Confused about the law and what age a child has to be in school by

[Socci]

Message withdrawn

I thought they didn't legally have to go to school before they were seven?

I think it should be from 18 months!!

By law, children are required to start attending school at the start of the term after their fifth birthday; in practice, most start earlier - usually at the start of the academic year or term in which they will reach age 5. Compulsory schooling lasts until age 16.

thats off the goverment website am poop at links

Legally I believe your child has to be in education when they are five - that doesn't mean at school but could be at home. But schools start children before they are five. My September-born ds will start in September so will be just two weeks off five, which I think is great but other people think a disadvantage (as need paid-for childcare longer), my August-born stepdaughter started school nearly a year younger than my ds however. Which I do feel can be a disadvantage. If you want to hold your child back this can be tricky as schools may not have a place for your child when you want to send them, and they will start in yr1, not reception, which can feel like throwing them in the deep-end. Children can start at a school preschool at 3, usually for only 2.5 hours morning or afternoon. Some pre-schools offer full day sessions for 3 and 4 year olds, but I think most find this exhausting and sometimes overwhelming.

Legally it is the term after their 5th birthday, but for a summer born child this might mean direct entry into Year 1 in September, which you may feel socially and academically is disadvantageous. dd began Reception the youngest in September 2005 having turned 4 at the end of August. Private schools do occasionally make exceptions for Autumn born children to go a year early ie. as they turn 4. Some state schools flex their nursery classes so that the children move into Reception during the school year as they are deeemd ready, so may not do a full year there. Still confused ?!

Message withdrawn

I delayed my ds for several months
He was a feb child but did not start until the term AFTER he was 5, easter time I think
No hassle - he was in nursery 3 days a week as I worked part time
He adapted perfectly well as it happens

Where we are there are 2 intakes in the year, so dd, who will be 5 in April, has just started in reception this week.

If you have 2 intakes you might be able to delay to the 2nd one, but I guess you need to talk to your school or maybe LEA.

I've always wondered what reception is.

I live in Scotland and we have 3 yr old nursery, 4 year old nursery and then primary 1.

We moved counties and they had different admission policies.

The end result was when we moved here ds1 started school (for the first time), straight into yr1 with a class of children who had been in school full-time for a year already. (He was a summer birthday, so this was the term after he was 5). He was fine. The first term was a bit of a bumpy ride as he adapted to school life, but he soon settled in. In retrospect it was the best thing for him - he really would not have coped well with a year in reception aged 4 IMO.

Reception is for Risng 5's so they woudl nromally have tuyrned 5 by the end of augst , havuign beguin in the academic year commencing the previsou septmeber1st. Not all schools take post Christmas b'days full-time from September anyway though - some would do part-time until Autumn half term /after Christmas or even Easter, others do not start them at all until later in that year, but all still into Reception untilt he following September. Usually a child would therefore be full time in Reception by their 5th b'day but you do have the option not to do so until a term later.

Is your dd 5 by end of August 2006 or 2007 ? For SN exceptions you would need to approach the LEA/school concenred to get her officially held back or you may find problems with transfers later on to junior, middle or senior school at a different time to the year group she might normally have joined.

hth

Socci, most children spend a year in Reception, so in your dd's case, it would be September 2006 in Reception, moving to Yr 1 in September 2007. However, if you want to delay her until January 2007, she would still go into reception, but only do 2 terms.

Have you spoken to the school about this? Is there a place for her in the January? If it is an oversubscribed school, they may prefer to fill all their places in the September which would leave you without a place for your dd in January. I would suggest you speak to the school about your plans a.s.a.p.

It may be possible for your dd to do half days for the September term and then go full time in January. It really depends on the school and your conversations with them.

Hope this helps explain it a bit.

Crossed posts with LIZS!

sorry shoudl preview
"Reception is for Rising 5's, so they would normally have turned 5 by the end of August , having begun in the academic year commencing the previous September 1st "....

Message withdrawn

Glad Im not the only one who finds this whole subject confusing! AAAGGGHHH! I cant bear to think about it - I dont know where to start. Ds has just turned 1 and I am now thinking - do I have to put his name down for school, and what am I putting his name down for??!

It is so confusing, my dd will start reception full time in Septemeber, her 4th birthday is in August, so she will barely be 4, far too young I believe for full time school.

That was our dd in September 2005 jenkel and actually she has coped fine, despite our reservations.

Thanks LIZS, I am beginning to get a bit worried, she will probably be fine, its me that wont be, and dd2 starts playgroup for 2 mornings a week too, I'll be a wreck.....