Is there any point in making my child excel in areas if the school will be focusing on bringing other pupils up to the basic standard?

[Amyk01]

What would be the benefit of having my children learn the alphabet and numbers and spelling earlier than most, if when they go to school the teachers will be teaching pupils those things and my child will be bored as they are already at this level?

The same applies to swimming. The school gives children weekly lessons from age 6 upwards. If I ensure my child is a competent swimmer by this age anyway, what is the benefit if swimming classes with the school focus on those who cannot swim?

When I was young, my 3 year old cousin drowned. Learning to swim was mandatory for my children from a very, very young age. Don't wait until they're 6.

Swimming debate is a very different one to the reading and writing. On the latter, my DC's only really experienced a primary that wasn't good at differentiation. Sadly, in this results driven world, teachers had to spend time trying to drag the weaker kids up to or near age related expectation, that any chance of extension work for those that grasped the concepts more easily was rare. Ended up with some very bored and frustrated kids at the end of their year6 SATS year

No need to push a child to learn to read, you are right this is a core activity at school. If DC is reading or trying to read then fine, that is a good reason but if not showing keeness then there are many other things to learn aged 3or 4 that won't be covered by the curriculum and that will also stand them in good stead for the future.

For some of us it is to get children into very academic hard to get into schools at age 5 where everyone is pretty bright and you pay school fees.

Children learn to read at different ages. My daughters were different. The younger one copied the older. The younger one could read lots of books when only about 3 or 4. Longer term they ended up with pretty similar exam results - it was just one sat down a lot more and read and the other liked to run around all the tim.

Swimming - to save yourself from drowning and secondly they might get into school teams - one of mine was quite too and did competitions etc (her school had a pool).

My dc didn't learn to swim through school lessons, it was a joke.
They learned on holiday or in the summer at the baths with us.
We didn't pay for lessons as couldn't justify the cost. they keep you going to spend more money, wait until they are about 6/7 and doit yourself, saving a fortune.

I think if you teach them how to read and write before school they won't be bored at school. All ours could before school there was no problem.

JustRich, I hope your children turn out to not have any learning difficulties, because you're going to be really disappointed that they won't get that well paid, high flying career that you think you can buy.
Do you spend your time visiting all these schools that you say don't differentiate? Do you realise that in some of the best performing schools in the world, formal education doesn't start until children are 7? Have a look at how Finland educate their children. (To begin with, they don't start by teaching them the alphabet).
The potential for learning for any child is linked to their IQ. I.e. Nature. How much they will learn is down to nurture. Starting a child on the academic learning journey earlier will have almost no impact on the outcomes by the time they finish formal education. What you're talking about is like hothousing. And this, quite frankly, can be quite damaging to a small child's mental wellbeing.

Somewhat bemused by the school swimming lessons are crap thing. I was taught by my grandfather at an early age then lessons with school in the 60s. We had the coloured badges, width, length, four lengths. My auntie aged nine got a badge for the mile. We were taught lifesaving at 8 and dragging pretend unconscious pupils at least a width. Things just go backwards! But then, grandad would have a senior service between dips. Happy days.

Agree with richmal.

Soontobe60 - I think richmal said that you should go with what your child is interested in. There is clearly a difference between forcing your child to do pages of boring sums mechanically and ‘playing’ with numbers and words. You sometimes have to make them sit and concentrate for like 20min to explain a concept, but as long as you are sensitive to their moods and work with them/give them a break when needed, it can be so beneficial to teach them stuff. Once they know a few basic things like letters - you can play games when u r out. Like I spy, reading car model names (a fave pastime of DS1 at 3)

Soontobe60, I think you have misunderstood my post. Any child, no matter what their natural ability, can become more academically able through education. Ability is a mixture of nature and nurture. Nature is set, nurture is not.
I do not pay for my dd's schooling; I just do not see why a good education should be the preserve of the rich if people are able to teach their children themselves. Dd has her heart set on a career which is not well paid.
I did not "Hothouse". There are many hours in the day and a few minutes teaching here and there is not hothousing. Children are learning things all the time; it is what makes us human. It does not have to be seen as a chore all the time.
I think teaching a child will impact on their eventual outcomes when they finish education. Dd is doing well academically, still loves learning and now wants to do well herself.

There was inadequate differentiation at dd's primary and from other threads I am not alone in finding this. It seems to depend on the school.

I still think, if you are of the opinion that children should not be taught at home before going to school, then don't. If you think it will make a difference and want to teach them, then do.

My child is top of his class in all his subjects and finds school si boring that he falls asleep and has lost interest.
How can I help him to stay focused. The teachers and online programs are all designed for children that are struggling

@Fourie1 I would start a new thread. Otherwise people may reply to the original question on this post, which is 6 years old.