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Original poster

Daughter born 1 day over school deadline for admissions

262 replies

Sunburymum · 05/02/2024 22:48

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.....

OP posts:
LittleOwl153 · 07/02/2024 16:28

I would absolutely not put her into school ahead of time. She'll always be the youngest. My dd is end August born and it is really hard for her. (Had I have been able to hold her back I would have done - I couldn't then).

IWantAShitzu · 07/02/2024 17:52

My son was born 1st Sept 2014, if he had been born 2 hours earlier he would have been in the next school year now.

he’s doing amazing in school, I never felt like he missed out with the extra time at home.

erasemybrain · 07/02/2024 17:54

My Birthday is the 1st sept and my 2 bright DC’s birthdays are early sept too. It’s never been a problem. I enjoyed the extra year I had with them. They were good company being a bit older. (I realise that was a luxury) They both smash it out of the park academically, socially etc, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’ve done ok for myself too.

YourWinter · 07/02/2024 18:00

I had a September child first, started school two weeks before turning five, and my second was born in august, started school two weeks after turning four.

It is massively better for a child to be one of the eldest in their school year, not one of the youngest.

wasdarknowblond · 07/02/2024 18:01

I was born at the very end of August so youngest in my class. Believe me, it made a difference throughout my education as I was less mature than many of my classmates. It was horrible and also meant I left school at 14 (I’m old). Stick to the cohort.

Rachel1509 · 07/02/2024 18:03

I don’t really understand how the council will allow this to happen as it impacts throughout - will she be held back before she starts secondary?
Ive got a feeling that the application will be rejected on the basis she falls outside of the date range for September 2024.

MarvellousMonsters · 07/02/2024 18:04

My eldest was born in the last week of August, thrived in school and would've been bored stiff if they'd had to wait another year in nursery. The only time being the youngest in the school year has been an issue is because their peers were all driving and legally drinking before them. Being the youngest in the year isn't a bad thing and being the oldest isn't always a good thing, it depends very much on the individual child.

JacksonLambsEatIvy · 07/02/2024 18:11

Midnightstares · 07/02/2024 15:29

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

Edited

That and to boast about how her child was simply far too clever so had to start school a year early.

Honestly, 3 year olds do not get bored with playing at nursery. Play is hugely stimulating and being interested in reading doesn’t change that (unless all you value is reading, writing and arithmetic).

jcsc · 07/02/2024 18:15

Children are only little once. Why send her to school when she legally doesn’t have to start for another year? Cherish the time you have with her before she’s at school 5 days a week. My daughter is August born and she really wasn’t ready for school. It broke my heart sending her to school at just turned 4 in the summer holidays. Why rush and push her. Watch her grow at home for the next year and enjoy spending time with her and send her when she’s meant to go (at 5) if she was born after the cut off date.

OldPerson · 07/02/2024 18:30

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Isthatyourname · 07/02/2024 18:32

Just start her next year and let her enjoy life before the pressure of school even sooner than needs be, usually people question delaying their July/aug born children to start a year later not pushing a September born to start a year before so they are deliberately the youngest 😕

celticprincess · 07/02/2024 18:34

I’d double check you can actually do this.

There’s always going to be kids who are oldest and youngest. Both mine are late August so pretty much youngest on their year groups. Hasn’t held either of them back academically b it there’s a noticeable difference on maturity during the primary years. When my daughters left year 6 they were still only 10. Some of the girls in her class were turning 12 the week after she turned 11 just as they started high school and it was very noticeable on how they behave, dress etc. However both mine have been fairly academic and the youngest one is working on top sets at high school. They oldest is on some top and some middle but is also autistic so possibly could have been top set but stresses too much.

MrsMrsD · 07/02/2024 18:43

People saying being the oldest in the class is beneficial, where's that evidence coming from? What rubbish. Our child is the youngest but has always been one of the brightest. They're confident and have a good sense of humour. Much more articulate that older class mates, this is from their Y8 teachers. Do what you think is right for your child OP.

