Can anyone explain when ds will go to school, I'm baffled

[storminabuttercup]

Ds' birthday is in august (he's two this time) the catholic school he will go to doesn't have a nursery so apparently he will have to do his '16' hours at his current nursery. (nursery manager has confirmed this)

So will ds go to school from the sept after his 4th birthday? Surely not after his 5th?

Thanks in advance!

September 1 after his 4th birthday
so if he's August he'll be young
and if he's September he'll be older
and by 16 the differences will have disappeared
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Brilliant thank you!

He'll be the class baby then!

I was sure that was the case.

(he may be the youngest but is likely to be the biggest)

My DS is August born too. Dont let them catch you out. The law actually says that a child legally does not have to attend school intil the September after his 5th birthday. That means, if you do not want to send him, you dont have to put him in reception at all.

DW and self came a cropper with this as the LA told us we had to send Ds to school in the September just after he turned 4. He was so very young.

After a term and a half I got to grips - in fact he should have been allowed to start in the summer term before his birthday or by law in the autumn after his fifth birthday when he could go straight into year 1.

I chose to withdraw my DS and he will not go to school until he reaches his 7th birthday now. We home school for the minute.

Of course you may wish to send your DC early ( or need to) but its not compulsory.

I think I'd be happy for him to go at 4, he's an out going little soul and I think he will benefit, but I will take on board what you have said and see how he is at that time. Thankyou though I really didn't know that about them not having to go until 5

We are of course assuming you don't live in Scotland where the rules are completely different

I have been meaning to ask this too! DS will be 3 in september (born 2009), and I am SO confused by the english system.

I think the local schools have 2 intakes for reception too, which confuses me even further

He goes to a private nursery at the moment, and will do pre school there at least until next July (when my contract finishes at work), so am not sure when to apply for local pre-schools, and for local schools. (his current nursery is in a different county from where we live)

any ideas?!

thanks!!

Kveta, he'll go in September 2014

The applications for school places open the autumn before they start so a couple of months after he turns 3, you don't always get sent application forms automatically so make sure you check.

Yup, Sept 2014, unless you live in Scotland. You'll need to apply Autumn 2013.

thanks, I am from Scotland, but utterly baffled by the system down here!

Looks like it can wait until next year anyway, so will put it out of my mind until then!! his best friend is an august birthday, and I think starts reception next september, but it may be the following january, and am not sure when applications go in etc. will keep an eye on our local council website too.

storm one thing you have to keep in mind is that if you delay his start until the following year, he wont go into reception, he will go into Year 1, so all the other kids will have had the reception year (mostly playing!!) to get used to school, how it all works, class room skills (sitting nicely, listening, taking turns, listening to the teacher etc), reading etc and your DS will be expected to slot in - I think it's very hard on them and that you are far better off sending them (and if they get over tired keep them home for the occasional duvet day).

Kveta - your DS would usually start in the September of 2014, but as they have two intakes they might take him in the January (2014) so you could either keep him home between July 2013 and Jan 2014 or put him in nursery/pre school. I'd contact them all now tbh.

Chipping, yes that was my thoughts do, I really don't see any issue with him going at four. Even if he is a young 4 iyswim?

I think I have to apply soon with it being a catholic school, so will get the forms, I think the priest needs to sign them.

It doesn't seem two minutes since he was born

yes Kveta, ours will go in Sept 2014, and will turn 5 within a few days of starting.
DS was born in April and I had all the bum-wiping, shoe putting on angst when he started - DD will have mastered all this and more - I would imagine she'll also be reading. What a difference a few months and being a second child makes! Am just trying to be reassured that it will all even out and DS will catch up with his peers.

Joyful -he'll have to wait for a reception place until the Sept after he turns 4, even if his birthday is in Dec. However, he will become eligible for 15hrs a week funded nursery/preschool the term after he turns 3 (i.e. Jan). These places are subject to availablity, and in some areas it's not possible to get the full five terms of 15hrs a week for children with autumn birthdays because the nurseries and preschools are too full , so some have to wait until the Sept. Summer born children only get three terms of 15hrs a week whatever.

Oh... except the most vulnerable 10% of children get 15hrs a week funded once they're 2 years old and the Govt plans to expand this up to 40% next year.

Waiting a year, though possible, means that your DC would be thrown straight into the deep end of Yr1. And you would be gambling on a school place being available for him, which is very risky - if the 30 places are all taken and no one leaves then he wouldn't get in anywhere.

PA I believe you applies to your chosen school as if they're joining reception and then defer for a year

But I agree with you about not wanting to join Y1 - DH was upset when he realised that was an option we hadnt really considered for DS until I told him he'd have started in Y1- with the rest of the class knowing each other and 'the rules'

That's interesting too penguin, the nursery ds goes to is government run and from what I gather his place is guaranteed, id better check that too.

When I say government run I mean it's a proper nursery, but it's within a secondary school so I'm sure the staff are employed by the council or whatever

They woudn't actually "hold" his place for Year 1, though. If he skips Reception you'll just have to go through the in year admissions procedure, when all the places are already allocated. Your son would only be given a place if someone leaves, and only then if the school is under subscribed and didn't already have a waiting list. Risky.

really? That's not how I understood it at all. Hmm

I don't have special expertise Stealth, but it's a subject I've taken an interest in and that's the understanding I've picked up from various MN threads. And it doesn't make sense (financially if nothing else) that an oversubscribed school would leave a space standing empty for a year.

Maybe a bona fide expert will come along or Molly will confirm that she knows for certain.

Catholic schools or any faith school usually has their own admissions policy, I know it was different for my sister who sent her two to a catholic school (I'm lapsed) so you would have to check with the school.

It is correct that they don't have to start school till the term after they are 5 however, where I am they would put them straight into year 1 so they would be behind before they start. My son's school is outstanding on Ofsted and has been for years, they teach phonics in nursery and continue it in reception.

I personally think that 4 is young for some children but it is best to see if they cope with full time and then you could always consider them going part time for a half term or term.

My friend's son's birthday is 26th August and he is a little immature however he is top set for Literacy and middle set for Numeracy. He is clearly able to cope with the work he just finds it hard to sit still