Early start at Nursery - will DS be youngest in class and when will he move up to proper school?

[NoOnesGoingToEatYourEyes]

I've just had a call from the school to say that our son is eligible for an early start at the school nursery.

It means he can start at Easter instead of in September.

His birthday is 31st March and he will be three. He's eligible to start school the next day, on 1st April, and 31st March is the very last birthday to be eligible for an early start.

Will that make him one of the youngest in his class? And will it mean he moves up to proper school a year earlier than if he waits and starts nursery in September?

I've managed to confuse myself completely now.

he will start reception in the september after his 4th birthday
regardless of what nursery place he does or does not take up

Are you in the uk
won't be starting proper school a year early

I have my 3yr old DS starting his place in the school nursery this afternoon, he was just 3 on the 31st of December, so he probably will be the youngest. So i can see where you are coming from, i'm worried about him terribly and i'm probably having pfb syndrome!

I have no idea to the school starts, i think my DS will go Aug 12, when he is 4 and a half, but i have no idea either. I'm in Scotland tho, so i'm not entirely sure of the differences?!

Thanks. I really wasn't sure how it worked but that makes sense.

Yes we are in the UK, so the usual start is September.

Lisa I hope your son is okay (and that you are too). I know what you mean about the worrying/PFBing, but I bet he has a great time and comes home really excited.

I just put the phone down and looked at DS though, and suddenly he looks so small. And the woman on the phone was talking about "this start date" or "that start date" and "birthdays on or before this date" and I got very confused.

Oh yes, i have the feeling of "oh god he's tiny, he's just a baby still" this morning

He is excited and i keep telling myself, that it will benefit him and he'll enjoy it, especially playing with others, even if i'm howling when i leave him

DD starts nursery this afternoon - she turned 3 last week

I was wondering the same thing.

Mine both started nursery at 2 years 8 months
and DS started school at 4 years 6 days
they are now both at secondary and nearly as tall as me and dead lippy

enjoy them looking teeny and fragile - it does not last long

Lisa in Scotland your DS could start school at 4.5 or you have the choice to defer him so he starts at 5.5. HTH

Do they usually start reception the September after they are four? I always thought it was five and my Mum keeps telling me it was seven when she was little (in the fifties) so she isn't helping.

She seems to have a mental block about the seventies and eighties when we (my brother and then me) started school. She's just adding to the confusion.

Thanks plentyofgrowingroom I'll see how he gets on, and decide from there then, i like that i get the option tho! I myself went at 5.5 as did my DH

Official school start into year 1 is the september after they are 5
but reception is the year before that - start of september term after they turn 4
(phased in at many schools for the younger ones)
and if you do not take your year R place, they are not obliged to hold your year 1 one

OP
nod and smile to your mum but then use the website information !

In England I think starting date is the term after they are five (unless you are home educating). This would be Y1 for children born after 1 April.

It would the summer term of reception for your DS. Most (all?) schools now offer September starts for all 4 year olds. Its been the norm in my LA for at least 40 years since I started school. You can defer your place though. School probably won't like it, but you are allowed.

Apparently you can also claim your 15 hrs of nursery fees until your DS is 5 if you choose to defer.

You must apply for a school place in the next round though.