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Original poster

Late August baby - which school year?

24 replies

root · 09/12/2004 16:33

Hello all

Having conceived at Christmas I was feeling very smug about having a baby due on September 16th. Everyone told me what a fantastic boost this would be to my child's education, being one of the oldest in the year.

Of course, DS decided to arrive 3 weeks early on August 29th, so that'll teach me!

Does anyone know if it's possible for babies born so late in the year to wait until the next school year to start (i.e. three days later!). Am a bit worried about him being so young in his year.

Or am I just worrying about nothing?

OP posts:
Gobbledigoose · 09/12/2004 16:34

My ds3 was also born on 29th Aug! I'm not going to be too worried about it unless he does seem quite behind those he'll go to school with. My brother was Aug 29th too and I don't think he suffered too much at school.

DS3 will go to playgroups and pre-schools like the others too so hopefully he'll be just as prepared for school as ds1 and ds2 are.

DingleAlltheWay · 09/12/2004 16:37

My ds was 5 on 30th Aug. We had two intakes at his school so he started reception in Jan aged 4.4 and is now fairly settled into Y1.
I had/have my doubts but I am glad that he has settled in and is, from what I have been told, not struggling at all.
You can hold your child back, I believe, but they will not hold back a place so if the scholl is over subscribed there may be a risk of not getting the place you want.

merglemergle · 09/12/2004 17:26

No idea. But similar worries as ds did pretty much the same (August 27th).

Next one due July 1st so we clearly have a talent for this sort of this.

It is a concern to me. However, we're planning on sending him to kindergarten until he's 7, then direct entry to junior school.

In Wales apparently they start "school" at 3. Not sure what this means but doesn't sound good to me.

LIZS · 09/12/2004 17:34

dd is August 27th b'day and due to start school next September at just 4. Academically I don't have concerns but socially and emotionally I do. I expect she will cope, eventually, but not without a few tears and tantrums along the way. Sad. I have to say I'd be even more concerned with a boy.

TheHollyAndTheTwiglett · 09/12/2004 17:37

I understand you can't choose ... your child has to be in school the rising 5 year and the cut-off is end August I believe .. if they start moving it 3 days for you then they'll have to start moving it another 3 and another 3 ...hopefully there'll be a Jan or Summer term intake to even it out

might be different if private sector though

LIZS · 09/12/2004 17:44

You are right - you can't really choose. Your child must start school by the term after they have turned five so theoretically you could wait a year but he'd go into Year 1 (unless you are lucky enough to have a small school or one with flexible numbers such that they have mixed year group classes) and that might be a difficult transition both academically and socially. The school don't have to hold the place over for that year and if it is an oversubscribed school you'd be chancing if there was still a place vacant.

poppy101 · 09/12/2004 18:18

If your child is ready to go to school, then don't worry. If your child goes to school and doesn't cope well in school then it might be possible that the headteacher would leave the child to stay in the class for a further year, if they aren't coping and aren't able to progress up in the following year. It doesn't make any real difference if they are the youngest in the class academically or socially. Often the child is ready to go to school.

blossomgoodwill · 09/12/2004 18:21

My dd is nearly the same age as dingles ds being born 31st August 1999. She is now in yr1 and is the baby of the class. My neighbours son is 6 and was born 1st Sept 1998 and is in dd's class.
Unless there are exceptional circumstancs then I doubt they would keep him down. My dd has language problems and even then they wouldn't keep her down as they didn't think she needed it.
Infact she has coped really well, much better than I expected.

singersgirl · 09/12/2004 18:59

I have 2 August boys - DS1 (Aug 15th 98) and DS2 (Aug 31st 01). Fantastic planning! I wouldn't hold your son back unless you have any specific worries. DS1 (now in Y2) was fine academically but struggled in practical terms (couldn't do buttons, put on socks), but he is fine and even his writing is legible now.
DS2 shows no signs of wanting to learn anything (and why should he, of course?), but he is chatty and sociable.
BTW, and I don't know whether this is true, I have been told that if your child is born on one of the 3 last days of the academic year you have the option to hold them back. Don't know if that referred to a particular education authority, but it's certainly not mentioned in any of our LEA (Richmond upon Thames) info.
Our neighbour's little girl will also turn 5 the day after DS2 turns 4, and they will be in the same year at school.

santaclary · 09/12/2004 23:07

root, this is a bit of a worry isn't it.
Actually, as Lizs says, you are not obliged to send yr child to school until the term after they turn 5 - ie autumn term after you would have expected your DS to start school.
However, yes, this often means a start into yr 1 which would be a nightmare, frankly, and not worth considering.
Do they have 2 intakes round yr way? MY DS1 is June b/day and started school in Jan this year, but this was the last year of 2 intakes here and so dd (also June) will start sept next yr aged 4.3mo.
Even if there is only 1 intake, you may be able to negotiate a later start for your DS. This is happening here tho i have mixed views - what if he's the only child startng later?
I do have a colleague with an aug b/day child who was delayed in certain areas and they persauded the school to let him start in reception when he was 5 and a week. This was very good for him and I guess it is down to the individual school.
I think tho, as others say here, you need to see how he goes on. It's not about academic development IMHO as much as ability to dress themselves, speak clearly and be confident with the loo! Some 4yos are just so young...

