To think that having a April birthday is the best month to be born in for school

[ReallyTired]

It is in the middle of the academic year so the child should have roughly an average amount of development/ maturity. (Assuming no Sen and that the child is not gifted.) Some September born children might get bored in nursery, some August born children need a little bit more time in nursery.

[EternalDalmatian]

I'm not debating that officially funding may not cover an April born from age 3.

But my ds2 did start at his school nursery as soon as he was three, and this is pretty standard in my area.

Not all schools are strict with the official funded deadlines - many aren't.

[FFSYourself]

I think mid November is good. It's away from any holidays and far enough into the year so you can arrange parties. I think it's better to be older in the year. The advantages of being older carry right through until sixth form. (Drinking and learning to drive not at the same time)

[PainAuChocolat23]

I was so impatient waiting on my july birthday i appeard in april and on the queens personal birthday no less still havent had a birthday card yet mind you...

[toobreathless]

I have TWO April girls

And correct me of I am wrong but April borns being 'technically' summer will also have the option of deferring if desired and starting reception a year later under the governments plans.

I wouldn't defer either of mine saying that my 4.6 yr old is settling very well in reception.

[Senpai]

I was on the youngest end of the cut off date, as in I barely made it by a day or two, so I was about a year younger than all the kids. It didn't really make much of a difference to be honest. I excelled more than most kids in some subjects, and fell behind most in others. I don't think starting a year later would have made that much of a difference to be honest.

[fatowl]

I have two Novembers and an August so did it all wrong.

They're all functioning young adults now though (one at uni, two in upper secondary) so in the grand scheme of things, there are bigger things to worry about.

[JoandMax]

DS2 is middle of March and that seems a good time to me! Enough of a gap after Christmas and generally always before Easter holidays. We also live abroad and the weather is beautiful in March so outdoor parties are easy.

DS1 is July and did seem very young when he started, he enjoyed reception but reading/writing didn't take off at all for him until year 1. He did struggle a little socially to start but he's year 3 now and doing brilliantly academically and has loads of friends. Only downside is he has to wait ages for his birthday as its the last one!

I'm early January, it's a rubbish time. Everyone is either broke or detoxing and fed up of eating/drinking/going out and I could never think of any presents I wanted so soon after Xmas!

[CocktailQueen]

No. October is much better. Then the child is readyfor school and more mature. My ds wasn't ready to start at 4.5.

[BikeRunSki]

The 15 hours funding isn't paid during school holidays (so not during the Easter or Summer holidays or May halfterm), so you don't miss out on 5 or 6 months funding, just a term - some of April, May, June, some of July. Happens wherever a child is born at the start of term. DS's birthday is in the first week of Sept - so he had to wait 4 months for his funding that stated on 6 January. As for parties - I have to send out invitations before the end of the previous school year, otherwise there's less than a weeks notice.

[BeautifulLiar]

I think the beginning of January must be the worst time to have a birthday, for a variety of reasons. I've got a May, August and November and now due in March.

[Leavingsosoon]

Aprils a lovely month to have a baby. I had DD1 in April 2014 surrounded by daffodils, fresh blue skies, baby rabbits and Easter eggs. The mornings and evenings were lighter and I missed pregnancy when it was very hot!

Other two were February and July. Not as nice.

[Ilikedmyoldusernamebetter]

Children who are old for their year do best long term - there is lots of documented evidence.

I moved abroad with Sept born DC1 and buggered everything up by moving to a region where September borns can be either the babies or the eldest as September is the cut off month but you can apply not to send winter borns til the following year pretty much on a whim... tis a minefield!

Kids who get bored with being allowed to play instead of going to school always make me a bit - to me that just suggests they are lacking in self motivation and creativity and perhaps have parents who push them to believe playing is "for babies"... Mature kids who are ready to learn will learn anyway without being pushed through the system, and all children should be able to entertain themselves playing, drawing, looking at books without formal lessons - really bright children will start to teach themselves to read and write given access to books and pens and paper and get on and read and write a bit at nursery and at home - and you can always teach them yourself if you feel they are "bored" due their September birthday meaning they are not doing sufficient numeracy and phonics at 4.5 - 1:1 it only takes a few minutes a day!

