Anyone else worried about their august born starting reception this year?

[WhatismyLife]

DD is my eldest and born 28th august. She currently attends the preschool at the school she will start in September, which will hopefully help her adapt to school life a bit easier.

I'm just so worried about how she will manage next year. She is so tiny compared to the other children and very immature. Nursery really tires her out and that's only 3 hours a day.

There's other things too, like, not being able to do up her coat by herself and she does sometimes still need help using the toilet.

I have spoken to her nursery teacher about my worried and she thinks DD will manage but I can't help feeling anxious about it.

Anyone else?

My August born DS has been fine doing 8.15-3.45, full time from Day 1- and we moved across the country weeks before he started so no settling activities.

I was also so, so worried but it really has been fine and he loves school.

The staff will understand and will help her!

My twins are 30th August but were due on 28th sept. They start this year. They can toilet themselves and dress themselves (they have an older sibling) but do get so tired and also still do that toddler squeal if they don't get there own way. I was speaking to another mum whose dd is August but started last sept. She said her dd loves it and probably isn't reading as well as others etc but not massively behind.
I've spoken to the head and deputy (as dd1 is already at the school) and they've said dtds can do part time as long as necessary and if they really struggle they can repeat reception whereas delaying entry would mean joining in year 1.
you still have 4 months of development and they change so much at this age. Start practising now the skills she'll need. Recognising her name, toileting and washing hands plus dressing herself are the key things but teachers and ta will help - I know with dd1 most of them needed help after pe.
I would relax and get dd excited about going to school. (But yes of course I worry - it's what us mums do best)

Their not there. Probably lots of typos. So tired

Lots of the children (even the oldest) will need some help with coats, clothes and toilet visits for a while yet.
Chances are that 7 or 8 other children in her class will also be summer born, there will be others with additional needs, some who won't have been to preschool at all.
The school are used to supporting young children and will want your DD to be happy and relaxed at school. You can help her a bit by practising some of those life skills you mentioned and by bring ready to tweak her routine to give her an earlier bedtime.
My DS is an early summer baby, but was still very toddlerish when he started school. TBH he settled brilliantly with the help of his wonderful teacher.

Try not to worry.

My DD is also 28 August, and I had sleepless nights before she started reception, I as so worried. I spoke to her (lovely) teacher when she went for a taster visit and said I was concerned as she was so young, and she was so reassuring in her first week at school. My DD was absolutely fine, though she found the first few weeks quite tiring. She is now in yr5, doing very well and loves school.

My twins are August 1st but were due October 1st. They're tiny but not worried about them in terms of milestones / academic stuff. What I am worried about is how they are going to cope physically - they are going to be exhausted. They still nap when they can get away with it - in the car for example. I think we're going to be in for some horrendous tired behaviour nice they start!

I was so scared for DS last year (born 27/08), but he coped and he loved it, the only thing I really taught him to help him was how to get dressed. We practiced how to get coats and shoes on and off and how to get in and out of his PE kit. They will help them, but I knew he'd never ask, he's a little behind with writing, but they aren't worried and they give me regular updates and I try to help him at home. The only thing I would say is don't plan on doing much over half term, DS was knackered and too grumpy to do anything.

My DD is late August born. I was very nervous terrified of her starting school; she cried practically every day in nursery and, whilst her academic skills were never in question, she really struggled with being separated from me.

Her first day of 'big' school was delayed by a week because I had emergency surgery and her baby DB had suspected meningitis; I thought this would knock her confidence again. As it was she ran into school without so much as a backward glance and has adored school ever since!

She is now year 3. She is really excelling in school and achieved level 3 at the end of KS1. She is a confident, intelligent and very happy young girl and, whilst she is still the smallest in her year by far, she very much holds her own.

There is a lot of time between now and September, and even if your DD still need help with her coat or the toilet - well, she won't be the first or the last! My DS is 3 (4 next month) and starts school in September; I am encouraging him to be independent on the toilet and he is absolutely fine with number ones... However, number twos are currently dealt with by him reversing away from the toilet like a HGV with his pants round his ankles and his arse in the air asking, "Mama, have I cleaned all the poo away?"

Lots will need help with their coats, and there are still months yet to master toileting.

I would seriously consider keeping her doing 3 hours a day for the first term though if she is that tired.

My DS1 is an August birthday though and surprising managed fine with tiredness.

If the nursery teacher thinks she will be fine, she will be fine.

My DCs are both summer-born. DC1 is a fair few years into school now and doing well. The tiredness was a battle, and we had to keep spare pants in the school bag, just in case, but otherwise all was ok.

