Starting primary school in Wales

[Dr0pThePirate]

Does anyone know what age children start primary school in Wales?

DS is three and will be four this October. We've previously been in Scotland where we were told our local primary would accept DS the first term after his 5th birthday. Now we're in Wales.

We've declined a nursery place but I'm assuming he will start school January 2016. Can some kind person tell me if this sounds right or is he due to start this September?

I've looked online but I'm getting a bit muddled up. I'd love to hear from someone in Wales who knows what the admission age is.

Thank you!

It's a long time since my DDs started school, but I think it's anytime in the school year in which they turn 5.
DD1 was 5 in August, and started in September - about 2 weeks later.

Its a long time since mine were in primary but I do remember they were both 4 when they started which was in the September.
Will it be a Welsh medium school OP?

This is the admissions for schools in Gwynedd.

www.gwynedd.gov.uk/en/Residents/Schools-and-learning/School-admissions.aspx

Pretty sure he won't start school (reception) until September 2016. Certainly at our school he wouldn't. He can start at a school attached Nursery or Meithrin between now and then, although a nursery place does not guarantee a reception place at the same school - a new application is required. This is for Cardiff schools, other areas may have other arrangements.

He'll start September 2016.

In Scotland he would have started school the August after the October birthday where he turned 4 i.e. he would have been 4y 10m (my ds has an October birthday too and we are in Scotland)

Where in Wales are you?

Tywysoges - Five! Oh I didn't realise it could be that late. I thought four was the mandatory age in Wales? I wonder where I got that idea from

Milllli - No it will be a english medium school.

WelshPrincess how long ago did yours start school, if you don't mind me asking.

Well here in Gwynedd I believe it is 4 OP and the website for Gwynedd council I linked to seems to imply this too.

www.adviceguide.org.uk/wales/education_w/education_school_education_ew/compulsory_school_age_w.htm - this suggests he could start school the September just before his 5th birthday which would be September 2016

Ok this is why none of the dates were making sense to me, I thought he had to start school the term after his forth birthday for some reason.

MrsKitty & Carl - thank you for that info, it makes much more sense.

demented - yes I thought he would start then but the local primary said it could be after his fifth birthday. We're in the Vale of Glamorgan.

So he could start nursery this September then start primary September 2016? Is that right?

Thank you all by the way

If you start at 5 don't you miss out on the reception year though and just go straight to year 1.

Nursery is September after third birthday and reception September after 4th birthday. Some counties offer rising 3 nursery the term after the third birthday, so as he is 3 already he could go to rising 3s if this is offered in your area.

Unless I am reading it wrong this implies starting in the September following their fourth birthday.

www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk/en/working/education_and_skills/schools/admissions/primary/starting_school.aspx

www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk/en/working/education_and_skills/schools/admissions/primary/starting_school.aspx - might be of use to you

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So that will mean that he will be going the September 2016 I think as they seem to only have one intake each September.

www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk/en/working/education_and_skills/schools/admissions/nursery.aspx - you could apply for a nursery place now if you wanted him to go prior to starting school

He could've started nursery in January,April or September of this year and he'll start school September 2016

I'm in VOG too. He could start nursery the term after he turned 3 for half days. Reception intakes are only in September and he will start in 2016 so that he'll turn 5 during that year.
Ours go to welsh school, but PM me if I can help.

Longer ago than I'd care to think Millli they are both late teens.

Goes fast doesn't it Tywysoges Love the name by the way.

My post is wrong!! dD was 4 in the August and started in Sept, as that was the school year she was 5. She wasn't 5 until shed been in school for 11.5 months.

diolch

Thank you all so much for this information it's been so helpful. demented & millli thank you for the links - they make more sense after talking to everyone. I'll be looking to see if I can get a place in nursery for this September.

Much are all nursery days half days do you know?