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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think that, actually, children start school at age 4 in Wales, the same as England?

77 replies

YWurri · 02/01/2017 20:46

We have friends in Wales who have small children. When they're still only two years old, they start going on about how they can't believe their baby is starting school soon. They say kids have to start SCHOOL age 3 there, so have always believed it.

Have looked into it, and no, they can start preschool/nursery the term after their 3rd birthday (around 10hrs a week for free), but compulsory school age is the term after a child turns 5, though most start the Sept after they turn 4.

I only had a quick Google and found these

citizens advice

British council

I've spoken to them and tried to say it's not school they're starting, but PRE School, and that their child doesn't HAVE to go (8.45am - 11am Mon-Fri, term time only) but they're having none of it.

Is it normal in Wales to think this? Or are my mates unusual?

OP posts:
Original poster
YWurri · 02/01/2017 21:47

I've got friends who are SAHM's who don't send their children to any type of childcare or education until the Sept after they turn 4 (so could obviously almost be 5, if an October baby). Each to their own.

Most people I know around here (South West England) tend to take up the 15hrs a week free childcare the term after the child turns 3. But that can be used with a Childminder or day nursery, as well as a preschool. Sounds like we have a bit more choice here? At least with respect to it being the "norm" or peer pressure.

OP posts:
FishlessCake · 02/01/2017 21:47

I'm in Pembrokeshire and children start at the nursery attached to the primary school the term after they turn 3. It has always been known as 'school' and they wear the same uniform. My youngest started last January having turned 3 in the November. He goes for just over 2hrs and even does assembly with the rest of the school in the mornings. He was supposed to start all day this week but he has possible selective mutism so he is staying part time until probably the September after he turns 5.

DragonMamma · 02/01/2017 21:53

minesapintofwine - probably! I remember contributing to the JR as I'd banked on DC2 only having wrap around from that September Blush

I'm not far from the RGH Grin

DragonMamma · 02/01/2017 21:54

I should have said I do live in RCT, not probably. Too much wine...

HeCantBeSerious · 02/01/2017 21:59

If they are it's because schools are funding it rather than RCT now pint.

HeCantBeSerious · 02/01/2017 21:59

I'm near RGH too...........

CasperGutman · 02/01/2017 22:02

I have a son in reception class at a Welsh primary. He went to the school's nursery class for short half days for a year before that. It's not complulsory at all, and is no different from what I experienced growing up in England in the 80s!

minesapintofwine · 02/01/2017 22:05

Hecant and Dragon you might know each other Smile

minesapintofwine · 02/01/2017 22:08

Do your friends believe that the school nursery place is compulsory though opinion? I think a lot of people here misunderstand. If so.it may be worth just gently letting them know that it's not IN CASE they think.they don't have a choice.

Personally I was very happy to wave dts off full time at 3 Blush

minesapintofwine · 02/01/2017 22:08

Op not opinion damn auto correct

HeCantBeSerious · 02/01/2017 22:09

I only sent DD and DS at 3 because of the advantage of learning though immersion. One of DS' friends didn't start until half way through reception and he's really struggling with Welsh compared to the rest of the class.

DragonMamma · 02/01/2017 22:16

minesapintofwine who knows?! It's pretty small and incestuous around these parts 😉

Lolimax · 02/01/2017 22:17

Most of us know each other in South Wales and if we don't know each other directly, give us 5 minutes and we'll have someone in common!!

thatstoast · 02/01/2017 22:21

We're only known as soandso's mam and/or daughter depending on age though Grin

minesapintofwine · 02/01/2017 22:27

Yes pp you are right. Everyone knows someone or knows someone who is related to someone, you can't move for people 'chopsing' round here to people they know about people they know of Smile

I like it (unless they are talking about me)

Original poster
YWurri · 02/01/2017 22:34

minesapint yes they talk like it's compulsory...everyone does it so they must. Saw them last week and they're genuinely sad about their "baby" having to go to school. So I said "well, actually, you know she doesn't have to..." but they were having none of it. The little girl in question has never gone to anyone else but her Mum and Dad, so they're (rightly) anxious about dropping her off and leaving her for a couple of hours of a morning. She's their first so obvs quite a nerve-wracking time for them.

My dc1 went to nursery from 11 months old, 8-6 a couple of days a week, so very different.

OP posts:
allowlsthinkalot · 02/01/2017 22:46

It's different from that round here downward, they start the September after their third birthday (so no rising threes) and it's half days. It's pretty unheard of here to change schools between Meithrin and Derbyn (Reception).

OnlyTheWelshCanCwtch · 02/01/2017 22:57

My daughter started nursery at 3 part time mornings from the week after she turned 3 (October birthday). She went to one by my Mum as she looked after her full time while I worked. She remained part time for the school year. Had she gone to school in my county (Mum lived different county) she would have been full time after two weeks.
When I had my son I was stopping work for a couple of years and wanted her in school nearer home, so she did a second year of nursery from the September but full time.
My son (July born) started in the September after his 3rd birthday and was full time after 3 weeks. He only did one year of nursery though.

They have changed it now though, and 3yos only do a half day, and they start full time the term after their 4th birthday

FunkinEll · 02/01/2017 22:57

In the county I'm from (I live in England) you get 3 year olds doing full days 9-3, wearing uniform etc but they are technically in nursery/ preschool so no compulsory.

I'm trying to remember what used to happen when I started school. You started the term you turned 4 I think?! Some kids were in the year above until Y6 when they moved down to our class as they were technically our year group as born after September:

OnlyTheWelshCanCwtch · 02/01/2017 22:58

I'm RCT too Mammadragon

FunkinEll · 02/01/2017 22:58

I mean I live in England now but I'm from Carmarthenshire (formally Dyfedd).

AbernathysFringe · 02/01/2017 23:07

The ideas of peer pressure (for the parents) to send their 2/3/4 year old to nursery or of the child missing out on what others their age are doing before compulsory school starts at 5 depresses me. Those ideas don't consider the child as an individual. Keep your child as long as you want. They all mature at different ages. They won't be detrimentally affected by not doing exactly the same as everyone else aged 3/4!!!

First, screw the other parents. Second, they cope with going to a new high school and meeting new friends at the very hormonally delicate age of 12 and that seems far worse than joining a class a bit later at 5.

HeCantBeSerious · 02/01/2017 23:09

They won't be detrimentally affected by not doing exactly the same as everyone else aged 3/4!!!

I think it's a bit different if you want them educated in Welsh and aren't fluent yourself.

Cwtchythings · 02/01/2017 23:21

So many people on this thread living near RGH! Me too Smile

DollyDora · 02/01/2017 23:26

Welsh person here i have no children but i went to Nursery ( just afternoons) then started reception in september aged 4

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