Daughter born 1 day over school deadline for admissions

[Sunburymum]

My daughter is 3 and a bit years old, born 1 sept 2020. The council have allowed me to apply for her to start reception in sept. Not sure if they will accept but if they do I'm a bit stuck what to do. She's very bright and confident,her speech is advanced as well as her writing and numbers.She is currently in nursery in age group 3-5 so varying abilities meaning she's not always being stimulated as lots of kids are younger or different ability. We feel reception would benefit her. If she doesn't go this year does she start reception when she's 5 and year 1 when she 6 or does she jump straight to year 1 as she'll be 5 on 1st sept 2025. Also some.parents are telling me not to send her to reception this year and have her another year at home as I'll be sending her to college and uni a year earlier?very confused.....

I'm not sure what's the rush for your dd to start school. We lived abroad when my eldest two dds were born. Dd1 went to a nursery for a few hours a day from aged 5 to just before she was 6 and she started school. Dd2 was at nursery until she was 5 and a half and we moved back to the UK and she started school in year 1 (dd1 went into year2). Dd2 was unable to read or write in any language whilst dd1 could read and write in a greek. They both soon caught up academically and both went to Cambridge.
Not all education is academic, once they start school they are on a treadmill!

Haven't read the whole thread so someone has probably pointed this out, but as well as it not being a great idea to deliberately make your child the very youngest in the year academically and socially at this age, she will also be the very last to turn 18 and she will potentially miss out on being able to go out with friends as they turn 18, on a young people only holiday, etc.

Aww my ds (21 this academic year) is studying the same, he was one of the younger ones in his year and really struggled. In fact he was almost 7 before he was able to read fluently (he had other issues as he was ND and non- verbal until he was about 7). He had a IEP and a one to one in primary.

This. Dont do it. She will’ be a full year younger than children in her class.

I have a reasonably older one (Nov) and yes the last nursery year was tough, he is a bright boy and wasn't being tested at all, but my goodness was I grateful for those extra months when he did start school and had a little extra stamina and willingness to be there. The very youngest struggle massively in that transition, I wouldn't be considering placing mine in an earlier cohort for the sake of missing out on the deadline by a day, I'd be embracing the extra time with them and for them to be able to cope better. Also agree with many of the previous posters, lots of countries have 7 as their school start age, and I believe wholeheartedly that we should be doing that here too. Enjoy the bonus year with your little one 🥰

People plan their pregnancies to have a baby born in September. Being the oldest in the year is a big advantage that persists through education.

Being the youngest brings no benefits. Some people like to brag about their kid being the youngest in the year, but they will be competing for uni places with people in the same year. Why not give her the advantage?

By sending her aged 5 you are effectively extending her childhood by a year.

This can only be a good thing.

My prem twins are the oldest in their year group. It's only advantaged them.

Let her go aged 5.

My son was born in august, I had the option to delay a year but I didn’t because my logic at the time was that he’d been in nursery (daycare more than school time nursery) since he was about 8 months old and he wouldn’t struggle socially etc howeber I wish now I had delayed it a year because he does struggle a bit academically and also he does seem just a bit more emotionally immature than his peers now. He’s in year six now and finds it such a struggle now the friendship dynamics have changed, especially with his girl friends who tend to do the more emotional/silent treatment fall outs. He really really can’t stand those, it can ruin his whole week and impact his attitude towards me too. I even had him tested for austism/adhd because the way he reacts to friend falling outs was so extreme I thought something else would be at play but the GP have said he doesn’t show any austistic traits after an assessment so I do think it’s down to him just being immature. I am dreading secdonary school in September because I’m terrified he will seem baby-ish to his new peers and be ridiculed for it.

The cut off is 31st August. You won't be getting a place. That's why you couldn't fill it in online. Schools do their own checks and will refuse the place even if there was an oversight at the council- which there won't be. There is a cut off for a reason and it has to be enforced to ensure fairness.

Absolutely this. I cannot imagine wanting to send a three year old to primary school. I'm not in England but my DD is a March baby so technically could have been sent at 4 years 6 months but I'm keeping her until 5 years 6 months. For those who say they are bored in pre school then they must be in a very poor pre school. DD has an absolute blast in pre school every day. There is always fun and interesting things to do and new stuff to learn

Start her with the correct age group - oldest is an advantage.

@Sunburymum my first response is absolutely keep child at home because they are only little for a short time, they have years and years ahead of school and work, why rush them into it at such a young age. My son was born 13th September and I'm pleased. If he was two weeks earlier I'd still be sending him next year.
My nephew is August baby and started reception this year, yes he was very ready academically, his reading and writing and understanding is at least two years ahead. However, emotionally he is just 4, his age. He still struggles to regulate his emotions and follow directions. It's been a real struggle for him and so many of his class mates, because they're so young and school expects so much of them.
Only you know your child so decide what is best for them now. Looking at my son who is just 12 days older I'd be so surprised if they were really ready.
I am qualified in early years education and have worked in pre school and reception and I feel another year in reception building their confidence and learning social skills is much better. I honestly hate seeing the really little ones in school.

Exactly. Also children born early in the school year often have an advantage in sports, and socially, given that they tend to be bigger and have had a few more months of being a person than their peers!

I’d absolutely keep her to the year group that she should be in. My daughter had only just turned 4 when she started (and just come out of lockdown) and it was too much for her right up until we deregistered to home educate in Y2. I wish I’d kept her back a year.

👍🏻 yes

DC are all summer born, one on 31st August. Two of them never struggled academically or socially, one did. I can see that two DC would have been bored had they started school a year later, so I do understand your thinking but I’d keep your DC with her age group. A good school will see your DC’s abilities and cater for them, it’s quite rare to find a child who’s so bright that the school can’t challenge them.

I was an August born baby and was “bright” so academically fine but it was tedious being the youngest when we got older and I couldn’t drive, couldn’t (legally) go out etc. Socially I probably grew up much quicker to keep in line with my peers. I’d have jumped at being an older one in my year and it was just so frustrating at high school.

Also I wouldn’t rush into our education system tbh, most developed countries (whose children come out far better in terms of long term education achievement/ career prospects and overall happiness than children in the UK) don’t start more formal education and assessment until children are 6/7. Young children need to play at this stage and this is true of high achievers also.

If your child misses reception class because you kept her back she’ll join school in year one with the children who’s school start date is the same as when your daughter should have stated, not good that she would be a whole school year behind

OP wants her dd to start school a year early

I wouldn't send her early, she has the chance to have a full year's more play based learning which can only be a positive thing.

Which is what a majority of reception classes are, they play more than anything

Ahhh
sorry, I misunderstood

I’m guessing the OP wants to save herself a year of childcare costs….

But it won't really. At age 3 don't children get 30 free hours at nursery? From my distant memory, the childcare problems start when children start school:

• short days for new starters
• INSET days
• school closed to be a polling station

Add to that the holidays.

If I could put that off for another year I would. At keast with a nursery the childcare is already in place rather than trying to sort wraparound care.

I'm dreading DS starting school in September more than childcare costs. 13 weeks off per year, 3pm finishes. It will be much harder to find wrap around care. Most people will get 3 hours free at 3.