Summer-borns - Would anyone be willing to send this to their MP?

[bananasontoast]

As per the title:

Dear [MP],

I am concerned about the inflexibility of the school admissions process for summer-born children in England.

Section 8 of the Education Act 1996 states:

"A person begins to be of compulsory school age when they attain the age of five"

The important words here are;

1. "a person"

Each child is a person in their own right and deserves to be treated as such and the child's best interests are what should be driving any admissions discussion. Not what the admissions authority administrative system wants to happen for its convenience. And;

2. "compulsory school age"

Summer-born children don't reach this until the September term after they have turned five.

Reception class is defined by Section 142 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 as:

"A class in which education is provided which is suitable to the requirements of pupils aged five and any pupils under or over that age whom it is expedient to educate with pupils of that age".

Reception Class is therefore aimed at children aged five, yet parents are being forced to enrol their child a whole year earlier than compulsory school age or have their child's education entitlement reduced by one year with obligatory entrance into Year 1, completely missing Reception Class.

When forced to enrol at just four years old, these children NEVER reach compulsory school age during their attendance during that academic year.

There is a wealth of empirical evidence that clearly demonstrates the harm that can be done to summer-born children should they start school too early.

The current system of inflexible cut off dates for school entry does not allow for the normal range of children's development, every child is different after all and needs to be considered in that light if their best interests are to be ensured.

Administrative constraints take precedence over the well-being and future life chances of a substantial number of our youngest children.

I would like to see admissions authorities adopt a more flexible approach so that parents are given more choice, to enable them, if they so wish, to enrol their child in school after they reach the age of five and in Reception Class.

I would be grateful if you could raise these concerns with Rt Hon David Laws MP, Minister of State for Schools.

Yours sincerely

[Name]

[Adress]

[Contact Number]

[Constituency] Constituent

It's like people think you're giving a huge advantage to the child who delays reception, (an advantage over their child god forbid!) when actually, you're just taking away a disadvantage.

You're protecting the child's self esteem, not taking away another child's. You're opening up the child's social, emotional and academic world, not closing the world of another child.

Grrr.

Just type redshirting into google, it is contentious and controversial, there is a huge class element in who does it, too.

Of course it's a class thing. Middle class parents would be wetting themselves to get their summer borns deferred - it's even better than a September born isn't it?

There will always be exceptions and we can all cite our own children. I have a March born girl (G&T) and a an August born boy. I believe that he is just as bright but was not ready for school. He wants to do well and struggles due to simple things like lack of fine motor skills that girls get earlier than boys. Psychologically children's beliefs about themselves and how good they do academically, is done by comparision with others, Summer birthdays tend to be in lower groups. And grouping is something which - which the teachers need to do to cope with differentiation. So by the time that children have their first set of self beliefs (about age 7) a lot is set. Of course, there will always be exceptions to this.

There is a lot of evidence that all our children go to a formal education setting too early e.g. The Cambridge review and that countries who delay formal education until age 7 tend to better academically in the long run. Just something to think about.

And to note that in my daugher's year 6 class the top group children all have birthdays prior to March. Could this just be coincidental?

meant to say through lack of fine motore skills - so writing is more of a chore

"If parents need school as Childcare there is no reason that could not be in the school nursery unit for a few more months, rather than in reception class, if that was for the benefit of the child."

Our school already does this as do many schools that have a nursery class. They run the nursery and reception as a foundation unit and children mix across the age groups. Children are offered activites to suit their development. Generally the children pick activites which are right for them, although there is some gentle persausaion to make sure that children develop all their skills.

lljkk The research on the effectiveness of "red shirting" is inconclusive. I read a book called "Natureshock" and it suggests that there was no huge benefit. I feel that only mild developmentally delayed children or prehaps EAL children should be allowed to defer entry or where there is a clear reason why the child's development is immature.

There is no great advantage in delaying the entry of a child with moderate to severe special needs. They are always going to behind their peers if they attend mainstream school.

" Middle class parents would be wetting themselves to get their summer borns deferred - it's even better than a September born isn't it?"

I don' think they would. Many August born children are easily ready for reception. In fact I think that some September born parents would love the chance for their child to start school early.

WouldbeHarriet
THeir kids are in full tim nursery from age 3
a whole year before the UK
just they call it nursery not school .......

look at all the kids in full time nursery from age 6 months : the school day SHORTENS their learning time, not adds to it.

I have 3 summer borns Isthisagoodidea. Funnily I am 'really wetting myself' to get my third DC deferred. Oh, hang on, he's the one that actually needs it.

wouldbeharriet
so the kids are not in nursery before school : do the parents take six years off work to be at home with them then?

"look at all the kids in full time nursery from age 6 months : the school day SHORTENS their learning time, not adds to it."

There is a world of difference between day care/ pre school and a school nursery class or reception class ran by a qualified teacher with a DEGREE. School is far more intensive than a day nursery as there is no way that a child could cope with such a full on experience for ten hours a day.

Reallytired
not if the current head of Ofsted gets his way with the EYFS
Child minders have to prove that they are teaching reading now FFS
AND
What goes on in European and American nurseries with 4 an 5 year olds is not a million miles from year R

Topical news story
www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-22815837

"What goes on in European and American nurseries with 4 an 5 year olds is not a million miles from year R"

dd went to a private day nursery and there was hardly any academic learning. The nursery was lovely in lots of other ways, but it wasn't school.

The idea of a childminder attempting to teach reading horrifies me. I feel that reading should be taught by a qualified teacher. I believe that the current head of OFSTED want childcare professionals to be better qualified.

I feel that reading should be taught by a qualified teacher
Good luck : such tasks are often delegated to unqualified TAs in schools

"Good luck : such tasks are often delegated to unqualified TAs in schools"

Thank Gawd my children's school does have qualified teachers most of the time accept for PPA. Ofcourse TAs/ HLTA do make a contribution, but they are working under the direction of the class teacher. The TA has the support of a qualified teacher if there are special needs.

In my daughter's school nursery none of the TAs are unqualified. They all have childcare qualifications. TA jobs are surprisingly competitive. My daughter's keyworker is a nursery nurse and I am sure she does plenty of planning for my daughter, but the nursery teacher is in overall charge. The nursery nurses can get help from a very experienced teacher if necessary.

During primary school my son has done guided reading with a qualifed teacher once a week. The TA listened to my son read once a week in reception and key stage 1. The teaching assistant is an assistant. The teacher may well degelate tasks like doing group work, but the teacher is in charge of the overall planning.

Yes, I would be willing to (but not tonight so you might need to remind me!).

Year-deferral has transformed my son's life-chances, has reduced the cost to the public purse and has benefitted his classmates.

See other discussions with tiggytape. Re flexibility that does exist in the currnt legislation and is little known by LEAs.

God, so many discussions, so many affected children......it makes me so,so sad.....someone has to the youngest....but not a year-end child with developmental challenges who might just be ok if given a bit more time...

Harrietvane, I guess you can look at the evidence from Scotland...

We are state and in England by the way...

Has anyone provided links to proper studies on what happens in Scotland, more than anecdote?