Summer born starting reception thread

[Tensmum1234]

Is anyone interested in a thread for summer borns starting school this year?
DS is mid August so will be starting school at just turned 4... I imagine there will be children starting school about to turn 5, which makes me feel sad and anxious.

I hope this doesn’t turn into a discussion on starting at CSA- we thought about that and realised it’s definitely not for DS.
Academically he seems to be on track with the older kids from his preschool- is reading and writing CVC words, is keen on phonics and numbers. He’s pretty independent and can dress himself etc. It’s just annoying that he’ll be the youngest and the autumn borns have such an advantage! He can also be sad at drop off and I know he’ll be exhausted by the 5 full days so we’re maybe going to start him part time.

Anyone else care to share any thoughts on their summer babies starting this year? Might be nice to have a support thread and see how everyone’s doing! I’m definitely feeling more nervous about it than him!

My DD1 is also starting in September, her birthday is at the end of July. She can't write at all and has very little interest in it, as well as phonics etc. She's also quite a difficult stubborn character. However, she went to the preschool attached to the school which has also helped to prepare her I think. I know of several kids turning 5 soon after they start. I feel a bit worried about friendships as DD is very keen to be friends with these older kids, but they ignore her a lot. I'm hoping she might gravitate towards some of the other younger ones.

I agree they are going to be absolutely exhausted. I'm a bit worried about this too as I'm also starting a new job (after mat leave) in September and so she'll be going to childminder a few afternoons after school. Very much feeling the mum guilt.

Hi OP! I just wanted to say that my late August born DD is about to go into Year 1. I was terrified this time last year 🤣

She has absolutely thrived!! I was sort of looking forward to how tired everyone said she would be after school but it never happened! She went in happy every day without one day of tears and bounced out of school every day happily.

She wasn't as far ahead as your son on starting. She just learned her letter sounds over the summer before she started and by Christmas she was reading and writing CVC words and her reading is progressing really fast now. She met the early learning goals for end of reception no problem.

There was an obvious gap in the autumn term but it has gradually evened out and will continue to even out from here (I have taught upper primary and didn't notice much summer born effect tbh)

The main gap I have noticed has been social tbh. We have had some autumn born kids round to play and there has been a bit of gulf in terms of maturity but my DD has always been quite socially immature anyway. She still has lots of friends and is well liked.

I hope your DS has an amazing start to school!

Reception teacher of 10 years here & mum of 4 year old autumn born boy about to start reception

Yes it's true that statistically Autumn born children tend to fare better than their summer born peers, however in my experience it very much depends on the individual child. If they have English as an additional language, speech problems or special needs then being the youngest in the year can be an additional disadvantage for them. Conversely if they are bright and mature they tend to fly.
From how you've described your son you don't have anything to worry about. He sounds miles ahead of where most of the children will be in September (and he definitely can do more than my autumn born DS who is still struggling with writing his name 😳)
The teacher should be very much aware of which children are the youngest and we usually have different expectations especially at the beginning of the year. Honestly doesn't sound as if you need to worry though.

I don’t think you need to be worried given how much you’ve said he can do. He’s clearly ahead of where many will be if he’s reading and writing already. Saying that, I’ve got a summer born starting and while she’s more than ready, I get pangs of guilt that she is so much younger than some of them and how she’ll have to do that bit better than the older ones to be at the same point.

It’s really obvious which children in her nursery will struggle more. It’s the ones that can’t sit still, have behavioural issues, seem closer to the year below, only just out of nappies etc. It’s those children that I feel really sorry for as the gap between them and the autumn borns seems massive.

As a teacher who has seen countless cohorts start Reception, please don't expect or anticipate that older children are more likely to succeed. The academic distribution in our school has consistently been unrelated to birth position in the class.
More important is emotional/physical maturity and ability to concentrate/follow instructions/dress themselves.
It sounds like your DS will be fine - enjoy this special and exciting time and I hope he loves going to 'big school'. He is potentially likely to be very weary at the end of each day as his learning curve is so steep.
Keep treating him as if he is equally capable and he will rise to expectations.
It's hard not to worry as it's such a big life change, but he sounds more ready than many other children will be.