Summer babies kept back at school

[ThisCollie]

So I probably am. In DD's year 2 class there are 3 children who have been sent to school a year later on account of being a summer baby.
All 3 children have caused trouble from day 1, especially the oldest lad, who on top of things seems bright.
Aibu to think that this happens a lot, because they are bored and would be better off in the year above?

YABU - the parents know best and this is just a coincidence.
YANBU - this seems to happen a lot and could be a factor.

Same with sen it would be hard to tell if a child is behind due to sen or just young. Even if they do get diagnosed it is for say adhd over 6 so y2 already.

This is my concern.

Because the emotional maturity of SB children and their academic abilities may be much lower than the Autumn/Winter borns they will be labelled as being ‘behind’ and along come all the knock on effects of that: SEN and behavioural difficulties which can have an impact on their whole education.

My friend is a nursery nurse and she had a Summer Born son (late July) and she started him in school with his ‘age appropriate’ cohort a month after he turned 4.

She said he’s always had to struggle to keep up with the older children, he couldn’t stay as focused as them and so her son has been labelled as needing extra support and possibly having Attention Deficit Behaviour, despite the fact that he’s absolutely fine at home.

He was always in the lower reading levels and math groups compared to the Autumn/Winter borns, hence his label of being ‘behind’ but if he was compared to the Autumn/Winter borns in the year below him, I.e the children who were only weeks older than him, he’d be classed as, developmentally, emotionally and academically able and competent and deemed to be “where he should be” in terms of the expected milestones.

It is not fair.

She wishes so much that she had started him at CSA but it was such a known thing 10 years ago.

Even now he is still struggles to keep up, is still in the bottom groups because he’s never really had the opportunity to catch up with his peers as a result of being classed as “behind” and so always being placed in the lower ability groups. He has never enjoyed school, has always found it a battle and has low self-esteem as a result of the labels that were placed upon him.

I know that doesn’t happen with every Summer Born but it’s a risk I don’t want to take for my son.

Me and my DH agonised for about six months regarding whether to send him with his age cohort or wait until he was at CSA, it’s such a hard decision to make for a lot of parents and there’s no way of knowing if the choice you make will be the right one - you just have to take the gamble and hope it pays off.

I am now 100% happy that I’m delaying my son’s start to CSA but like I said, it wasn’t a decision taken lightly as I don’t think it is for a lot of parents.

@NoIDontWatchLoveIsland Why would a kindergarten stage have been bad for your child? Kindergarten doesn't mean that children that WANT to read, write, do formal maths etc can't. It just means that children aren't pressured to do those things if they're not ready.

Those who say that the EYFS is all about play, yes, some schools have adopted this model, but it certainly isn't uniform. Besides which, it's not just Reception... Y1 in England is 5/6 year olds, still way too young for many to engage in formal learning.

I'm not sure who asked for peer reviewed evidence, but there's plenty here to start with. www.upstart.scot/the-evidence/

@NoIDontWatchLoveIsland Why would a kindergarten stage have been bad for your child? Kindergarten doesn't mean that children that WANT to read, write, do formal maths etc can't. It just means that children aren't pressured to do those things if they're not ready.

Actually it means just that where I live. His preschool has an option to borrow simle reading books, I told him this and he was really excited to borrow one. Only to find they refused to give him a book with words in (he is 4.5 and can read). I mentioned this to the staff and got a long email back about children's development and learning through play. They completely ignored a) his wishes and b) the fact that developmentally he is clearly ready to read as he already can

I think writing is almost more excluding for the youngest. Something like 1/3 of the aug dont meet the eyfs targets.

My DC is in Reception having had delayed entry (so will be six over the summer). DC was not emotionally ready for daily school although is academically ahead. The move from nursery-school was enough at five, let alone doing it at just four. The transition to Y1 - with more emphasis on work over play is also something we wanted to have them experience later.

I don't think that bad or bullying behaviour can be solely linked to a late start/boredom, more likely coincidence.

If formal schooling started later, a lot of the issues would probably be avoided.

@NoIDontWatchLoveIsland Do you live somewhere with Kindergarten though? I'm assuming that is an (admittedly not great from the sound of it) British preschool? I have 3 Kindergartens local to me (NE Scotland) which can take children up at age 6/7. Nobody is forced to do anything 'academic' but it is certainly available and encouraged in those kids who are keen.