I have an April born too - it is quite practical as I don't have to decide when to start him at school (at not quite 6 or not quite 7) as he'll be securely 6.5 in the relevant Sept... but that doesn't apply so much in the UK (it's changing now though I believe and parents can keep summer borns back and there may start to be more and more eldest kids who are July and August born and could have gone into the year above - is that right?) so really Sept is the best month for long term prospects.

[OddBoots]

If this thing about deferred entry goes ahead then April borns are included in those who can be held back a year. They would be the very eldest in their year.

[DeepBlueLake]

DS is born early Feb which is great for education in England as it doesn't clash with half term, far away enough from Christmas, doesn't become too bored at nursery like the September borns etc. I am due early December and am secretly hoping the baby will be born early towards the end of November to avoid being a Christmas baby. The downside is both of them will not have presents in the middle of year like the summer babies have and instead right before or after Christmas.

I was born at the end of May, which sucked big time as I grew up in NZ and mid year exams always fell at that time and numerous birthday parties almost had to be cancelled due to snow. I remember begging my mum to take me to my birthday lunch as a teenager by going over the back road in thick snow as the main highway was shut. Both of my dc would be the youngest in their year if they are raised in NZ sadly.

[Leavingsosoon]

My ex had a September birthday and hated it; made us wait until March before TTC!

[bruffin]

I have two very bright september born. They werent bored academically at all in primary however by mid year 6 they needed the independance and challenges of secondary school.

[Calliou]

DS's is in a private nursery so we did miss out in 6 months of subsided childcare. We paid double for six months compared to children born a week earlier.

Nothing you can do about it but was rather irksome.

[Whoknewitcouldbeso]

I have a November born and am due with DC2 in Jan/Feb next year. I am delighted DS is November born as he has speech delay and will get lots if extra time to catch up with the other children before school. I have a February birthday and it always worked out great for me, so pleased with that too.

[PinguForPresident]

Autumn born children ahve such an advantage at school. My daughter is November born and the difference between her and her summer-born counterparts is huge. I hated having a newborn during the cold months, but it's totally worth it for the advantages of her being old for her school year. Plus her 15 hours ree funding kicked in just 6 weeks after her birthday, whereas her April born friends had to wait til the following Spetember for theirs - BIG difference when money is tight.

April is nice for weather and longer days and everything, but the advantages of an Autumn birthday are undeniable.

[Whoknewitcouldbeso]

It's also nice to birth and then have spring around the corner. That can be very uplifting if you're feeling down post birth. I would struggle to give birth the back end of summer and know there was a long winter ahead of me I think. I liked all the pram pushing in the sunshine.

[FFSYourself]

If you have siblings it's nice if their birthdays are spaced out. My four DC have birthdays annoying close together and all around Xmas. It was very badly planned. It made parties awkward to arrange and gave me a headache trying to ensure each birthday felt special.

[Gowditay]

Being born in Jan, Feb, Mar and April gives you a massive advantage in sport as lots of age groups are set from 31 December. Sept Oct Nov Dec babies are at a disadvantage here.

[Gowditay]

I have an April born and I must say it is the loveliest month to have a birthday in with Spring here or round the corner.

I also have Oct and Dec, no academic advantage and Dec definitely a shite time to have a birthday.

[Gowditay]

Kids who get bored with being allowed to play instead of going to school always make me a bit hmm - to me that just suggests they are lacking in self motivation and creativity and perhaps have parents who push them to believe playing is "for babies"... Mature kids who are ready to learn will learn anyway without being pushed through the system, and all children should be able to entertain themselves playing, drawing, looking at books without formal lessons - really bright children will start to teach themselves to read and write given access to books and pens and paper and get on and read and write a bit at nursery and at home - and you can always teach them yourself if you feel they are "bored" due their September birthday meaning they are not doing sufficient numeracy and phonics at 4.5 - 1:1 it only takes a few minutes a day!

^ this

[halfdrunkcoffee]

DD is early Jan. It's not a great time for birthdays - just after Christmas and rubbish weather. Academically, it's probably quite good as she's not too early or late in the year. I always thought April would be a good month to be born in for a variety of reasons. My sister is April-born and did very well at school.