Just days after her fourth birthday, my daughter wasn't ready for school - or, rather, the school system wasn't ready for her. I knew she needed another year to build her confidence, self-esteem and independence in order to get the best out of the classroom and the start to her school life.
She had come into the world on a sunny mid-August day. When she was just three, I had to think about applying for her school place. Every nursery poster I saw, every form of council communication I read on the subject - they all told me she needed to be at school the following year.
I don't regret the decision I made - she didn't start school until she was five.
Olivia's education was something I had thought about from an early stage. I knew she had the option to start school just days after her 4th birthday (or later that year) or I could wait until she was of compulsory school age - the term after her 5th birthday. We have one of the youngest school starting ages in the world, and while, deep down, I always knew I wanted to wait until she reached compulsory school age - I was willing to make a final decision nearer the time. I would follow her lead.
When Olivia was three, I knew she was not ready.
I decided to exercise my legal right to wait until she was of compulsory school age before enrolling her in school. This would give her another whole year to enjoy learning through play, without the pressures of school life. Yes, reception is mostly play-based, but what about the leap to year one and the year after that?
I wanted to get the foundations right, for Olivia. I was happy in the knowledge that she would enjoy time at home and at her forest school nursery for another year. I also factored in the different adult to child ratios between nursery (1:8) and school (1:30), and at age 4, I felt Olivia would benefit from continuing to develop strong attachments with her current caregivers.
It was the right decision for our family, and most importantly, for Olivia. Parents are entitled to 15 hours free early education or childcare per week until their child reaches compulsory school age or enters Reception class. The government also plans to increase this entitlement to 30 hours per week for working parents, which will go further to helping parents with childcare costs before their children start school.
I never thought our decision could mean Olivia would be forced to miss her reception year, especially when research shows it is not in a child's best interests to miss the first year of school, or any other year. I found myself in the position that although I could request a reception place, it wasn't an automatic right (unlike Liverpool City Council's policy).
Fortunately, I found the Summer Born Campaign group, who have worked to try and ensure children are not penalised for starting school at compulsory school age. They helped me to put forward my case and in the end, I 'won' the right to start Olivia in reception last week, aged 5 years and 2 weeks. Many other parents, however, don't win this admissions fight and they are left with the options of enrolling their child earlier than they wished, missing the reception year of school, home educating, paying for private education, or leaving the country.
I know not every family will feel that 'delaying' their child's school entry is right for them, or their child, but this was my choice, and whilst others may choose to enrol their summer born child in school at four, that is their choice, which I respect. Parents know their children best, and you do what is right for your child.
Research tells us summer born children are more likely to be at a disadvantage, but regardless of this - compulsory school age is what it is and no child should be forced to miss any year of school for starting at this point.
So I personally welcome the Schools Minister Nick Gibb's proposal, which all being well will end this unfair postcode lottery and allow real parental choice.
Olivia went into school this week bursting with excitement and joy, literally fist thumping the air, and I know this would have not been the case, for her, last year.
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Guest post: "We won our fight to start reception at five"
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MumsnetGuestPosts · 16/09/2015 12:12
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