PARENTS' ANXIETIES IGNORED OVER AGE SUMMER-BORN PUPILS START SCHOOL

[wotnopulling]

I'm gutted, my august born babe will be forced to start school days after she turns 4.

Yes. They survive though.

Ah, didn't quite mean to do that. Finger trouble.

I had pinned all my hopes on the govt review of primary education but seems I was wrong to do so.

The question is - what can I (we?!) do about it. Anyone else feel furiously strongly?

Its only the results of the independent report to ministers.

The government could still decide to introduce flexibility.

Don't despair yet . If you want to make a different write to your MP and to Ed Balls (Minister for Children, Schools and Families).

hmm, not worried about it killing her - was just aiming a little higher than her surviving her school years.

That should say "If you want to make a difference then write to your MP or the Minister".

The report will recommend a part-time start for August-borns, though.

I don't think it is a big problem for the youngest, unless the teacher isn't doing her job well.

No they love it - I was anxious but it was ok in the end. He did mornings only for a term.

I am despairing - seems to me research makes a strong argument in favour of deferring and i am suspicious that the govt and jim rose have done their sums and calculated it's too expensive and too much fuss to change the system to benefit a small number of children.

the observer article says Balls has 'welcomed' the report. isn't this the usual phrase for 'accepted hook line and sinker'?

only need to be in ft education, or home schooled.
so home ed for a year if you feel that strongly about it
or find a montessori nursery that keeps them to 6yo ('real' ones ought to)

For my own son I welcome his being the youngest in the class. He is 13 now and hasn't suffered, and it means that in effect he has a year in hand at the end of his schooling.

It won't nec be a prblem at all for your dc. And you don't legally have to send her until she is five, do you? (though I know that can create difficulties with getting a place)

it just feels so wrong to send her out to school so soon after her fourth birthday. there's such a big gap between four and five year olds.

she's a marvellously strong character (well, as much as she can be at 15 months) but socially, emotionally, mentally, she'll be 4. not 5.

yes, am thinking home schooling, being stubborn and being sent to prison (dd2 might not thank me for drawing so much attention to her though) or moving to scotland (which would mean divorce, dh has already flounced out of the room when i said it's perfectly possible to breath the air and live outside london).

If i home schooled for a year, woudln't she still have to start the next year up - so she'd still be a year younger than classmates?

"socially, emotionally, mentally, she'll be 4. not 5"

Exactly my concern.

However, like everything else it has to be voted in first.

you do have a choice though. You could keep her at home for as long as you like, provided you are giving her an education, which does not mean sitting at a desk for hours.

Then you just start school when you feel she is ready.

I have 2 dc who did not start school until year 1. One is home educated now.

Mine had to start school at 4 years and 1 month. She is absolutely fine as she is very bright. I think age is irrelevant, it is down to the individual child. My son was 4.6 and I think he might have found it hard going at 4.1.

Plenty of July/August kids DO suffer though. They are less likely to get top grades at A level, less likely to go to university etc. It is a proven disadvantage. Some children are so clever that they manage to overcome those disadvantages but even the best performers may have done better if they were September born.

I think there should be flexibility in the system.

maybe i'll throw myself under the kings horse.

but not without researching how educationally damaging that would be for both children.

i don't know why i'm joking i'm utterly dismayed. I will lobby like crazy but it'll need more than me.

maybe i'll start one of the those online petitions.

infuritatingly I've got to go out tonight so can't plough on. must go and enjoy frosty evening with dh as he thinks 'hysterical' everytime he looks at me and i think 'selfish bastard move to scotland' every time i look at him. there'll be a third party which will prevent airing of dirty looks. sigh. what fun.

Home education is not the answer for everyone. Some parents have to/want to work, for a start! And even if you do home educate for a year, they are still the youngest in year when they do go to school

DS1 is a July baby, being the youngest in his year has never been an issue for him.

quite devoutsceptic.

But unless they completely change the structure of classes, some children are always going to be almost a year younger than others throughout their school career - you might hope to change the time she starts, but teaching children in groups with a smaller age range is going to be so expensive that it's pretty much a non-starter.

Exactly RB. I thought that the report's recommendation of a part-time start in all counties was quite a good balance.

I think we need to start a serious campaign.