Can anyone help please? When will my son go to school.

[Peppaismyhomegirl]

Just that really. His birthday is May 6th 2012. I can't work out Shen he will go (Easter or September?) and where he will be age wise in his year. (Youngest, middle?) how is it worked out. I'm not sure when I need to start to put him on lists.
Thank you

Everyone starts in September these days.

You need to apply for a place next autumn - applications are open roughly Sept-Jan and you apply to your local authority not direct to a school. He will start Sept 2016.

If your local schools have nursery schools attached he would start there Sept 2015, and you apply now - but that is direct to school not local authority.

Oh - and year runs from 1st Sept to 31st August, so a May birthday is in the younger part of the year.

Not everywhere starts in September. Here in Wales there is still a January and Easter intake. But being born in may would put him in the September intake anyway :)

If in doubt you can check your council's website or give the school a call. Local nurseries often have good information too :)

If you are in the UK, September 2017. Look on your council's website for a booklet called something like 'starting primary school'. You can only 'put on lists' if you're using a private school, otherwise you have to wait till applications open for the state primary schools, which the booklet will give a date for - I think it's usually early January. Look it up now in case you live in an area like us where every year everything is full!

Oh - that's assuming you are in England!

Oops sorry OP I was out by a year - the previous poster is right!

Thank you! We are in Wales, sorry should of stated. So he will go to pre-school next September. I know I can't do anything about it, but does him being the youngest affect his education in any way? That sounds daft as I write it, but I'm a September baby so always the oldest. And a few months at his age now makes a big difference at the moment. I understand in the future this will all level out, but do you think it will hinder him in the beginning? Thank you all for your replies

Where in Wales? Gwynedd does a yearly intake in September only. Dd2 has just started part time as she missed last years intake by 3 days. September babies

It's so personal. My older DC is June born & it hasn't affected her at all. Also, don't forget that every year there are summer born children - teachers are used to it & know how to help, problem spot etc. With a May birthday, there will be a good few children younger than him.

He won't be the youngest, there will be June, July and August borns so try not to worry too much. My friends little girl is a 31st August baby so will only just be 4 when she starts full time.

Peppa, he'll be far from the youngest. My dcs are spread in birthdays from October to June, and so far they've all settled in equally well. There's been no obvious difference between the youngest and the oldest.

Also reception is more like nursery in a lot of ways. They usually encourage lots of independent play etc. so it's not as formal as the rest of school, and is a more gentle transition.

Thank you. We are in South Wales. He is itching to go already (live opposite a school and watches all the little ones go in daily) so I think he will be ok. They don't prepare you for this bit when you have them! I don't feel like I've been a mum long enough to do this part yet! Thanks everyone, really appreciate your help

IME too much is made of being the youngest in the class. Mine are March, June and August and academically the August child is brighter than all of them. Emotionally is more relevant ime.

In our area you register them once they are three - Sept-Dec iirc, then find out in March if they have a place to start in September when they have already turned four. Mornings only until Christmas, one week of lunch then home followed by full time. Two mothers kept their DDs back until January to start and both regretted it.