Reception

[birdseed]

Is it ok to view reception as a kind of optional/ part-time year that doesn't need to be in the same setting as year 1 if you have a summer born boy?

I am thinking of sending him to the local state primary (50 in a class) part time and then changing to a local prep if we don't feel that he is thriving. There are spare spaces in the primary so we wouldn't be depriving anyone of a space. He would hopefully get very local friends and have a relaxed year (I already think they start proper learning way too young without the prep school accelerating it), and have extra time at home with me as the primary is more flexible about this than the prep school.

We would then think strongly about changing him to a prep school (much smaller classes) for year 1, unless we think he is thriving. We think that he will be fine academically where-ever he is but just want our shy child to be able to become as confident as he can and be happy. Starting at the primary may mean an extra change of school for a shy child and the chaos of 50 in the class might be too much for him and he would have less adult attention in school. But I would love to be able to walk him to school and for him to finish earlier (45 min shorter school day).

He has done half a term of nursery in the prep school so knows some children there, and we will probably have to pay next terms fees anyway. I just want to do the right thing by him, rather than think of finances. I don't think that a child who will be 4 for the whole of reception should be in school anyway, but I think it would put him at even more of a disadvantage to join late, so have ruled that out.

Any thoughts much appreciated.

50 in a class? That must be with 2 teachers as the maximum infant class size is 30.

Reception is quite play based- though my daughter has learnt absolutely loads. She has got a bit lost on the crowd though so I can see your point.

Daughter has friends at a couple of different private schools and they literally do the exact same things. Right down to the craft activities, trips, Christmas play etc. I wouldn't assume it's all that different.

He doesn't have to attend school until he is 5 yrs. If he does starts a state school he can't just do part time for the whole year. He will probably start half days but it will be dictated by the school.
If you have to pay next term's fees regardless I would keep him there.

50 in a class, or two classes of 25?

Will the state school really let you go part time?

If you feel you are taking a risk long term, why not just go with the prep shcool?

I rather overlooked 50 in a class which is impossible.

Is he due to start in September?

You can't go part time in a state school.

There may be half days but that will be decided by the school.

Also can't have 50 children in a class so your local state primary is likely to have two classes with shared resources.

It is probably 50 in a foundation unit, my school's foundation stage 2 is the same and we have 2 qualified teachers and 4 highly trained TAs in with 45 children.

There won't be 50 in his class. Max 30-that's the governments class size regulations.

And no child has to attend full time education until the term after their 5 th birthday.

However, reception, I have found, has been fab for my eldest. He's got his last day there tomorrow before going into year 1.

Very play based. Lots of 'choosing' time, where they choose what they would like to do. Lots of incentives and sticker charts to encourage good behaviour, good manners, good time keeping etc. it really is just the basics o get them ready for year 1. Getting them familiar with the school and the rules and routines-like break time, lunch time, assemblies etc.

Obviously some learning involved, but it really is just covering the basics until after Easter next year where I felt they cranked it up a gear.

But ds1 has loved it. Can't comment on prep school at reception/y1 age, but ds1 lasted in a prep school for two months when he was 3. He hated it and wouldn't settle. So we took him out and put him in a day nursery which he settled into within a week and loved.

Personally at 4 I think they are ready for some learning and teaching them things. Topics covered in ds1 reception this year have been, owls and autumn, the nativity, pets, family, farm, sharks and under the sea. It's not all reading, writing and sums etc.

Keeps the kids interested and it's lovely when ds1 comes home and tells you about all the things he's been learning about in school. I wouldn't keep him out of reception to just enter y1-he would miss too much.

With the schools agreement you CAN go part time. Several summer born children in DD2's calss had half days for half a term (and nearly a full term in one case) it was done on an individual basis. The school normally only does half days for 2 weeks.

Personally I would be reluctant to move settings particularly if he has only ben part time as he may well be behind in his learning (you suggest that the prep is more focused). If he is shy this may well have a negative impact on his confiedence.

