Only two weeks into being a 4 year old and starting school in September

[VilootShesCute]

Hi. Does anyone else have a very very young one starting school in September? If so did you consider delaying or waiting a year? I don't know what to do as dc is so young and I feel slightly pressured by school and really want stories from other parents so I can weigh it all up.
I know every child is different but my child will only be two weeks over 3! Sob.

My ds was 4 and two weeks when he started. Reception was fine as it was just like nursery but everyday instead of 2 and a half. Year one he struggled having to sit and do work but he's never been behind and is fine now in year 4.

Our son is 3 3/4 and we've deferred his start until September 2017.

I used to teach year R and Year 1 and we knew that although academically he'd have been OK emotionally he wouldn't have been.

I agree that all children are different and some will be more ready than others but I also believe that we start education too early in this country anyway (all the research points to starting later being better for young children) and being a summer born child just makes that start even earlier.

With regards to getting a deferral, the education minister did write a letter to all local authorities last year about summer born children saying if parent's thought it was in the best interest of their child to defer then the local authority should agree.

However, the admissions code hasn't been changed yet and not all authorities are following that advice.

We live on the border of two counties and had to apply to both for the deferral. Our main authority accepted our letter requesting deferral right away and confirmed our DS could start in year R next year and stay with his cohort right through his schooling.

The other authority we applied to agreed only after we provided a supporting statement from DS's nursery and when we had their letter through it said they couldn't guarantee he could stay with his cohort right through.

Needless to say we won't be putting any schools from the second authority on our application now.

If you are considering deferring you should contact your local authority to see what stance they are currently taking as it would give you time to think through any evidence you may need.

Those of you who are interested in part-time, you do have the right to do this until your child reaches compulsory school age in the term after her fifth birthday. It's in the School Admissions Code.

My ds is an August baby we have deferred his entry in reception to Septemeber 2017. Academically his he very bright however emotionally he isn't ready.

I have two children with very late August birthdays. Dd is now 16 (17 in Aug) and is nearly finished with her first year of college.
She started reception in the Jan, as they staggered it according to age back then and I think that it would have been so much better for them all to start at the same time. She has struggled occasionally academically, but no more than is usual.
Ds is 7 and started when he was 4 and 3 days. He has been absolutely fine, wonderful in fact, I have on occasions had to remind teachers of how young he is for his year group, but really you'd never know.
I think deferring them a term etc wouldn't have worked for him, friendship groups are made and settling in done, he would have missed out on all that.
Plus they get to leave school when they're 15

Leaving school at 15 is not a positive. You have to stay in education until 18 now anyway unless in Scotland.
My two eldest DC are September borns eldest 17. She will be almost 19 when she finished sixth form , it effectively gives her an extra year before adult responsibilities kick in.

Well dd is now at college and having left school at 15 has done her no harm at all.
It really isn't always a big thing for every child, it really isn't.

No I don't think it's harmful , however childhood is a very short period I want my dc to have the benefit for as long as they can.

Unfortunately, it's not something that is down to choice though. Deferring them starting means that they'll start in year 1 ( unless you can convince the LA) which means they miss out on the important receiption year.
Like I said ds, 7 has been absolutely fine, better than fine in fact.
I wouldn't worry op, ds was one of 7 august born boys in his class so yours is unlikely to be the only younger one.

I disagree about reception being important, but obviously that's a minority view.

My ds is still 3, will be 4 and 3 months in September. He's 'ready' I think but will struggle with long days x5 . I also worry that he'll struggle with getting changed for p.e and wiping his bottom, we are 'practicing' these over the summer.
With ds2 he will be 4 and 11.5 months when he starts school, when you compare that to a child who's barely turned 4 it does seem a big difference.

I am lucky that my LEA is parental choice to defer to reception. I think there is only two or three LEA's where you can do this.

In theory all Lea's should now allow deferment to year R it's just not all will do off the back of just a parental request.

Here's a copy of the education minister's letter:
www.gov.uk/government/publications/summer-born-children-nick-gibbs-letter-about-school-admissions

Also, there is a campaign group with information about deferring summer born to year R which may be helpful

summerbornchildren.org

DD is the opposite, her birthday is 14th Sept, she can't start until Jan and will have to do a year and a half of nursery, I worry she will be fed up by the time she gets to reception this parenting lark is no fun is it?!

amysmummy does feel a bit like that sometimes doesn't it!