Reception summer born

[Hoiugvvv]

I had parents evening last week and I’ve been told my summer born reception child will struggle academically with year 1 in September. Socially and behaviour wise they’re on track, but there needing support during carpet time to stay focussed, reluctant to write but manages a few letters, I’ve been told to forget writing and go back to basics with drawing/mark making with them. I’ve been told there’s confidence issues too when completing maths work- struggles with this. If I’m honest I haven’t been pushing the academic side of things at home as child rarely engages and exhausted and struggles enough with a full week of school. I’m having anxiety now and not sure what to do, I just wish I had deferred untill compulsory school age. I’m also thinking could it be SEN as I have had my concerns but they’ve been dismissed by school.

I know reception is learning through play but my child seems to know when I’m trying to incorporate maths etc into activities and then is reluctant to try. I just want them to spend their time out of school playing how they want to and have a break.

What did the teachers suggest? That you repeat a year (ie defer)? Or are they going to organize some extra support for your child?

You can request for your child to repeat the year, you’ll need permission from the head. Then you could remove your child from school and restart in September. Year 1 is such a big step up. I’d be pushing to repeat reception.

I have a summer born reception child. Academically he is ok, but I have had the complaints about focus / struggling with behaviour. I too worry about his progress and the step up to year 1 as he doesn’t seem ready yet but seeing how things will be next term. I also can’t get him to engage in any reading/ writing / maths at home. He wants to play all day or watch tv

I have a summer born year 2. Because it’s a small school reception and year 1 are both in the same class so mine got two years of learning through play. Which was very fortunate because they’re only just mastering sitting still, concentrating and writing in year 2.
Hopefully school should have a plan on place to help your child as there’s still plenty of time to get going.

My DDs weee summer born and concentrated well before school. So being summer born made no difference and nursery expected concentration too. I expected them to be able to do certain things when asked and they didn’t play all the time in yr either. I guess your dc hasn’t been asked to concentrate and can play when he wants. So that’s what he wants, unsurprisingly. It’s more fun. In your circumstances, repeat the year but don’t be surprised about sen. It could be.

Erm, what?? No way. Just because your daughters were able to concentrate doesn't mean all kids find it easy. It might surprise you to hear that your daughters are not a substantial sample size of the population 🤦🏼‍♀️

OP, if the school offers the opportunity to retake the year, I'd go for it. There is reams of research evidence regarding summer-borns, especially boys. He is in a class with children who are upto a year older than him, so it should be no surprise to anyway that he may be, in some ways at least, developmentally 'behind' some of the other children. I would also keep your eyes open to the SEN possibility (teachers aren't always experts at spotting this), but redoing the year may be all that is needed - time will tell I guess! Good luck.

This is why other countries don't send their children to school until they are 7. At 4 they are just not ready for the structure. Especially boys, who are proven to often be developmentally behind girls. Our expectations as a society, and most schools' expectations, are not realistic.

That doesn't really help you other than to reassure you it is perfectly normal and it is perfectly possible for your child to catch up. At 4 they are still only babies. Take any help the school offers though. If they make a referral for extra help and support then it will only benefit your child.

@surreygirl1987 And neither is the OP’s DC! Of course some YR dc can concentrate. And read! And make a decent attempt at writing. And get on with maths. They don’t all find yr difficult: only a handful did at DDs school. Always boys. Boys are given leeway to do what they want at home and are excused when they don’t want to do something . Girls are more likely to settle. Some boys are very happy in yr and settle very well but others do need to have some help but it should not be a majority.

Sweden has nursery education available from 1-5 years. So for the vast majority, professionals educate dc from an early age. Play always has a structure and purpose as dc get older. Then the dc do a prep year before starting school. They are not just playing freely. It’s pretty prescribed in terms of what dc must do.

And neither is the OP’s DC!

No, but the copious research on this topic DOES provide very large sample sizes! (I have a PhD in education btw and have studied this a great deal). Honestly, read a journal article (or five) and get off your high horse about what you clearly think are your superior parenting skills 🤦🏼‍♀️

Boys are given leeway to do what they want at home and are excused when they don’t want to do something

Actually can't believe you said this. 🤦🏼‍♀️

@surreygirl1987 Decades of observation. Just look at who makes up the majority of the prison population. Try getting of your superior education podium and take a look at the world. You might learn something. Anyway, I’m out as they say. No debate when the “highly” educated think they know everything.

Oh there's tonnes of research showing that summer-born DCs, on average, do worse than autumn-born DCs. Apart from journal articles, regular features in the TES, there are large-scale studies by the Department of Education, a Cambridge University Review and an IOE study. If there has ever been a study which indicates that birth month is NOT a factor, I've never come across it.

If anything, the research indicates that the effect is more profound, and longer lasting, than previously credited. The Cambridge Review actually said the effect lasted until post-GCSE.

Of course there are exceptions. But the data is pretty clear.

😂 see ya.

Yep.

Gosh you served that character her *rse on a plate there didn't you? Well-played.

Incidentally, could not agree with you more. My eldest (August-born) only really levelled up with his peer group after finishing education and starting employment, at the age of 22. He's bright, but when younger was easily dominated by the bigger & more developmentally advanced children, and this took away some of his confidence. Interesting to hear that the research bears this out.

Goodness exactly. Tiz your responses are usually helpful but I’m appalled at the lack of everything in this. Not everyone is like your children. That doesn’t mean they’re not within the realms of what’s considered the norm. And even if kids aren’t, how do you feel your comment is helpful? Have some EQ, please.