can my gifted son go to school earlier (late birthday)?

[nybom]

my son's birthday is at the end of september which means he'll go to school at the age of five and will be one of the oldest of his year...

my son is very sociable, his social skills are highly developed, and he's very independent for his age (he's never had a problem with unfamiliar people or places, doesn't need any time whatsoever to adjust to new situations). he LOVES going to nursery 3 whole days a week (since aged 6 months), he'd love to to go to EVERY day, asks me each morning if he can go... basically he is bored at home, wants constant intellectual stimulation as well as other children around him. my son shows several signs of giftedness, e. g. he can spell 6 letter words since the age of two. many people (psychologists, nursery nurses, gps etc.) have remarked on his intelligence though we haven't actually had it tested yet.

my husband and i both have an IQ of 140, and i remember when i was a child i was so bored at home, so my mum had to teach me to read and write at the age of three. i wished i had had the opportunity to go to school earlier then...

can i have my son's intelligence/suitability for school assessed so he might be able to go to school a year earlier?

it's not that i want to push him into something, make a genius out of him or anything like that, if he's really not suitable that's fine with me! but i feel strongly that it is wrong if he goes to school so late, that he's ready now... does anyone know if there's anything i can do/how to procede?

thanks, nicky

[singersgirl]

Cory, I actually agree too with the general point about summer-born children, particularly boys, and I think there should be more flexiblity in start dates for young-in-year children.

I think the early emphasis on writing particularly is very destructive for many children, especially (though of course not exclusively) younger boys. If my own DSs hadn't been very confident at other things, the physical requirements of writing could have completely derailed them.

[cory]

Singersgirl, I wasn't actually discussing that (though I'm sure you're right).

I was just pointing out that the OP was not about her child having grown out of nursery (she clearly says he would like to go to nursery every day). It was about her needing him to go into fulltime education, due to her personal commitments, because school, unlike nursery, is free.

[nybom]

as my HV was here today for the baby i asked her her opinion about DS1 starting school earlier - and i was surprised by her answer: she said at some schools children that are due to start school next year could start in december or march, so he'd only start a couple of months earlier...

[shrinkingsagpuss]

some schools do a spring intake... sadly not many though. Best ask your local schools, and ask about G&T at the same time. If one can take him early but has rubbish results, it's prob not worth it!!

[nybom]

some schools do a spring intake... sadly not many though. Best ask your local schools, and ask about G&T at the same time. If one can take him early but has rubbish results, it's prob not worth it!!<

HV asked me the name of the school DS is registered with, and she's pretty sure they do "spring intake", but of course she doesn't know if they're full yet or not. would have to ask them. the school has a pretty good reputation, though that doesn't necessary reflect on the results, or does it?

[cory]

If they have a double intake, that may well be your best bet. Ring them up and ask.

[shrinkingsagpuss]

look for ofsted results on the internet. and make an appt and talk to teachers about how they handle bright kids, or kids starting early.

[Clary]

January intake is usually (like, always?) decided by LEA ie it is area/county wide not specific to a school.

Mor eand more are moving to all in Sept (an das the mum of a January starter I actually think it's a good thing )

[LAlady]

Yes but the only way is by going privately which is what we have done.

My son would be in year 2 about to go into year 3 in the state system. Privately he is in year 3 about to go into year 4.

[craftymum27]

tbh, i have just read this entire thread and there are some very valid points in it. although, my dd1 is 3 1/2 years old with two older brothers, she is also ready for school now, can read and write, spell do basic sums, get dressed , go to the toilet completely by herself, tie her own laces and pretty much everything her 7yo brother can do. she is also very mature and tall for her age, and towers over most of the children who have just finished their reception class this year. she came out with the funniest comment not long ago, walking to playgroup through a small housing estate, mummy, do you know, walking through these houses its really complicated having to find the way through!!! i was utterly shocked that a 3yo, could even say the word "complicated" let alone knowing what it meant and being able to put it into a meaningful sentence. she would love to go to school now as she is totally bored at home, i do loads to try to stimulate her and dd2 who is a year younger, but no matter what i do it is never enough and she actually tells me she is bored. i am now having to photocopy pages from ds2's school workbooks just so she can be occupied for half an hour, and do you know she manages to get most of it right!!! (ds2 btw is about to start y3) she has already finished all his old ones. her social skills are also amazing, she will hold a conversation like an adult, and will often converse with adults about varying subjects. i now am totally suck for ideas with what to do with her!!! any help????

[elkiedee]

Do any of your local schools have nursery classes?

[craftymum27]

yeah but when we moved to the area last year i put her name down but they had no spaces. that was at the school my boys go to. there are not any others with nursery classes close to me and i dont drive so i cant go further afield

[HonoriaGlossop]

There must be local pre-schools. It doesn't have to be the nursery class of a school. She would be funded because she's three. She could go to pre-school for five sessions a week, that's every morning or afternoon, and it would be free to you.

Other than that she sounds good company and I would concentrate on having lovely days with her; get her helping you more with real life things, get her measuring out for baking, adding up the shopping bill, measuring the room if you're having a carpet or something - just get her involved and it will keep her brain going.

[craftymum27]

yes honoria, she is fantastic company and we do have some lovely times together. all 5 of us ( ds1+2, and dd1+2 ) have been out to the playing fields today, flying kites and picking blackberries and plums with my mum (nanny) and have had a fine time. my main problem is that with dd1 being so so bright, i find it difficult to keep her and dd2 (not quite so bright, iykwim) occupied at the same time because they are at such different levels. dd1 wants to be doing really hard stuff like cooking and cleaning and learning about anything she can get her hands on, but dd2 (2 1/2) needs a lot more one to one attention overall as there are so many things she cant do. physically they are both very able with dd2 only at a very slight disadvantage being a little shorter and rather more round iykwim. lol, but intellectually dd1 is at a 6-7 year old level while dd2 remains well, not. dont get me wrong i'm not saying dd2 isnt bright too, just nowhere near as bright as her sister.

[lijaco]

Most kids who are starting school and are 5 in September are at an incredible advantage already. Kids develop at diffreent speeds and you will notice in the future the ones that you label slower actually take over. In secondary school the take over is amazing. I ahve 4 Boys who are always labelled as slow, lazy and not as quick as girls. Mine could read, write , spell simple words from around the age of 3. They quicker than al the girls that I know as well as the ones in their class. If you have a clever boy they excell much more. Having said this they have had alot of time spent with them. If you put the time in it shows. some kids no time spent with so actually don't have achance to prove how clever they are. This is why G & T cannot realistically be measured. Some kids have good parents, good opportunities and are loved and praised. These kids thrive.