Any advice in regards to September babies having to wait an extra year to start school

[EPRS]

Hi,

DS is an early September baby, he's currently 2 and a half. His nursery want to move him into the 3-5 year room as they say he is advanced and will benefit for this. DH and I support this move, but are concerned that this means he will be in the same room for two and a half years. Plus, when his friends leave to go to school next year it will affect him.

I've had advice to remove him from nursery and get him into a pre-school once he turns four, but if I'm still working, not sure how that will work out. Anyone know if schools will intake children early in the March of the school year before he's due to start? We live in Surrey and come under Elmbridge if anyone has any first hand experience. All advice gratefully received.

Thanks

He will be able to start a preschool the term after he turns 3. If his birthday is September this will be the January after his birthday. If you join a preschool attached to the primary school you would like him to attend some of the children there will be the same age as him and will start full time school when he does. You probably want to visit some preschools now and get his name down. Most will put them on the list from age 2.

Hi
Both my boys started preschool in the January after turning 3 in (October and November)
Preschool nursery are morning or afternoon sessions 15hrs a week. If your working it may benefit you keeping your child were he is at nursery? A lot of mums at the school had this problem with working and being able to get kids picked up whilst working. I suppose kids have to get used to friends leaving every year so I'm sure your child will be ok at his age.

A Pre-school attached to a school and the nursery you are in now will follow the same curriculum as they all do the EYFS. Or do you mean put him into reception a year early? I really dont see the need, and its unlikely this will be allowed (possibly ify ou went private but I have no idea if this is the case or not). They are little for so long dont start him at school any earlier than necessary.

My ds is in the same position as yours he has a very early September birthday. He is already reading and doing simple sums, we are lead by him and just follow what he shows an interest in so he has learned this with us and in connection with preschool ie the phonics work they do. Technically speaking I suppose he is ready for school, he has friends who are what you class as the same age as him (ie within a few weeks birthday) who are at school because they are a couple of weeks older, but tbh Im glad he isnt as I think even 5 is so young to start formal education anyway.

Ps babies born in september aren't waiting an extra year to start school, they are starting school at the correct age for their date of birth. Whenever the cut off, someone has to be the oldest in the class and someone the youngest.

The issue with pre schools attached to schools is that they normally finish at 3 so you may have a problem if you can't pick up at that time and they are not open in the school holidays so unless you can take all holidays off you will need alternative childcare.

My dds were in the pre school room at nursery for about the same amount of time, they were very happy there, never bored as they got older so they did different things.

Agree with the above and need to add that there are many advantages to a child in being one of the oldest in their year group.
There is a point that parents of children with September birthdays can end up paying for childcare for longer than if a child has an August birthday but there a far more comments to the effect that starting school just after their 4th birthday is too young than the OPs situation.
I would allow the nursery to move your son to the room with the older children OP as he will benefit from this. It's actually a good sign that they recognise his abilities and needs and are prepared to do this.
However he doesn't necessarily have to stay there for a further 2.5 years. The problem for the OP is that most pre-schools (even nursery classes attached to state schools) are part-time. You could try looking at nursery classes at independent private schools though as they will offer full-time provision and costs may not be that different from a day nursery.

Schools don't let children start early.

Some day nurseries have a pre-school 'room' so your child would get the same 'education' as any child in a 'real' pre-school but you would get the built-in wrap-around care.

Pre-schools by don't by default do anything more with the 4yos than day nurseries do, except of course you can get good/bad pre-schools and good/bad day nurseries.

If you want are talking about a nursery class attached to a state school then you need to apply by the 6th of March. The schools will all have had their visiting days now but still have a look online and maybe call a few to get a feel for it. Really doesn't hurt to put in your application now (you do it online, through your local authority) as it will give you one extra option.

Every school runs their nursery differently.

My son's nursery has half the places full time, with the full time places allocated to the eldest in the class. Also their school runs a before and after school club for nursery aged children upwards.

Alternatively you can look at private or independent pre schools. Many of these also offer extended hours. So you get your free 15 hours and then pay the extra top up.

Or you could go for the state school and then look for a childminder who does pick ups and drop offs at that school.

If you have an idea of what primary school you want him to go to then getting him into the nursery for that school could be helpful.

My son went from private nursery/daycare to a preschool class then to a different school for reception. He was fine.

The nursery sound like they are doing the right thing. We moved DD's nursery because they wouldn't move our September born DD up to the next room, even though it was the right place for her developmentally.

State schools wont admit children early, so you probably need to find a way for your DS to enjoy the final year before school. My DD is now in that year. She does miss her friends who went to school last year. We haven't pushed her to learn to read/write or do formal maths, but you can see her develop still and I think she will fly when she gets to school in a way that she probably wouldn't have if she had started earlier. She also enjoys the higher staff ratios at nursery and the extra adult attention that brings.

I think you are overthinking it.

