Delaying starting school until term after 5th birthday - anyone else?

[StarlightMcKenzie]

Just wondered. Have been told by our LA that ds is the only one in the whole county and that he'll be so very behind when he starts.

I'm not sure starlight. I'd almost rather we didn't have the choice. It certainly led to loads of swithering and 'have I done the right thing' angst on my part. I'd prefer it if everyone started later, as they do in other countries. Like that's ever going to happen.

curlywurlycremeegg they must by law hold the place allocated

Of course should mention no oversubscribed schools here and of course the LEA benefited by only having to part maintain their statements as well.

I was sent the term after my 5th birthday so a January starter. I was the only one and I remember everyone could write their name and I couldn't. My name is quite long and complicated though. I had no trouble settling in and soon overtook everyone in reading, writing and maths. Speak to your school and make sure they know you will be taking the place, but not until January.
My DD1 starts this September but doesn't legally need to start until next September. I need her in school so I can work and she is very sociable and has all the basic skills needed to go so I am happy to send her. She certainly can't read, but can write her very short name.

Sorry curlywurlycremeegg my reply was based on changes this year

Oh no. I know they have to keep the place available for the legal start which will be Jan.

If you are an August birthday, you can skip reception entirely and still keep your place.

Unfortunately we have an age, not stage school entry 'culture'. I say culture because it isn't law, it is just protocol and I have no idea why so rigid and stuck in what appears to be such a policy of the dark ages.

StarlightMcKenzie I'm afraid that August birthdays can not defer until Y1 they must reapply for an in year place and there is no guarantee that one will be available

interested in these views as one plan that's been in the news here recently (Ireland) is to not allow children to start school until 5 - there's nothing educational driving it, cost-cutting pure and simple.

My DD has a Jan birthday so as things stand would be 4.9 when she starts school; under this new plan she would be 5.9, which seems too old to me! plus the extra year's childcare we'd have to manage...it's not as if this would be preceded by any formal pre-school either

DD2 due early December, so slightly better off

Ooooooh, scary. My LA is talking porkies then (and not for the first time either - which is why I ask most questions on here ). Would a parent who wanted this in an oversubscribed school need to have their child start on 25th July then?

Mine went straight into Y1. It was fine on all counts. Though as they weren't in the state system, it might have been easier to defer entry?

I thought the reason we started so young was because it was the cheapest form of childcare preventing women/parents from having any reason for NOT working. Of course those hours would have to be ridiculous, so that you can get a section of society (women) available to do work (usually caring/childcare/TA) for pittance.

I suppose now with so many out of work, they think women/parents, should do the schooling/childcare as a government cost-saving thingy.

But then, I have been so badly treated (my ds in fact) by the education system and the government I am a bitter old hag and believe these things.

The law as it stands

Admission authorities must allow parents of children who are offered a place at the school before they are of compulsory school age to defer their child?s entry until later in the school year. Where entry is deferred, admission authorities must hold the place for that child and not offer it to another child. The parent would not however be able to defer entry beyond the beginning of the term after the child?s fifth birthday, nor beyond the academic year for which the original application was accepted. This must be made clear in the admission arrangements for the school.

"Also, my reasons for delaying are because ds is socially and emotionally behind and not very independent and as far as I can tell, these skills aren't taught in Reception. There is no curriculum for how to hold a conversation and get involved in a game, or how to use a knife and fork etc"

I find it interesting that is your reason for delaying your DSs start, StarlightMcKenzie. They were the very reasons I sent DS to reception. Academically he was ahead of the rest of the class, but he needed to learn social skills and class room skills.

Is it really possible to hold a place, but defer until the term after their 5th birthday? Could I theoretically have kept DD at home until Y!1(she's a July birthday) but still have the school place waiting for me?

No you couldn't

Oh, I see!

I think a child would be left behind if they don't start reception with the other children. Most children do start to read in reception, a child who doesn't know phonics or blending sounds will find it tough in year 1 where the work starts to gather pace. Its tough enough for the younger children in the year group I can't imagine why you would want to disadvantage your child even more....

I have one Autumn born child and a late summer child so I have seen it from both sides. The reception year gives them a really good introduction to school. Learning through play gives them the skills they need to support them when they move through the school and onto more formal learning.

My oldest spent 2 years at pre-school/nursery and I believe for her the last year was a complete waste of time as she was very ready for school and needed more than a setting full of young children could offer her. If you decide to leave your child in a nursery setting make sure they can offer more as you may find your child is bored.

media.education.gov.uk/assets/files/doc/s/schools%20admission%20code%202010.doc

The parent would not however be able to defer entry beyond the beginning of the term after the child?s fifth birthday, nor beyond the academic year for which the original application was accepted.

Kittens, My ds can read. His academic levels are already what would be expected on entry to Yr 1. It is his social skills and independence that needs work and I don't believe that the first term of Reception will teach him that.

Nursery certainly didn't. I'm keeping him off to attempt to teach him some of those skills and regret not having pulled him out of nursery earlier to do so too. I think it will disadvantage him to start school with such poor social and emotional development. He will get confused and put off school and his peers will taunt him at worst or ignore him at best.

I'm not sure if home is the best place to learn the social skills he will need to interact with his peers but neither would I want a child to be unhappy. It isn't an easy choice.

My DD is Summer born and did not have to start until Yr1, but I chose to send her to Reception, because I felt that Reception does a lot of the introduction to school ... what to do with dinner money, where the toilets are, having adult help to do almost anything, lots of play time, etc, whereas in Yr1, they tend to just get on with it.

A big factor also was that she really really wanted to go and was looking forward to it.

I'm confused when is his birthday? If it's feb then he will be four and a half when starting school which will be the same as most of the class? reception is all about learning social skills, using a knife and fork, etc. My son has two kids with august birthdays but neither have struggled. You don't say if he has been in nursery much? You will be amazed how much his speech
and social skills change when he starts school.

No, mrz, I don't suppose home is particularly ideal, but it is delusional to believe that social skills can only be taught in a school setting. In fact in some circumstances (my ds' case it appears) it is delusional to believe that social skills can EVEN be taught in a school setting.

BTW this is a response to you but not directed at you iykwim. I know you are not delusional.

Social skills are a really big part of what they teach in reception - have a look at the Early Years foundation stage profile - you can find it on the internet or speak to the Head of EYFS at the school, they can explain what they do to help with these. They do teach children to look after their own personal needs, use a knife and fork, do up their own coat, make decisions about whether they need a coat and wellie or a sunhat!!, how to make friends, including other children in their game, empathy, understanding feelings, what to do if no one wants to play with you...in addition to hundreds of other things.

Speak to the school and ask them directly what they will do to help your son in the areas you are concerned about....

Sorry you have said you have pulled him out of nursery.

I think reception is exactly about social skills and emotional development getting ready for more formal learning (if you call it that in yr1).

All my dd's are summer born, we were in an LEA with split entry for winterborns and summer born (winter Sept satrt and summer Jan). DD1 (Aug b'day) started this way and tbh has taken a long time to "catch up" with her peers who only started a term ahead.

DD2 starts in 2 weeks they have ended the split entry and she will be starting as a whole year group and I am really relieved that she is tbh.

good luck in your decisin there are a few mums locally who are considering half days for their dc's for the first term would that be an option?