Summer born delaying starting reception until January. Anyone done it?

[Enjoyingmycoffee1981]

It really dawned on me today that my August born four year old boy will be going to school in September. I have been sticking my head in the sans about it. He is very sociable, but highly emotional, expresses negative interest in anything like letters or numbers and has a speech delay (pronunciation, not language or understanding)

The school is fine for him to go part time (8.45-12) for the first couple of terms.

However, I am now thinking of not sends him for the first term. Instead he would join after Christmas. This would give him more play time at home (he would continue going to nursery for three mornings a week) and it would also give us more time to resolve the speech delay.

Anyone does this? I am worried that he may join and friendship groups will have been to be established and may be he will be behind in terms of letters etc.

Thanks so much

I considered it. But no 4yo DS is at the end of reception I'm so glad I started him in the September.

The amount he had learned (and grown in confidence) was amazing in the first term and he would have been really behind if I'd held him back until January. The teacher was really supportive of the summer-borns.

Have you spoken to them about getting specific support for the speech delay?

^^now

If he's going to go in 8.45 - 12 anyway it's the same as nursery hours . They do just the same in nursery as in reception in terms of activities and often socialise with nursery children.
This is coming from a a parent of a child born on 30th August.
Socially I think she would have struggled if I'd have started her later but only you know your son.

With regards to his speech delay you should definitely talk to his teacher so he can get the support he needs.

My son is a mid August birthday. He did not start until the January. He is in YR 4 now and doing very well. However we are at a very small school where the majority of his year group were summer birthdays and did not start until the January either.
My ds2 is a June birthday. He will start in September. The majority of their reception year is play based so I think he will be fine. If it was going to be a more formal learning environment I would keep him back. If your school are flexible then personally I would start in the September and assess regularly. I was really surprised how well ds settled into preschool having not gone to nursery. Your ds might do the same. Good luck

My professional opinion is not to delay him starting. I'm sure he will cope just fine and hopefully his speech will improve in that environment. In the past 2 years teaching in year 1 the most able child in the class was a summer born boy last year and a summer born girl this year. Both started Year R in September. Oh and this year we had a summer born who wouldn't talk at the beginning of Reception and last week had a staring role in a production for the new entrants starting in September! What have the school suggested?

The trouble is that younger children need more time in Reception not less in order to develop the skills they will need in Y1 and beyond. I'd maybe send him mornings only until October half term then full days as by then he will be as ready as those born in May/June.

My end of July born DD done a uear of Nursery 3 full school days instead of 3 mornings. She manager fine with the hours. She thought it was odd doing 2 weeks of half days for 2 weeks when she went to school. At our school reception is mainly play based anyway. TBH I havent seen any difference between her and DD1 who was a November baby. 2 of by DBs were August babies but when i asked my DM she said the only difference was they were smaller in build due to the age difference

Oops that should say...

My end of July born DD done a year of nursery doing 3 full school days instead of 5 mornings

My Dts ares tarting this year, they are July born though. Not too sure if that actually makes a difference.

I think they are ready for it, well as ready as they will ever be, I know some children will be nearly a whole year older, but they always will be. I am sure the school will make provisions for the difference in age / abilities etc.
You know your child best though, do what's right for you.

My daughter was born right at the end of August and started reception 2 weeks after her birthday. She has been absolutely fine and made some great friends. I would say go for it at the start of the September term. Yes she is smaller than most of the class and a little behind in terms of maturity but she has made amazing progress. Also in her class there are 4 July birthdays and 4 August so he may be among many summer borns.

My daughter is an august baby, she has almost completed her reception year and she started with her peer group in September. I think that was the best decision we made for her. She settled quickly and made a good friend base. Yes, at sports day compared to the strapping 5 plus year old she seemed young, and at times emotionally you can tell she is one of the youngest in her year. But overall she has had the most amazing introduction to schooling.
However, all children are different, and you know your child.... Go with what is best for you and your son. I wish your little lad well.

Thanks so much for thoughtful responses.

We have decided that he will join in January. I spoke with nursery this morning, and they said that they would arrange one on one sessions twice a week, to ensure he is up to speed in terms of writing his name etc.

An extra five months of relaxed easy days, bit of speech therapy, bit of learning, but mainly adventures with me and his sis. Then, he will start school aged 4 years and 5 months (I will do part time initially) so still very young, but will be more ready I have no doubt.

I also heard that the few weeks weeks are quite mad, as there are thirty 4 year olds starting school. Stating after the first term will mean he won't know where the toilets are etc. but will be entering a much calmer environment and the teacher will be able to bring him up to speed.

DD1 waited until the January and stayed part-time until Easter. It was a very good idea for her - she is socially adept, so could still make friends, but tires easily, so was pretty exhausted by a day at school.

Our current school positively encourages parents to start their summer-borns late or part-time. It's a wonderful school and very supportive generally. Happy kids.

But then he will start the much more formal learning environment of year one with only two terms of reception behind him. As someone up thread said, he really needs more reception not less.
I am a teacher with an August baby (I know!) and worried myself silly about my baby starting school at Just four. Honestly, it was fine. early years teachers are very aware of the difference birth month makes at that early age and cater for it well.

The enchanted...He has a moderate speech delay. Does this impact your view?

Not if it is only in terms of pronunciation (rather than understanding). Infact, all reception classes should be doing daily systematic phonics teaching (in a fun, playful way) and pronunciation is clearly modelled eg where to place the tounge when making specific sounds is helpful. The more of this, the better.
depending on how good the school is, I imagine he will also quickly be identified as a child who needs a bit more input in this area and get it. Most schools (in my experience) are very good at this.

the first term in reception is incredibly gentle as the children get used to the routines of school life. They tend to do phonics and maths during the morning session then plenty of play based activities in the afternoon where he can socialise and learn with friends.

I know starting school is scary-I am a primary school teacher in an excellent school who still worried massively about my child starting school so young but do you honestly think you will feel any better in January? it may be worth just going for it?
Obviously I don't know the school your child will attend or your child so you know best. these are just thoughts based on my own experiences.

All the best.

I discussed doing this, but in the end agreed with the YR teacher that summer born (still napping!) dd1 would start with the others full time in September, but with the option to review and go part-time if she was struggling. I'm glad I did - the social bit was the steepest learning curve for her, and she needed all that time in YR. Preschool hadn't really prepared her for it - much higher ratios, much calmer environment, much greater adult management of children's behaviour, a lot less free play and more guidance towards various activities.

You know your son best - but my experience has made me think that the youngest kids need the full YR experience. And that the start of YR is set up with the needs of very young children firmly in mind, in a way which might not quite be the case a term later.

I agree that the youngest children will benefit the most from spending more time in reception. I have an August born DS who had a speech delay 1st words at 2 1/2 years old but understanding was all there before he spoke. He started a school nursery at 3 years old full time 9 - 3.30pm. They mix play with reception children. I was very worried about him starting as he was so young but I really think it has helped him come along so much. They all do phonics and numbers together. I also think it had helped him socially. He has made lots of school friends which he will be now starting reception with in September when he will be 4.

I think if there was an option to delay starting a year but not miss any of the time in nursery or reception so 2 full years of play based learning I would have delayed a start but as that is not possible to not actually miss time then I think that would have hindered my DS.