August born child - start Reception in Sept or continue at pre-school? Help please, new to the UK.

[stbm]

We recently moved to the UK from Australia and I am still getting my head around the education system over here.

My daughter is an August 2007 baby and as I understand it should start Reception in September this year. I have her "penciled in" on the list at an independent school where they have said she can attend part time (9 - 12 every day) for as long as we wish.

She currently attends pre-school two mornings a week. It has been suggested that she could do another year of pre-school, which I didn't realise was possible.

Any advice on what we should do? If she doesn't do reception from September would she then be at a big disadvantage going straight into Year 1 next year?

Any advice is much appreciated. My concerns stem from being used to the Australian education system where children don't start school until 5-6 years old. 4 seems so young!

If you are sending your daughter to an independent (i.e. fee paying) school you can do whatever you feel is best for your daughter but she must start full time education by September 2012. You simply need to discuss things with your chosen school and make sure they will have a place for her.

If you want her to go into the state system (i.e. free schools) you must apply to your local authority for a place at a school NOW. You MUST get your application in by 15th January or your application will go to the bottom of the pile, meaning that your chances of getting your daughter into a popular school will be pretty much zero. Applying now will allow your daughter to start school in September. You have the right to defer entry until later in the year if you wish but you must still apply as if your daughter is starting school in September. Whilst you could, in theory, defer entry for a full year this is not a good idea with state schools. Your daughter would then be looking for a place in Y1. Most schools would already be full up in Y1 so you would have a very limited choice and may end up at an unpopular school miles away from where you live.

Reception is intended to be a gentle transition into school with the children learning through play. It is very similar to pre-school or nursery.

In terms of the age thing, my DS2 was born on August 24th and I was in a state of panic about him starting in the Sept after he had turned four..... He seemed so small..
He had no reading or writing skills as all I had concentrated on at home was stuff like getting dressed independently, wiping his own bum, social confidence (altho he is still a quiet boy but well liked) and politeness sharing etc
He could have gone part time but for various issues with his siblings he went full time straight away. He has never had any problems with school and loved it from day one. His age has NEVER been an issue.
He is in state (free) education and IMO would have missed out if he had missed reception entirely. His friends all moved up with him from preschool (this may not happen in your case if your DD is going privately) and I feel he would have been 'left behind'. Plus starting in Year 1 in a state school would be harder...trying to make friends in established groups, being new to the school and it's rules whilst starting the more formal elements of learning. reception is all play based.
Only you know your child and how they will manage though.
DD is four in July 17 this year and I have no worries at all about he starting school!
Sorry that was a bit of a ramble!!!

I'm in the same boat as you Stbm, my DD is only 4 on August 27th and I considered keeping her at her very lovely nursery for an extra year until I realised that she would go straight into Year 1 at a state school. Having spoken to reception class teachers they really have no expectations in academic attainment when the children first start at school. Some might be reading and some might not be able to count to 5, they are used to it and trained for it. That whole first year is to learn through play the social skills they need for when school properly starts. I'm now very comfortable with DD starting in Sept. Get that form in! and btw don't leave it until the night before the deadline - there is actually quite alot of work involved (particularly if doing it online, getting a user/password etc) and then sending off proof of address or uploading it. I thought it would take 2 minutes, I was wrong!

Hi my DD is August 2nd and will turn 4 this year. She has been attending a lovely Montessori 4 days a week since she was 11 months old and will be starting reception this september at a fee paying school. I could have deferred her entry until January 2012, but felt that starting her in Sept would settle her in the class rather being the 'new' child in an already settled class in Jan - if that makes sense.

I guess it all depends on the individual child. I can't for see any problems with my DD starting this Sept, as she is already at the level of her older peers at nursery I.e writing her name, recognising alphabet, numbers etc.

If I thought she would have problems starting this sept, I would have definitely deferred her entry to Jan / sept 2012.

Thanks everyone for your comments. We have decided she will start reception in September, starting off part time and then building up. Hope it works out!

DS is end of August. He started school aged 4 years and 1 week. He is now in year 6 and is thriving. The constant challenge to keep up makes him work hard. Statistically, children born late in the academic year are higher achievers.