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Better to be the oldest or youngest in a class at nursery

9 replies

Natalierr · 30/01/2020 23:02

Looking for a bit of advice. I have a happy confident 2.5 year old. She goes to a great nursery and really enjoys it. The class she is in goes from walking stage and then the children go up to the next class the term of their third birthday.
She was a premature baby born in August but should have been a September baby. This will mean she goes to school a year earlier than she should have done - which I think puts her at a bit of a disadvantage.
There is almost half of her current class progressing to the next class next term with my daughter due to be one of them (but the youngest of that group).
Speaking to her key worker yesterday she is suggesting that maybe DD goes the term after instead, as she could benefit from a term being the oldest in the current class and the staff ratios are much better in this class at 1:4 ratio compared to the next class at 1:8. There is no specific reason from their perspective why she shouldn’t go up (she’s toilet trained and a good talker).
I want to get her as ready for school as possible. So would you keep her in the same class with younger kids but a better staff ratio, or ask for her to go up to the next class where she has more interaction with the older kids, more challenging activities but less good staff ratios??
To add to the mix I’m 20 weeks pregnant but at high risk of premature labour, next steps to be decided with the consultant next week but potentially a few really tricky months coming up and (all being well!) a new arrival which will be a big transition at home.
Thanks!!!

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Vinorosso74 · 30/01/2020 23:09

At this age let her be the eldest for a while. If it's just a term I would let her stay and she can have the younger kids looking up to her. She won't be at school until September 2021 right? There's still plenty time for lore challenging stuff at nursery. I also think the extra adult to child ratio will he good at this age.

Vinorosso74 · 30/01/2020 23:09

Apologies for typos I need some sleep!

SHAR0N · 30/01/2020 23:11

Oldest .

MissusMaker · 31/01/2020 09:16

Definitely let her be the oldest - such a big advantage. Also you know you can hold her back a year right? It's not hard to do this anymore, especially for an end of August birthday.

MissDollyMix · 31/01/2020 12:35

Definitely let her be the oldest for a bit. I’ve been in this situation in countless situations with my children and they have both thrived in situations where they’ve been the eldest. Also bear in mind that if you wanted to you could always defer her starting school so she starts in the academic year she was meant to.

Aquamarine1029 · 31/01/2020 12:37

Oldest, without question.

Fandabydosey · 01/02/2020 21:27

August born children can defer school for a year and still go into reception. Although this is quite a new thing and children may have to skip Yr 5 or 7 but each local authority is different. You may have grounds to keep her out of school especially if she should have been September. It is worth looking into

Borderscotch · 02/02/2020 18:59

Just as an aside to what everyone else has said, even if she moves now they still have to adhere to a 1:4 ratio until she is 3.

Natalierr · 03/02/2020 16:45

Thanks all for the comments. Really appreciated. Was very much on the fence but think following your wisdom staying where she is is the best option for next term (and will do a bit more research about delaying/deferring school).

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