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?

My summer born is currently in reception and like others I’m amazed how much he has learnt. He’s learnt about countries, cultures and languages. He’s reading books, learning to write sentences, punctuation etc. They have been learning the difference between 2D and 3D shapes. The curriculum is so varied and while he went to nursery full time, somewhere “outstanding” for what it’s worth I doubt he would be where he is academically by remaining at nursery . He also does after school club 5 days a week and even swimming etc after that

Disagree. My late summer born child was much happier at school with qualified teachers than in a nursery with lovely but largely very young, underpaid staff. Both should be a play based environment anyway. The children I know who turned 5 in September and essentially had an 'extra' year at nursery were mostly quite bored by it.

My tween still pines for reception year - best year of her school life!

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

where else would you send them? another year at nursery to the tune £££? You must be mad!

what they do - play based stuff. But they learn academics too. My non learning disabled was able to read simple books, write short sentence, the basis of phonics were taught and simple maths. Other than that a lot of play.

You can start reception at 5 OP if your child is born between the months of April and August. That's what we did with DC1.

Agree. My summer born was bored and way ready for school.

From personal experience my DC who was in reception during covid and missed the last term of reception was disadvantaged compared to my other DC's who did full reception years. A lot of basics are starting to be embedded during reception and it really is fundamental to how learning continues in Y1.

I would have loved my August born DS to have started Reception a year later. Unfortunately it wasn't possible when he started. We could have kept him home until Y1 but I thought he would have been at a huge disadvantage to miss Reception, compounded by being so young in the year. Hold him back if you can/want to but don't miss Reception.

If your child is I. F/t nursery why are you not wanting reception ?

You will also find nursery dependant some won’t take them after school age.

I wondered about this because I have a July baby and just kept hearing it's "play based" but I am absolutely amazed by how much they learnt. It's like a full year. I have no idea how kids who don't do it would ever catch up.

The school day is 9ish to 3pm ish.

And actually, another thing to consider, places at all the decent schools go like hot cakes for Reception so it's a challenge to get an in year space, or year 1 space.

DS is a very late August baby. He joined reception just days after he turned 4 and it's the best decision I made. He is in year 1 now and in the highest level reading group, recently for 40/40 on his phonics check, is so sociable and loves school. I honestly think if I would have deferred his school place he would be no where near where he is now.

Both DC started in Reception, DS is late August born and was youngest in the year, but both had an awesome time. Reception is fun and they make lots of friends. There was learning of course, but it's low pressure and I think both would have been at a huge disadvantage if they'd skipped it.

Are you in England?
This will influence responses

Presumably if she's talking about Reception. Unless Wales also calls it that?

This.

In the school that my kids went to there were not even any desks in reception - just tables with different activities on. And yet both my kids came out of it able to read and write fluently. How?!?

I strongly suspect that they sprinkle fairy dust on them and perform magic spells.

I have a summer born DS and he started Reception with his peers but only did 1/2 days for the first two terms. It was not popular with the school, but he was still napping in the afternoons and I was fortunate enough to have my parents to look after him in the afternoons. Mum supported him with his reading and phonics play and he was never behind with anything. He’s now on track for 7-9 in his GCSEs so it didn’t do him any harm.

If your child is already in FT nursery, send them to school. Honestly, it's basically the same with maybe a tiny bit more structure and a shorter day. My eldest was in full time 9-5 nursery before she started reception. She was bouncing off the walls still with energy by 3pm because it was such a short day and easier on her than nursery was. And even better, it was completely free! And she was making friends who would remain long term friends for many years.

If COVID home schooling taught us anything, it's that the vast majority of us are not better off teaching our children at home.

I don't see why you wouldn't send them. I sent mine.

I work in a school. So many people think all Reception children do is "play" but that's partly because Reception teachers are so skilled the kids don't even realise they're doing formal learning, but they absolutely are. They just have a lot of fun while they're doing it. I've always said that Reception is the hardest year group in primary to teach for this reason.

The majority of Reception children in my school who started in September are writing sentences now. They are all reading words, and some are moving onto trickier reading books with longer words. When we invite parents in for live Maths sessions they are surprised at how much content has been covered.

But it's not just about academic work. Our Reception children have been to the theatre, a working farm, done world music and art workshops, bike and road safety sessions, learned about how to take care of their minds and bodies and what makes a good friend. They have had the chance to talk about their hobbies and interests in assemblies and performed in concerts. It's lovely to see them develop their confidence as they progress through their Reception year. They're generally very settled and comfortable with the environment and staff by the time we start thinking about transition to Year 1.

Any child who joined in Year 1 would be at a significant disadvantage to their classmates, particularly in Maths and Phonics but also socially. Not that they would be likely to get a place in Year 1 in our school anyway, which I imagine would be the case in many schools.

I completely agree with @neverbeenskiing

Have a look at the Early Learning Goals for Reception children: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/65253bc12548ca000dddf050/EYFSP20244_handbook.pdf
(Page 24 onwards)

Yes the curriculum is play-based, but the crucial foundation of learning that they need for Year 1 is in there. A child who skips Reception will be at an academic and social disadvantage.

@CelesteCunningham yes that's what I'm getting at. The foundation phase in Wales does differ a bit.
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I didn't Skip reception for my summer born kids for all the reasons given. I did opt out of school nursery for the youngest so she was already at a slight disadvantage compared to peers.

I wo

I would start in reception. You make friends. And so do your kids. X. It's all just play. It's fun.

If you don't enrol for reception, class size limits may mean you can't get a place at the school you want for year 1.

Reception is play based. Why miss that?