Sorry, what a logn post, can you tell i feel strongly about this!

wordsmith · 09/12/2004 23:26

My DS was born in March so don't have this situation myself, but we do have a 2 entry system round here so he'll be starting school in Jan. (those born before March 1 start in Sept - just missed it by a couple of weeks, tho he would certainly have been ready in Sept - I was!!!)

I think your child's readiness for school will depend on more than just his age - for example will he be having any pre-schooling/attending nursery - this can give kids a boost. If he's an outgoing child then I doubt if he would have problems.

My DS's reception class is just like nursery really, very informal and pioneering 'learning through play'. You could always check with the school on their foundation stage philosophy. If it's very structured and academic I suppose the younger ones could be at a disadvantage.

Agree with other posts, I wouldn't keep him back a year, because of the knock-on effect. Most good teachers in reception are used to setting a pace that suits children of the whole age range.

dancer77 · 09/12/2004 23:32

I'm a late person my birthday is 24th august and was the youngest in my year. Well not the youngest actually there was a boy in my class his birthday was on 30th august. neither of us had any problems.

MarsselectionboxLady · 09/12/2004 23:35

It depends on the LEA and whether or not the school will hold the place. My DD2 was born on the 28th August. When they do the age adjusted tests she does incredibly well. She loves school. Don't worry about it. Even if it seems that your ds is too young in the first year or so he'll soon catch up with the others and you won't notice the difference. Smile

alexsmum · 09/12/2004 23:42

this a worry for me as my ds is a lateish august b'day.His brother started school at 4 and a half and was ready but no way would he have been ready at just 4.apart from anything else , he wasn't properly clean and dry!
Considering holding ds2 back till following september but would have to go into reception.How can they put kids straight into year 1? How behind would they be? ds is in reception, at end of first term and already is doing reading, writing et.

Original poster
root · 10/12/2004 18:46

Wow, thanks for so many replies everyone (doncha just love mumsnet?)!

It's nice to know I'm not the only one thinking about this - thought I might just be a bit neurotic. Sounds like I shall just see how it goes. Luckily I think DS is going to be tall, so at least he'll be able to hold his own in the playground.

r

OP posts:
singersgirl · 10/12/2004 19:18

Yes, that will be a good thing for your son. Unfortunately for us DS1 has inherited my shorty genes, not DH's tallish ones, and is not only the youngest, but also the smallest in the class. This causes him some anxiety: "Mum, how come I never get any bigger?" Mum flannelling: "Of course you do, you used to be 5 and now you're 6" DS: "Well, I get older, but I don't get any taller". Cue "famous small people" stories!

Original poster
root · 10/12/2004 21:06

Aw, sweet!

er....Napoleon, Ronnie Corbett....maybe not.

Tom Cruise?!

Actually, I saw Jude Law in a play once: Very short legs.

r

OP posts:
cranberryjampot · 10/12/2004 21:20

I was born on 27th August (and my twin obviously) and I was always top of the year with my sister being pretty close to the bottom so I guess that either throws your theories out or backs them up Grin. I never had a problem learning things or being behind. In addition, my ds's best friend's birthday is beginning of August and he too is one of the brightest in his year.

RudolftheredPOSEYreindeer · 10/12/2004 22:18

I have to echo other posts and say it really is often irrelavent when they are born. Some settle well, some don't. Some get on fine socially and academically and others don't regardless of their birthdays.
My dd, now 7, is one of the youngest in her class, yet appears one of the most well adjusted and academically able (only she and a boy born in the September got all 3s in their y2 SATs).

popsycal · 10/12/2004 22:21

I have an august boy......you could turn it around and see it as an advantage....they get one year more at school to catch up than their friends born afew weeks later....

Christie · 11/12/2004 20:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

santaclary · 13/12/2004 09:42

alexmum i would inquire at the school about holding your DS2 back a year. Some will let you go into reception, but they are not obliged to IYSWIM.
Root, I had that thought too about the tallness/holding his own in the playground; DS1 is one of the biggest in his class even tho he's june b/day, tall and solid like his dad!

Furball · 13/12/2004 10:12

I've another August boy, due to start reception next September at just 4. He already goes to pre-school and mixes well with the other children and most of his friends are already 4, which seems strange as he's only just 3. This situation happens every year and though not ideal, hopefully the reception teachers are used to it and be able to settle in our children. Hopefully they will prove our worries wrong and do just fine.

Flumberrysauce · 13/12/2004 10:17

It all shakes up after a couple of years. I was one of youngest in my year. And also quite slow - didn't learn to read until I was 7! Also infant & 1st junior schools v. rubbish as didn't really teach much. Went to a fairly standard local comp

Anyway got a v.good degree and am now chartered accountant, and v. academic. So there is really no way of knowing.

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