Brandnewgranny · 07/02/2024 18:56

I have a ds born 6 hours into Sept 1st, it was an absolute no to going to school early for him. He was in a state preschool for a year before reception which he loved. I did lots of interesting stuff with him to keep him stimulated the rest of the time. He totally loved being the oldest in his class right through school! He's now in his thirties and a very senior director in a multinational company. Stick to the rules, they all even out pretty quickly anyway

pollymere · 07/02/2024 19:08

They have to cut off sometime and it's usually pretty strict. Despite "term after fifth birthday" the dates don't relate to the actual terms (usually 31 August and 31 December are used for the cut offs). Mine was born a few hours too late 😂. It's frustrating but it is what it is.

Julimia · 07/02/2024 19:34

What? just let her go to school , into reception and carry on normally. Old est in her school year so. She'll be bright (whstever that means)and have some immaturities just like any otherchild. Leave her be. Reception is important as a foundation. IT Is NOT just about PLAYING and tne whole thing is not just about acaedemic ability. There is always a large age mix across every tear group.

ItsdefnotmeItsyou · 07/02/2024 19:36

Haven’t you missed the deadline for sept 2024 primary applications anyway? They close around mid jan where we are. If she was born a week later you wouldn’t even be considering trying to get her in early as that’s not just past the cutoff. There’s guidance around delaying the start for summer born children as it’s expected they’re not generally all round ready at early 4. So personally I don’t think it’s a great idea to force an early start. My son was 5 early October, and if he had been born just 5 weeks earlier and fell into the earlier year he 100% would not have been ready to start at just turned 4

Bubble2024 · 07/02/2024 19:40

She can’t start on 1 September. She had to be 4 on 31 August.

Bellie710 · 07/02/2024 19:41

We are in Scotland, my DD missed the cut off by 5 days. I applied for her to start school early and she had to sit a test, she passed almost everything except zipping up her coat that was slightly too big! Her nursery teachers thought it was a good idea for her to start early but even though she passed everything they refused her entry.

I appealed the decision and signed a waiver saying it was basically my fault if she failed at school I and they allowed her to start early. I can honestly say it is the best thing I ever did, she has thrived all though school and is in the top groups in her class now that she is in High School.

My oldest daughter was also the youngest in her year but just within the cut off, she also did amazing at school got all A's and is at a top university.

You will know your child better than anyone, I knew it was the best thing for both my children but it wont always work.

Keke4 · 07/02/2024 19:52

Thats a drastic approach, I had a c section not by choice the operation had a very negative affect on me and my milk didn't come in, I understand everyone has different options and opinions just seems a tad silly if it was for that reason alone

surreygirl1987 · 07/02/2024 19:55

Oh gosh, definitely keep her off for another year! Why would you want to deliberately make her the you get in her year? That could have repercussions for her later on for sport etc as well. She will be advantaged by being the oldest in her year. Just ensure she is in a good pre-school who will offer her sufficient challenge and stimulation.

surreygirl1987 · 07/02/2024 19:57

People saying being the oldest in the class is beneficial, where's that evidence coming from? What rubbish. Our child is the youngest but has always been one of the brightest.

Are you serious? There is LOADS of evidence that shows that summer born babies, especially boys, are at a disadvantage. Your child is a sample size of 1 🙈

JacksonLambsEatIvy · 07/02/2024 20:00

MrsMrsD · 07/02/2024 18:43

People saying being the oldest in the class is beneficial, where's that evidence coming from? What rubbish. Our child is the youngest but has always been one of the brightest. They're confident and have a good sense of humour. Much more articulate that older class mates, this is from their Y8 teachers. Do what you think is right for your child OP.

There is copious amounts of research evidence showing that the eldest children in a cohort are at an advantage over the youngest - and the effects can be traced into achievement even beyond school.

But hey, your anecdote shows that’s all rubbish. 🙄

ilovechocolate07 · 07/02/2024 20:04

In my area the year runs 1st Sep to 31st Aug. You turn 5 in R, turn 6 in Y1 and turn 7 in Y2. Some children are held back and stay in that year in infants but I'm not sure what happens at high school age. The only children I know of held back are summer born and have just turned 5 in the hols before rather than being youngest in year. My child is a summer born and started reception at 4y1m.

Boomboom22 · 07/02/2024 20:14

The fact they age standardise the 11+ and the sats so the oldest have to score more than the youngest means the gov believes there is lots of evidence.
Gcses are not age standardised. So a younger in the year student can get 10 points lower but the same score in sats so have same predicted gcses. Fine if they really do catch up.