it took extra support from both school and home.

Reception year is really important, it's not the academics they learn that is important, it's the learning how to be at school, knowing the building, getting all the bugs and low level but continuous illnesses out the way as the children's immune system syncs up - like Freshers Flu but with more grim runny noses. Learning to sit still on the carpet, not to poke and prod other children.

If your child is already at nursery then it's quite unusual not to send them to reception, it's often those that haven't been to any childcare placement that don't start at the normal time. Lots of private nurserys offer breakfast club and do school drop offs and pick ups if you need longer childcare.

My child started at 5, August born, but got approval to start Reception.
Si he is in Reception and although it is play based, they learn a lot. I wouldn't have wanted him to skip that. I think it is a very important year.
School starts at 8.50 to 3.20 pm, same as for everyone else at school and attendance is not optional.
All the best with your decision! X

Mum of a summer born boy here. It didn't even occur to me to defer. The school day is shorter, typically 8.45 to 3.15ish but don't underestimate how tired it can make them. My son was at nursery 8 till 5, but school made him more tired during that first half term. After that initial half term he was fine.

Reception is a lot of play, and short bursts of phonics, maths in between . Children also form relationships, and that could be more difficult for your child if you defer for a year as some friendship groups have already formed.

Just to guess - a preference for more play based learning, and hours better suited to work.

Of course, the first year of schooling is play based and most areas have wraparound care of some description but first time parents may not be aware of that, especially if they're not from the UK.

I have 2 children, one did reception year, the other didn't, because at that age she couldn't manage full days of being around others and away from me. She was later diagnosed with ASD. People thought I was being a soft touch but I'm glad I listened to my instincts.

Yes agree with this. Mine started P1 (equivalent to reception) barely willing to write her name and came out able to write a sentence - and had an absolute ball in the process. It's such a lovely (and important) introduction to schooling.

Her school is 8:55-14:00. It has a breakfast club that opens at 8 and an after school club that runs until 6, although she goes to the ASC run by her old nursery which collects them from school and is open until 6.

Why would you be questioning reception if your child is already in full time care?

I've always sent mine in the September (they are May, July, May and March birthdays) the reception class is set up pretty much like a nursery (in our school anyway) they have a home corner, role play, construction, art areas, a quiet corner with books and sofas/beanbags. They don't sit at a desk all day so I'm happy for them to go at 4

My child is currently in reception. Whilst a lot of it is playing, colouring, dressing up etc. I’m amazed how far they have come since September. They can pretty much read, write a basic sentence. Knows that names start with a capital letter, knows what a full-stop is, question mark etc. They talk about digraphs, trigraphs, sound buttons. There is a lot of jargon with phonics and I think anyone starting in Yr 1 would be so far behind. Well…like a year behind.