Remind me again, primary school in england. What age do the children start reception?

[nevergoogle]

What age are the childen who will start reception in september?

DS2 was 4 in May. Would he start this year?

Yes, usually the September after they turn 4 or occasionally a term or so later .

Yes

Reception - rising 5's (turning 5/ 5th birthday between Sep '11 and July '12)

But being a May baby -still not mandatory i.e. my DS can do half days until Jan '12

Yes. September, maybe still half days in places.

Legally they have to be in school in the term they are 5 (or HS). So he could start after Easter. Many schools start all of Reception in September, so you run the risk of there not being a place for him after Easter.

To clarify - 5th B'days between Sept 1 2011 and August 31st 2012 would start Reception this academic year. Technically your ds could stay out of school until Sept 2012 (term after he turns 5) but would go into Year 1 with his peers. Have you applied or are you not currently in UK ?

Am in scotland. Was wondering what would happen if we were to move this summer.
He could go to reception if we wanted then? hmmmmm.

He could, but you may not get much choice of school as the applications will have been processed by now and places allocated.

DD started the sept following her 4th birthday - in july. We were told that full time from the off was normal, but not compulsory. We were told that they would accommodate individual needs, and that could include short weeks, half days if required, but they would prefer we started full time to see how they got on, and reviewed regularly.

DD did f/t straight away from the beginning. As headteacher rightly said, she does not like leaving earlier than her friends, even if tired (we have picked her up early before to do something/go away etc and she is like 'oh!' but I wanted to stay til home time!'

you coming back to England then my lovely?

Good to know, thanks.

I hope you already have a place for your son to start in September. If you don't you may have very little choice as to which school he goes to as most schools will be full up.

Only at the 'lightbulb' idea stage at the moment as a job has come up.

Oh dear.

The deadline for applying for a place for your son to start school in September was in mid-January. You are over 4 months late. Places have already been offered to everyone who applied.

You need to apply to your local authority for a place NOW. Do not delay. Unfortunately you have missed the normal admissions round so most schools will not have any place for your son. They will be full up with children whose parents applied on time. Even having an older sibling at the school will not be enough to get him in.

You may be lucky and get a place at your local school but I am afraid it is likely you will end up with a place at an unpopular school which could be miles away.

never fear, do not worry.
i can't possibly apply for places as i haven't been offered a job.

thanks for the advice, what will be will be. he can start later if need be.

What has being offered a job got to do with applying for places? You don't have to be in work to get a place at primary school for your son. Or are you saying you are going to move if you are offered the job? What are you going to do if you don't get the job?

Your son is due to start school in September and you haven't got a place for him. Leaving it until later will not make a place magically appear. The schools will still all be full. If you apply now at least you can get on the waiting list for your local schools so you will get a place if one comes up. If you leave it until later you won't even be on the list.

nevergoogle - yes, but your DC needs to go to school somewhere, ie where you live now.

I assume you have not applied at all by your posts.

Only alternative to late application and taking what is left will be homeschooling. But you do need to actively educate your child, not just allow them to potter about at home like preschoolers.

if we stay in scotland, then he is not due to start primary 1 until august 2012.
he has a nursery place until then.

hi pav. maybe.
maybe see you there.

In Scotland they go later.

X- post

Also, Like you are considering a move, so will others in England who have been allocated a place, so one could free up.

why do i feel like i'm getting a telling off?

Ah, I see didn't realise that.

Sorry for telling off, didn't realise system was different in Scotland!

You can't apply for places until you move anyway, so would be making an in year application. Places will often free up after the term starts as people move, even in popular schools.

Good primary schools are only over subscribed in certain areas, Im in Kent we have several outstanding schools around us, and most of those will have a few places spare come september

yes, the system here is different, in term dates and also in ages they start, and there's no reception, just primary 1-7.
for us weirdos that cross the border whenever we fancy, it gets pretty complicated.

looks like the first step is actually getting a job offer, then see what places are available and figure it out from there.

thinking of moving back to an area we lived in before and the schools weren't oversubscribed a couple of years ago.
who knows.

all good info to consider, thanks (and for the telling off, haven't had one for a while)

I do love a good telling off on MN from time to time. Good to know that stays the same whatever part of the Island you live on .

We never had that cocktail night, so maybe on the cards then...