Not to send my child to reception year?

[IzzyPopp]

It is not compulsory in this country to start primary school until 5 year old (I find even that is early) but children even start at the age of 4 in reception.

How important is the reception and what is taught, given it is not compulsory to start until the child turns 5.

And then once the child turns 5 they must start the term after their fifth birthday, not in the following September after they turned 5, which is the beginning of school year. What is taught in that year given it is ok for the child to miss the beginning of that school year?

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

It's incredibly unusual to wait until compulsory school age and your example of waiting til Y1 only works with a summer born. As a teacher, I'm pretty confident I could have taught what was needed over the Reception year but Reception was exponentially better than private nursery and, like most people, I have a job so there was no option of my child staying at home. My child describes Reception as 'just playing' and absolutely loved it. Genuinely never had a bad day. Do I think most people could teach the Reception content? Honestly, no. That is why schools employ trained teachers. It's probably less of an issue if you're going to home ed for primary, but otherwise I imagine it's a tough transition to Y1.

I sent both of mine in the September (December and April birthdays) and am likely to do the same with my youngest, who is a July birthday so will only lately have turned four.

Reception class is quite play-based in our school.

Reception is based on principles of free play and continuous provision. It’s an incredibly important year for children and I would strongly advise you don’t skip it.

Reception is mostly play based, but the children are also learning how to sit still and various other social skills.

Would your child then start in year 1?

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

yes, in general people send their children to school at the start of the academic year that will turn 5 in, so at the age of 4. Some people do wait, but it’s not the norm.

Reception is as others have said play based. I really don't know why you would want to skip it out.

They don't really learn much in the traditional sense, mostly learning through play , PE, crafts, singing etc.
Both mine started in the September when they were 4 (January and April birthdays), the April birthday one settled in better even though they were younger so depends a lot on the child.
They both enjoyed it though and had lots of fun with their friends.
Better than being stuck at home imho, and anyway I worked so did DH so it's free childcare!

It used to be common for schools to have starters at January and after Easter (for the ones who have turned 5) but it then became the normal for everyone to start in September so everyone essentially was starting at 4.
Under the old system it meant some children had 2 terms of "Reception" (the Sept - December borns), the January - Easter borns got one term, and the summer borns started in the September when they would be going directly to Year 1.
So in theory the current system is fairer because everyone gets the full 3 terms....but it means starting at 4.
However....
Reception is very play based.
A lot of it is learning how to follow rules ("it's time for everyone to sit on the mat"), taking turns, learning independence (dressing for PE), learning how to make friends etc.
It's technically called "Foundation Stage" and that's what it is - setting the foundation for how school works.
But most of it is just play for the children....they don't realise they are learning half the time.

I really wouldn’t want my child to skip reception and jump straight into year 1. Reception is all about play, with some maths and phonics thrown in, but the learning the do, in terms of social skills and independence, is vital imo. The jump in terms of type of learning is quite big when they move to year one. I wouldnt want my child to miss out on reception and have year 1 as their first school experience

It is basically like nursery with some phonics etc. What if your child is behind the others when they start?

Overwhelming children start school at their normal time in reception but that doesn't mean that you have to. Make a judgement based on your own child not anyone else's

Most children that age enjoy being with their peers and they might get a bit bored with preschool if they are the oldest. It's worth contacting the schools that are options and finding out how they manage the youngest ones as school cultures do vary. Some have a more gentle start in September and others just go in all day from day one

Reception is the fun bit. Year 1 is quite full on so I think that would be a horrible start for your child. They won't understand the routine of school and won't have made friends, then to go in year 1 and straight into sitting at a desk alot of the time! Reception helps introduce them to formal education.

However on the other hand if your child is born between April-August you can use the summerborn legislation for them to start a year later in reception rather than year 1. Not all schools are keen on it and you do need the schools/LAs permission in most counties.

It's not age five it's the term after a child turns five. You can still use 15/30 funded hours at nursery until CSA which is a much better environment for young children.

Almost everyone sends their child for reception. Why wouldn't you?

Plus year one is hard enough after a year at school let alone the first a child steps into a school.

One of my kids didn’t do P1 (first year of school in Scotland). It’s worked out absolutely fine but there were lots of variables that made me happy with the decision that may not apply in your case.

My youngest started fs2/reception last year aged four, he was five in December.

It's a similar class room and playground environment to his old private nursery which put him at ease. He was very nervous but has loved it.

It is mainly play based but they have also been learning phonics and practice writing letters, counting etc. He's learnt a lot since September! I can't imagine him starting the following September and all his class mates having had so much more time there than him, like a head start.

I think if you wanted to leave them another year but then start school I'd want to know if the school could let him start at fs2 even though he was older, rather than throwing him into year one without having done reception at the school really.

He did seem little when he started, especially as he'd missed a lot during the lockdowns (in terms of social time with peers, playgroups, nursery time etc) but he's loved it.

If you don't apply for a Reception place then there might not be a place in Year 1 for them.

I think you only have to look at the cohort who missed 2 terms of reception due to Covid 19 to see the effect of missing that year had. As a group, my child's cohort are immature for their age and especially lacking in coping skills. Reception is where children start to learn to sit still and be ready to learn in year one.

I really wouldn't skip reception unless there was absolutely no other choice.

Thanks for the responses so far. Another question. How long is the day in reception? My DC goes full time to nursery.

I’d just be concerned at putting my child at a disadvantage as literally all of the phonics teaching was in foundation at my sons school (although he was a lockdown starter). They literally finished the harder bit of phonics the first term of year 1 then we’re straight on to phonics assessments and reading plus the socialisation aspect. Sure they might make friendships, but most children will have formed friendships and routines

I find reception year quite brilliant, in that the children think they have been doing nothing but playing, and yet they come out the other end being able to read and write! Quite amazing! I would definitely not want my children missing it. I have four children, and all the three school aged ones absolutely loved reception year.