Do Children really get bored in nursery?

He might know how to read basic words but he won’t know about sounds, anomalies, phonics. That will be new to him.

as others have said, there’s waaay more to reception than letters and numbers. They do PE, library time, topics such as dinosaurs/planets, learning rules such as queuing, sitting on their carpet spots.

I'm jealous, my dd has struggled throughout her whole short school life (currently year 5) not for want of trying..... she has zero retention, lives for break, lunch and hometime - if your child is receptive to learning at home then grab it with open arms. Fwiw I knew something was "wrong" in reception so follow your gut.

Are you experienced in teaching phonics? Many parents seen to teach them incorrectly, which can cause issues later on when they have to unlearn the wrong things and relearn the correct ones. I'd carry on but in a more relaxed way.

This is the other thing. Sometimes doing too much at home then makes it harder for the child having to unlearn what they have been taught which doesn't gel with how the school teaches that particular thing. My child flew through learning to read and is a better reader than I was at their age despite me having already been able to read before school and being ahead because they have learnt the school method with their peers but got the hang of the rules quick and was still able to fly ahead. I'm glad I didnt do too much at home and focused on creative stuff like drawing and just being able to be a kid and play

I have a bright child and purposefully didn't teach them things I knew school would like reading as my own experience as a child was yes, I did get bored and had to do other activities/worksheets. My child therefore had something to learn at school but was still ahead, actually, and still gets bored and does other things.

I also do not think end of April is particularly young in year to feel you need to do prep work to be school ready.

So many people think they know the sounds...but they have no clue and go "cuh" "ah* "tuh" ...cat. Etc

If he's only doing short hours at nursery.... How much peer interaction is he getting?

Do you even know how to deliver Phonics?

Independence, social skills, being able to play without adult input/direction, listening and attention much more important at this stage than knowing lots of numbers.

OP I think it is great what you’ve been doing

I learned to read at 3 and honestly, I was a bit bored at infant school, it was a long time ago now and not many children were reading before they started school. I used to have to go over to the junior school to get reading books and I remember being really nervous 😩 I was quite a dreamy child and spent a lot of time playing in the wendy house and dressing up box! Hopefully things have moved on a bit since then and your son's school will be able to set work for him that challenges him!

The early learning goals are not behind a paywall (early years lead here!)they are freely available online. “Knowing numbers” does not meet the early learning goal for maths, it’s more complex than than! But the point of reception is to learn through play and play based learning! With respect op, you are not a teacher so you don’t have the knowledge underpinning the early years foundation stage that his teacher will, which is very heavily research based! Your son will be fine!

It’s nonsense. Which child gets bored with playing?!! Nurseries are used to catering for differences in abilities. If your child is getting bored then the nursery is not doing their job properly.

I can only remember as far back as primary 3 being really bored and pretending to accidentally do the primary 4 work in the mixed class

April born really isn’t that young in the school year.

It would be very rare for a 4YO to be at the early learning goals in all areas consistently before even starting reception. I would also say to be mindful about what you teach and how, as schools may teach in certain forms, which could confuse him needing to unlearn and relearn in different ways, often actually setting him back.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68c024cb8c6d992f23edd79c/Early_years_foundation_stage_statutory_framework_-_for_group_and_school-based_providers.pdf.pdf
pages 12-16 set out what children will need to learn by end of Reception.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/64e6002a20ae890014f26cbc/DfE_Development_Matters_Report_Sep2023.pdf
this is some guidance to break the early years goals down. It is important for children to develop through each stage and not jump to the end goal so gain the foundation knowledge and skills to achieve the ELG successfully and the knowledge to be embedded.

I don't think they should be bored but also if they are advanced in one area they should be given advanced curriculum in that area. The teachers should spot it. My ds2 had advanced reading, DS1 had advanced sums. DD went with the flow.

I run a pre school room (not in UK so curriculum may differ a little). As the year comes to a close we observe where work is needed. Independence skills is our main priority. Can they open and close a lunchbox, zip their bags open and closed, put on coats, gloves, hats and scarves without assistance, get a tissue, blow their nose and put in it the bin. Also can they listen without interrupting, sit still for short periods, stand in queue, follow a two or three part instruction specific to them, follow a group instruction, stay on task without a reminder. Can they choose a toy without adult support, approach other children, assert themselves by saying no when needed, resolve conflict without seeking an adult, initiate conversation, take turns back and forth and maintaining eye contact, tidy up properly, take responsibility for their own things, approach an adult when necessary, answer a direct question, answer an open ended question, share thoughts and ideas, speak in a small group, speak in a large group. There are many more but this is just a few examples. These skill are much more important and fundamental than numbers or letters. Chances are a child advanced in an academic area may be a bit behind on others.

They’re on the gov.uk website.

early learning goals go to the end of reception then ks1 is y1 and 2. My sons there and is learning to read, number bonds and foundations of knowledge but way way beyond all
of that too. He had a good time at nursery but he’s flourishing at school.

My mum taught me loads before I started school and when I went I was bored, but I wasn't a kid who liked playing. Once they figured that out, they encouraged me in different ways. When DD started, I'd also done lots with her, but she was fine because she loved the social side and wanted to play all day. I'm a teacher and we rarely have children who genuinely 'know it all', there's always something they need to practice and they are extended as appropriate to their needs.

He'll be fine plus he's not that young in the year. Think of all the summer birthdays.

My dd was young in her year but very precocious. She was already a fluent reader by the start of reception, could do lots of basic maths and had quite a wide ranging general knowledge due to an exceptional memory. She wasn't in the slightest bit bored in reception - quite the contrary, she loved it!

Reception is about more than maths and english. He'll be playing in pairs and small and large groups, socialising, sharing, listening, taking turns, waiting, speaking up, helping others, learning from peers, sports, learning about the world. He won't be bored even if he's learned some things already. There's not a lot of benefits of racing ahead at that age.

If you want to teach him stuff look at real world learning as well as maths and spelling - counting, money, geography, wildlife, animals, using public transport, tying laces, cleaning and tidying, local history etc.