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Original poster

Child repeating reception what are the limitations for senior school?!

85 replies

mumtumtru · 10/06/2023 17:46

Exactly that!

Our son got behind due to covid, didnt really get any preschool and as a result is currently repeating reception, he's now doing well, loves school and will be going up into year one in September. I'm not sure if he'll ever catch up to go into his correct year group later on, or if he'll stay in his current one. If he doesn't, are some of the independent senior schools 13-18 a bit funny about taking him, even though he may have got the appropriate grades/passed all the admissions stuff they now require children to do?!

Anyone have any insight would be grateful.

OP posts:
Original poster
mumtumtru · 13/06/2023 18:34

Middlelanehogger · 12/06/2023 15:25

@mumtumtru I read an interesting book recently, called "Of Boys and Men" which is all about your exact point, that sometimes the physical and emotional building blocks (like fine motor skills) need to be in place and on average little boys don't develop them as quickly but the school system doesn't take that into account. It's not a huge difference but when you're starting school as young as 4yo, even growth differences of a few months become meaningful. I recommend the book.

I also come from a country where you only start formal schooling in year 1, no formal kindergarten/reception aside from childminders/daycare if applicable. I do think it's quite young.

Thanks for your reply, I've just ordered the book off Amazon looks interesting! thanks for sending the info :)

OP posts:
ShadowPuppets · 13/06/2023 18:37

MillbankTower · 13/06/2023 18:31

That isnt quite right either

If it is a formal agreement with the LA they remain in that cohort
If a school just decides to move a child in any year group (so repeat Y3) then the senior school does not have to honour

Show quote history

Sorry, you’re quite right. I’ve been coming at it from the starting reception later angle so was referring to that guidance rather than moves after starting.

papaandmama · 14/06/2023 07:15

@mumtumtru I teach in an independent school and we have several children out of year, a few because they repeated Reception. It’s never been seen as a big deal and absolutely no problem with getting into their independent senior schools at 11.
Of those I’ve taught further down the line you’d never know they were any ‘different’ to their classmates. Xx

Original poster
mumtumtru · 14/06/2023 09:42

papaandmama · 14/06/2023 07:15

@mumtumtru I teach in an independent school and we have several children out of year, a few because they repeated Reception. It’s never been seen as a big deal and absolutely no problem with getting into their independent senior schools at 11.
Of those I’ve taught further down the line you’d never know they were any ‘different’ to their classmates. Xx

Thank you so much for your reply, that's really reassuring :) One of our concerns was that he may be potentially discriminated against later on when he was applying for senior schools. Sounds like that's not the case. I'm sure some selective seniors may be that way still but those probably aren't the type of school we'd be looking to put him in.

OP posts:
mycoffeecup · 14/06/2023 11:16

Identify a few senior schools you are interested in at 11+ and ask them. Policies might vary. Also he'll be out of sync for teams so won't be able to play in school teams for his year if he's too old for sports etc

mastertomsmum · 14/06/2023 12:41

Usernamenotavailab · 11/06/2023 22:42

I’m another that’s baffled at repeating reception- only because reception is a year of learning through play, and I really don’t get how you can be “behind” at playing and learning about the school environment. Ime reception is very fluid with it’s aim, and you can’t “fail” it so there’s be no need to repeat.

which is why people are asking about SEN.

it makes a bit more sense that it’s an independent, as they might be more rigid about goals and learning from the start. Or possibly seeing an extra year of £££, or wanting children to be “advanced” so their results tables look good.

My son found reception year a lot more challenging than yr1. He was at an independent school and because he was prem and very tiny the EYFS based judgements they made surrounding physical abilities/self care etc. were not very kindly applied to him. Basically, in year 1 there was more learning and it suited him more and he could move on from people fussing about him struggling to zip his coat up.

Jellycats4life · 15/06/2023 08:42

arethereanyleftatall · 10/06/2023 17:52

I think you have to do the 11+ as for your actual age, so grammar schools would be out/take the exam whilst he's in year 5.
Sport you'll have to play with the year above.

This isn’t true.

At least in my grammar area, out of cohort children are allowed to sit the 11+ with their adopted cohort. It’s written into their guidelines that it’s permissible, as long as the primary school submits evidence that the child has been out of cohort for X number of years.

What isn’t allowed is to have a child repeat year 6 just to give them an age advantage when sitting the exam!

Jellycats4life · 15/06/2023 08:46

I’m another that’s baffled at repeating reception- only because reception is a year of learning through play, and I really don’t get how you can be “behind” at playing and learning about the school environment

I think it’s a complete misnomer that Reception is fully play based. I guess it depends upon the school, but Reception children at my local primary do a lot of writing, phonics and maths. My eldest even did weekly spellings (although for some reason they stopped that by the time my younger child arrived there, during Covid).

I do agree, however, that SEN shouldn’t be ruled out for a child who needed to repeat Reception. SEN doesn’t mean a child cannot be academically able. My son is autistic and an academic high flyer.

arethereanyleftatall · 15/06/2023 09:41

Following covid - I can confidently confirm that reception is very important.

I am a different schools swimming teacher so teach hundreds of children from different year groups.

The children who missed reception due to covid are an absolute nightmare to teach. They have no idea how to learn. Their hands are up whilst you explain (far far more than other years, sone hands are inevitable) their numerous questions are things you've covered had they been listening.

I hadn't realised till covid how many vital reception is.

libraryquery · 15/06/2023 13:54

arethereanyleftatall · 10/06/2023 17:52

I think you have to do the 11+ as for your actual age, so grammar schools would be out/take the exam whilst he's in year 5.
Sport you'll have to play with the year above.

This isn't true in our area. My DC's friend did her 11+ at the beginning of her year 6 but when she should have been in year 7 (she turned 11 the previous July). The exams are standardised by age anyway, so it was fine for her to sit.

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