Assuming you need all day and all year daycare which prevents you using a pre school but you're worried about the length of time he'll be in one room, could you look at splitting him between two settings for variety?

Agree maybe two settings. My 4 year old does full day preschool/kindergarten at an independent pre-prep two days a week and full day preschool at a day nursery two other days a week. It wasn't a grand plan, but that's just where we ended up childcare-wise as we work full time. They are each enriching in different ways. He gets more structure, variety of resources, attention and exposure to older children in the former. But more socialisation, free play, friends and leadership opportunities (being the oldest) in the latter. And two settings means two friendship groups, which has been great. Cost is about the same (but we are not in Surrey).

Afaik it isn't possible to start a year early. Unfortunately there has to be a cut off point....and so technically your little one isn't starting a year too late.

Thanks for all your comments, much appreciated. GiddyOnZackHunt, you are absolutely spot on, my concern is the length of time in the one room. It feels like such a long time between now and him starting school for him to spend the whole time in the same room. It's not something I need to address immediately anyway, but was good to gauge some thoughts. Thanks again.

I think it is worth seeing what the cohort of other children in the room will be like for the final year. My DD has a relatively close group of 5 friends all with autumn birthdays in her room at nursery and then other, younger children, though mostly the same academic year. So my DD does have a reasonable peer group even though she would probably fit better in the year above. A friend's DD at another nursery was by far the oldest in her final year in a smaller nursery, just by chance.

Id echo what others say. Find a pre-school at a private school because lots will offer 8-6 wrap around care with breakfast club and after school club. They are often more structured because the kids can make use of the school facilities for music, pe, etc.

We have a very mature September born and it has been great for her to do 2 years there. Still sending her to the local state primary in September.

I was worried about the length of time in one setting too. I did actually end up changing his setting after his second term in preschool, for different reasons and am quite glad I did as it's meant new people etc it get to know so he's not got bored. It's a good suggestion.

Kids (especially little ones) like consistency and predictability. They don't get bored with the same classroom for a couple of years. They find comfort in knowing that they are in control of their environment. Change, on the other hand is something they do not like!

If you like the teachers and the facilities - there is no reason to worry, honestly.

Having some kids leave to go to school, while he does not is again not an issue. They are older and he is younger. Kids are able to understand this.

And - with a Sept birth - count yourself very lucky! It is better to be the oldest, especially given that they start school SO early!

i agree with mmom. My dd moved into preschool room at 2 (Its a small nursery) So will be there 2 years and 9 months in total, she's 3 now. In that time she will have security, the same girls looking after her to get attached to and the same little friends. My other dd did the same and is doing well at school. They really like the security - what if you move and decide it's wrong do you move them again?

If I moved her to the local indie school the liklihood it's that no one from there would go to the same school, personally I wouldn't feel comfortable with that.

And its good when friends leave for school, it prepares them for it being their turn.

I have a 3 year old who's bright and lively and gets bored easily. Knows her letters and sounds and numbers (not hot-housed just has a much older sister and keen to be grown up). She has a December birthday not September but my other child was August born so this feels like longer before school starts.

She goes to a pre-school and a daycare type nursery. She seems to cope well with two settings. I think it can be quite fun to gave two sets of friends (as long as the quality of provision is good and they are happy and settled).

Also her preschool (state school nursery attached to the primary school) thru offer the 15 hours over 2.5 days so at least you get two full school days. Much easier to arrange childcare around this.

I agree that 5 isn't really late to start school. School is physically and emotionally very tiring when they're little. It's not just about intellectual development but being able to cope socially and emotionally in a school and playground environment. I wouldn't worry about being bored. There are lots of ways to deal with that.

Childcare costs more overall for September borns than August borns because of the longer 'wait' for school but there are advantages to being the oldest in the class too.

My dd has a September birthday.

The 'extra' year has turned out to be a positive thing for her. She went from being one of the youngest of her friendship group to being the oldest. It's given her time to get to know the children that she hadn't paid much attention to last year but who will probably be her classmates in September.

She's enjoyed the extra little 'responsibilities' that come with being the oldest child, including showing the newer children what to do and how things work.

She's also had extra time to get used to the idea of leaving preschool in the summer and going off to school in September. She's already seen two year groups move on and is now looking forward to it being her turn next.

She hasn't been bored. As she's got older she's been able to use the older equipment and toys in different ways and at a different 'level'. New things have also been bought for the children to use.

She's far more prepared for school life than she would have been if she'd started last term.

Hi, my daughter just turned 2 on the 28th September. I'm just wondering am I to apply on January for a space for pre school for September 2024? Or will she have to wait to following year as she won't be 3 to the end of September? It's confusing. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

school nurseries usually take children the term after they are 3 so in your case the January. It's not like reception starting when they all start in September. When it comes to applying it's best to ask the school involved about how to get your name down for a space.