The teachers have seen it all before and will likely have a comfy corner where tired children can flop for a bit if needed.

Try not to worry, and dont let it overshadow your last few months of (relative) freedom with her.

I have an August born DS who will be starting in September. I wouldn't say I'm very anxious but I definitely have concerns. He doesn't dress himself and has only just started going to the toilet at nursery so I'm aiming over the summer to get him used to doing these things (or the very least the idea of them). When he started nursery he had terrible meltdowns when I picked him up due I think to a combination of hunger/tiredness and the general shock of being surrounded by so many other children - and he is only there for 3 hours. So I'm seriously considering requesting part time hours until at least the first half term holiday and I'm hoping the school will be amenable to this. We're actually moving to a different part of the country next month so I'm going to try and get through that before the transition to school. I'm sure they will be fine but, yes, they may find it harder than the older ones and we have to take that into account.

I, too, was born 28th August.

I was never told I was young by my parents, which I think was good. During primary I think I gradually realised I was the youngest. I have no recollection of anyone ever talking about my age being a possible problem and am grateful for that.

My DD1 is 10 August. I never let her think she could not do something as well as everyone else. She had no idea who was older than her or younger than her (one or two). I think I was lucky because she hardly napped beyond 2.5 years old, when her sister was born. She was too busy to sleep! She adored nursery (the gold shoes in the dressing up box) but was more than ready to start school and was never behind in reading, or in fact, anything. No-one would ever have picked her out as a summer born.

Fortunately teachers are well aware that all children are different. Mine was very forward for her age with regard to language, getting dressed, being confident, wanting to read and do everything the YR provided. The school was also very adept at nuturing the ones that needed it for a bit longer. Never assume a summer birthday will lag behind everyone else. Please do not worry.

my late August DS was tiny when he started school and slept loads in that first term but he coped and caught up just fine.

He's in year 10 now

I don't think there's anything to worry about. So many summer youngsters succeed, I think it's unusual if they don't. I don't believe in going down a year.

Its nice to know im not the only one. its also good to hear from those of you who's summer born children coped well.

I suppose I'll just have to keep practising things with her and hope she gets a bit more independent by September.

I didn't know half days were an option. I'll definitely be speaking to the teacher about that if DD is struggling.

thanks everyone.

The only other problem I've got is the size of the uniform. She's so small that, the smallest size of (compulsory) logo polo shirt, comes half way to her knees.

Have you considered delaying her school start? She won't be of compulsory school age until the term after she turns 5. I have a late July DS. I'm considering starting him at school (in reception) aged 5 and a few weeks. By law he doesn't have to be at school until he's 5, childhood is so short and then schooling and careers are long. I'm thinking why not give him an extra year of having fun and playing in an unstructured environment?

There's lots of press at the moment about flexible admissions for summerborns. If you google it you might find some useful information about it. And yes, I'm pretty sure you might be able to ask about her going part time if you do start her aged 4.

My youngest two DDs are both August born and don't have any problems.

DD2 was slow to start academically but is doing ok now. Her teacher told me she expects DD2 to get 2.5 in her year 2 SATs this year which I'm pleased with.

DD3 is in reception and doing great. Her teachers have told me that you wouldn't know she was the youngest in the class.

Neither got overly tired but they did 9 - 3 at preschool a couple of days a week the year before they started school and both did long days at nursery until 3.

Hello. DS2 is 11/08 and has some difficulties with a speech delay. We held him in nursery last year and it has been fantastic - he has had a massive surge in confidence and just loves being the eldest. His speech has really come on and he is very ready to go up in September. It wasn't popular with school at the time, but there has been a change in staff and they now say its been the best thing for him. Its such a tricky call - both of you will make the best out of whatever you do. Good luck x

Talk to the teacher/school about part time. If she is doing 3 hours a day now you can start her with that and see how she goes and build it up.

Posted to soon...meant to say my dd is a late July and and although she seemed to be just keeping up till year 3 she suddenly bloomed and (sorry stealth boast) is now the best reader in her class by some way.

I have an early September born who is has to wait a whole extra year. She's my second & thinks she's 6! She's subjected to daily doses of year one phonics & maths etc from her "teacher" DSis. Next year is going to be VERY long indeed.

I requested delayed entry for my summer born prem and it was agreed. He had an extra year in preschool, started reception aged 5 and it was def the right decision. I would recommend this option if you are very concerned.

My August born is tiny and started last year in reception. I was worried too but she's coped just fine, straight in at full days. I just made sure her bedtime by 7pm was protected as much as possible (which is hard with two older siblings) which has definitely made a big difference.