Sending my child to school once he turns 5 and not 4..

[Dreamymama]

Hi guys my sons born in July which means he could start reception this year, however I decided to keep him in day care for another year and start school once he turns 5. Reason being I think he’s not ready for school just yet he’s quite an active baby and has issues with focusing etc, the nursery also suggested this. I am a bit confused now as a fellow mum said the transition between daycare and school will be too big for him but I thought reception is pretty similar to year 1 he’s also quite attached to few of his friends at day care who will be starting school once they turn 5 so thought if he can stay at his nursery for another year it’s okay. Any opinions??

You are the mum you know what is best. If he is not ready he is not ready and it's as simple as that.

Children in Finland don't start school until they are 7 and they sure as hell are not thick as cement so you do what you feel is best for your child

There's quite a big difference between reception and y1. Reception is largely learning through play still. One of our children is a summer baby and we decided that reception was an important part of the transition from preschool to primary. I don't think she would have coped easily going straight into y1.

You know your child best. Just make sure you have a really good understanding of what happens in reception and y1 at your intended school so you can make an informed decision.

Just realised he is a baby!

If it feels right for you, and him then that's the right decision. If you think about a September baby, it means he'd be a couple months older than them in class, which is no different to the same September kid being older than most of the others in the year. Occasionally kids skip a year anyway if very academic or from a more intense educational background. Then you'll get ones who are either not quite ready or are so close in age that it makes them closer to most of the ones above than below.
Many primary schools successfully mix year groups, so there could be kids of three different ages in class. This often works well.

He's not, he's nearly 4! But I do agree that it is young to start school. my son is 3 in August and I'm already wonder what we will do when it's his turn.

Reception and year 1 is massively different. The expectations of behaviour and children spend more time learning in y1, reception is learning through play.

Thank you guys for replying I definitely think he’s not ready to go school yet he took a long time to settle in nursery aswell.. hopefully the transition will he okay for him from daycare to school..

I think every child is a baby to there mother no matter what age. :) I definitely agree 4 year is still young to be at school

To clarify so you mean start him next year but straight into year 1? Or start him next year but still in reception?

My eldest son (now 6) also has a July birthday. He was an extremely active baby and we had a few major hurdles around fidgeting, hyper behaviour and sleeping (didn't sleep through until 5) We opted to send him to reception as per standard guidelines meaning that when the school held its welcome open day to introduce the new class the summer before Sept start, my son was still 3. He did struggle in reception a little, but he enjoyed it hugely so I guess the struggles were just a steep learning curve. In all honestly it was harder on me than him. I felt very protective and struggled with feedback from teachers, worried they were not taking his age into consideration enough. But, significantly, he had largely caught up by end of reception. I'd echo what pp have said - there's a huge difference between reception and year 1 and I think that foundation is really important before starting yr 1. DS is now ahead in most areas of their learning, and is thriving at school. His age rarely factors anymore. There is an argument that it's better to get on with the transition earlier and your son will adapt while in reception, but ultimately it's your decision

@LemonViewer

i totally agree with you but what I meant was that is there a huge different between daycare and reception? So even if he spends a year in daycare and then goes onto starting year 1 once he turns 5 would that transition be similar for him as it would be from reception to year 1. Hope I am making sense

Yes, I mean if he goes nursery for another year and then goes to year 1 when he’s 5, would that still be a similair transition as it would be from reception to year 1. If I am making sense

Will be start reception or year 1 when he turns 5? I wouldn’t be happy for my child to miss reception.

Have you already talked to the school about it?

No, it would be incrediably different. The jump from reception to year 1 is the biggest he will make in his school career.

I understand the jump will be a huge one, but what I am asking is if the jump will be the same if he transits from daycare to year 1.

My friends little one is an August baby, he was able to start school the week after he was 5 & started in reception. He is nearly 7 now & having the extra year at home really helped him.

Thank you, this makes me so happy to hear!

I don't see how it can be the same. In reception my child like many others has learnt basic reading, to write every letter and spell out simple words and knows his classmates. I'm not saying this to be difficult or whether or not it was the right decision but be prepared for a huge jump unless the nursery is exceptional.

Transition from daycare to year would be much harder than reception to year 1 and he will have missed out on a year (2 if there is a school nursery) of the phonics programme.

Have you not considered starting him in reception when he turns 5? My youngest is doing this. Not all schools will agree to it and if you want this then you really need to start talking to the school now.

Yes I am considering starting him in reception when he turns 5 and will start to talk to schools regarding this

If he is due to start school at 4 this September then you should have really start this well before Christmas. Schools are very busy time of year so you will need to really push to get this sorted in only 2 weeks.

If they say no the reception start at 5, you won’t have time to go through the compalints system, do you have a plan? Does he have a school place?

It’s increasingly common for schools/ LA to approve parents choice to defer the start date for summer born children. I would definitely speak to schools near you and do this. He needs to access reception. If they will not defer do not leave him where he is as going straight into year 1 will be incredibly challenging for him - better to start reception at 4.

Definitely start him in reception next year, not year 1. Many people who have no idea will tell you this isn’t possible.

Join the Facebook group “Flexible school admissions for summer Borns” - they have all the information you need to know about how to go about this. You do need to get on it quickly if he’s turning 4 this summer.

Yes, I want him to start reception at 5 years old. I should have done this earlier but will try and secure a place for him for next year for reception

Thank you I will do this!