I wonder, if he's done half a term at the prep nursery why you've been put off him going to Reception there? Do you still have cold feet about him in any school due to his age? I can completely understand this as I tend to agree with you that 4 year olds are too young for school. I think you can easily do what you suggest, but I have to say that the expectation of any school is that their Reception children will carry on throughout the school, and to go in with the idea that you will change for Year 1 is a bit odd. From Reception you become part of the school and it is a dynamic, a parent/teacher/child relationship that makes for a happy time at school.

However, drum roll.... I would have no hestiation in doing this for a nursery child who then goes to Reception and as your son is only a couple of months or so younger than my daughter (she is November 2008) I can completely see your reasoning. Walking to school and part time for a year sounds best option to me. I would also go with instinct on what both the teachers and environment are like at each school, and which will be the most nurturing of your son re confidence, shyness etc. Children are very flexible at this age so making new friends and having another new start in Year 1 shouldn't really make much difference IMO.

Your child can be 'part time' as Boys says, whilst they are below 5yo. I teach reception and if parents want to do half days/miss Fridays we will accommodate them. If a child is absolutely knackered, they aren't going to be happy, therefore they aren't going to be learning, and they may be better off at home (...if that's what their parents want).

However, this is very much a personal view and one I am supported in by my head. I wouldn't suggest you embark on this without discussing it with the reception teachers and head at the school you are thinking of, to find out their views and ethos. If they are not 'on board' it could be an uncomfortable year.

Thank you for all of your comments.

It is a foundation unit (reception age only) with 50+ kids, 2 teachers and 2 TAs. Further up the school the class divides into 2 classes, but it is very much a classroom of 50+ for reception.

Tgger - I am a bit put off the prep school as I think they are a bit too formal with their learning (worksheets etc) and expect quite a lot of the children quite quickly and he will be 4 for the whole of reception. I am also fed up of school runs in the car, after only half a term of nursery (!), and would love him to walk/cycle to school (for both our benefits!).

There are 34 in my dds reception class, is that not allowed then?

It should be a maximum of 30.

In my experience, reception in state schools is much more learning-through-play than prep schools.

It is possible for there to be more than 30 in a reception class, in the rare event of there being an accepted appeal. These children count as excepted children, excepted from the 30 restriction, but it does happen often. 34 seems a lot extra, unless the LEA made some big mistakes in admittance procedures and had to take 4 on appeal.

Doesn't happen often, I mean!

DC school usually has an intake of about 50, 2 classes all in one room, summer borns can easily go part-time, don't understand why this caused confusion, was obvious to me what OP meant.

OP: your child would setttle hugely much better, especially if they are as shy as you say, if you just go for the school you mean to stick with now. Don't faff about with getting him settled one place when your heart is set on moving him not long later & he'll have to face all the upheaval again.

That said, the prep school will probably be much more pressure (most prep schools are, it's what most parents seem to want). I would not want my summer-born boy (now finished y3) in a high pressure environment. My boy would cope with it very badly.

I wouldn't move him - I'd send him where you want to go from the outset. we moved our son to a different school at the end of reception and as he finds social situations difficult, it was a mistake - he took AGES to settle. If he's as shy as you say, then making friends and settling is going to be really important for his confidence - why make it hard on him by moving him just as he's making connections?

If you are not happy with the prep school then i'd look for a solution you are happy with long term.

Things like the commute by car, formal learning style/worksheets will still be issues in yr 1.

I think it would be very confusing to pull him out of the prep (and pay the fees) to try the state if you are intending on putting him in prep yr 1. He will only just be 5 going into yr 1.

If you like the prep but want to avoid him full time so young will the prep let he be out of yr and start reception 2013?

Dd has just finished yr 1 in a non selective prep. It has suited her but I know some of the boys have struggled - local state schools have seemed to do a more gentle transition from reception to yr 1.

Also whilst reception prep will follow EYFS again my impression has been it is more school like at DD's school.

What i'm trying to say is that you may just be deferring problems until start of yr 1 - he will still be young, having to adjust to a more formal environment and may not have covered the same work as his new peers.

My dgs is in an EYFS class of 30-15 nursery and 15 Reception.They have on full time teacher and 2 Ta's for the group.It seems to work well and he achieved very high scores in Reception report.
It is a small country school.