August 31st birthday

[lonnyandpolly]

starting school a few days after his fourth birthday - any tips please?

I think you may be able to delay a year and still enter reception at a private school but definitely not at a state school. Also bear in mind that if they started off in private and then went into a state school they would go into a class appropriate to their age had they been in the state system all along, so they might end up skipping a class altogether.

You can delay entry into reception until the term in which they turn 5 (so after easter) but not for the whole year as your place will not be kept for you and you would need to apply again for a year 1 place - but you take the very large risk that all the schools you want will be full up.

Prem twins born 30th Aug. I was desperate for them to be September babies because August birthdays do have it harder. But, like everything else, it's swings and roundabouts. There are positives to be found in everything.

Both of my two were given unreasonably low baseline assessments by their reception teacher. Luckily I'm a teacher myself and knew enough to take her judgements with a pinch of salt. Academically, both are slowly but steadily rising up through the ranks (Y3 now). I'm letting this happen naturally; not pushing them (am not keen on homework anyway). They understand that they can't expect to be top of the class because of their age and therefore are quite chuffed because they can see for themselves that they're catching up with the oldest now.

Hardest thing to support has been their social development - their peers are more mature and, for example, they often have to put up with being told their interests are 'babyish'. But, again, the gap is narrowing.

Really kapin....that's interesting. I thought it was commonplace. I wonder what my friend's exceptional circumstances were....?

Like someone else said, it is more common in private schools. In a state school in England, I understand that there have to be significant concerns about development, with late August birthday and often prem too. Or twins born on either side of the cut-off maybe. In any case, there are many hoops and usually assessments needed to back up your case. In Scotland it is different. Did your friend's child go to private school, or were they not in England?

Nope, state (faith) school in England!

Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe in a small school, there can sometimes be more flexibility. I don't think its usually that easy, but maybe in some cases it can be....

Certainly there are people on these threads that talk of how the cut off is set in stone, and even if you do manage to put a child back a year, it can cause problems at secondary school, when kids are often made to rejoin their year group based on birthday.

Gosh I had no idea that it was so set in stone, a cliff edge really, in England - what a horrible position to put parents in.., the Scottish system of the 2 months leeway- it is basically up to the parents to decide if jan or feb (so July & August in eng) go to school or are deferred seems much more sensible. Much less stressful for everyone and teachers and parents can do what is best for individual kids rather treat everyone the same. It is all done well in advance so is planned for.

This is undoubtably the luckiest birthday to have as far as eductation goes. It is a huge advantage in secondary school, you can also find yourself entitles to an extra year in the 6th form, and if you do retake GCSEs or A level, it will not show on your CV because you will heave taken them at the "nomal" ages of 16 and18.

dd is now in yr 10 and was born on 29 aug (4 weeks early) i can honestly say that i haven't noticed any difference between her and her peers at all.one of the tiredest girls in her year was an october birthday.it is all down to the individual child.
dd has taken a few gcses early (just what the school does) and has done really well - a grades.try not to worry ahead and let them guide you.

Kanin, you can sometimes negotiate dropping back a year in a school that is undersubscribed or a village school with small classes, but otherwise you are right. In a fully subscribed school you actually need a statement of SEN to take a place from a child of the correct age. This is especially difficult for those who have a DC with SN, late summer birthday but not severe enough for a statement. The 30 max in a class has had some unexpected casualties.

My DD is August 31st too. Reception seems a long time ago - she was 4y and 4 days when she started, now she is 14 and a half! She had attended the school nursery part time, could read her name, was physically independent, emotionally a little needy. I remember at her nursery parents evening the teacher told me DD's target was to 'resolve her own disputes' and I thought 'she's 3 years old, FFS!!'

If it helps, she is now in Y10 and doing modular GCSEs...she already has 3 A*s and an A in maths and science. So no need to worry that August babies are doomed to academic failure, as some studies suggest...there are loads of threads on here about high attainment of summer born children.

Main thing I've found with having August born child in reception is not to let the class "alpha" kids (almost exclusively older ones) get you down; you know, the ones entering the talent contests, winning the fancy dress competition, doing the solo speaking lines in class assembly, and, last but not least, reading in the top book band. Your child probably won't mind them, he/she'll find friends among the other younger ones & will enjoy watching/participating on the fringes of the alpha kids' games. I honestly think this situation can be harder on competitive parents than on the individual child. We quickly learn to "get real" about their achievements, & recognise how much they are actually learning/how well they are coping (esp given their age). About time too!