Reception, at age 4, please explain to an American

[PITA5000]

Hi,

We have just moved to London from the US, we have 2 daughters age 4 and 6. We are in the process of seaking a flat in order to determine what school our 6 year old will attend. In the states children begin school in kindergarten at age 5, so had we stayed in the US my 4 year old would have stayed home with me this year. (Admittedly, many Americans send their young children to preschools or pre-kindergarten, but these cost money and we have not been in a position to pay tuition even if we had wanted to).

Would it be very, very, very, odd if I chose not to send her this year, as it has never been a part of our plan? I feel like I'm losing out on a year of her childhood that I had been counting on spending with her. I will of course be educating her at home so that she does not enter school with a deficit of knowledge. Do other Americans do similarly? Do any locals?

Thanks for your advice

FWIW, having had a child go through Reception here then the following year go into Kindergarten in the US, what they do in the class is very similar. This was fine for DD (not confident, summer born)

Most London schools have a transient population anyway, so I wouldn't worry overly about the friendship group aspect.

I do agree with the pp who said you might find it hard to go to groups during school time, as most are set up for younger children (story time at the library, play groups etc)

The groups point is a good one. Round here (leafy London suburb) the groups are in effect just for babies and toddlers - almost all 3 and 4 year olds are at preschool / nursery / school nursery class half day. There are some preschool activities like gym that do have the 3 and 4 year olds, but they are a minority and more expensive. And tend to be in the afternoon with an assumption that the kids will be at preschool / nursery in the morning.

Hampshire let you defer a summer born, my August 2012 born will not start reception until next September 2017 when he will be 5. It is possible but you have to push. Good luck

I would visit some schools and look around their reception classes, you might decide you like the look of it all anyway.

Look up flexible admissions for summer borns on FB. You will get lots of helpful advice there.

There is no legal requirement in the UK to start education until the term they turn 5. So in theory it's no problem. In practice however much harder. It depends on individual school and local education authority policy.

There does seem to be a shift in acceptance lately.

Here children start state funded nursery at aged 3 for 15 hours a week. So its a fairly natural progression to school.

There is no legal requirement in the UK to start education until the term they turn 5

It is the start of term after the child's fifth birthday, not the term they turn five.

It depends on individual school and local education authority policy

Deferring entry to Reception until later in the year or attending part time are not up to schools or LAs. Both are entirely up to parents. LAs/schools only get a say if parents want to a summer born child to enter Reception in the September following their fifth birthday. They must look at each case individually rather than operating a blanket policy but many will refuse unless there is evidence of delayed development. The government said a while ago that it was going to give parents the final say on this as well but they have not made the necessary changes to the Admissions Code.

Op here with more questions

Many suggest a school visit, but because school is not currently in session, is this a relevant step in my process? Is it even possible to visit in August, and I would not be able to observe any student interactions, teaching and learning.

We will have proof of residence by Thursday, I would like to immediately file at least for the sake of my 6yo, based on what I have been able to deduce about the area schools through online research. Visiting the schools will delay the application.

From what I gather, even if I intended my 4yo to begin reception in September 2017, the application could be submitted now, and maybe when it comes to assignments in January she would have a sibling link wherever my 6yo is assigned this year.

So whether I intend for 4 yo to begin reception asap or in September 2017, I should fill out an application now. Right?

If I desire for her to do half days or delay entry till January, do I work that out later with the specific school once we have been assigned to it? Or is there some way to indicate this wish in my application?

Finally, I know my address now, but do not have the finalized paperwork etc, can I begin the application now and submit proof of residence later?

Again, many thanks

Is it even possible to visit in August

Probably not. Most schools won't have any staff around. In any case, to get a proper feel for the school you need to visit on a normal school day. Your 4yo doesn't have to start school on the first day of term in September. Indeed, it is unlikely she will be able to do so. You won't lose much time by waiting until you've seen a few schools before applying. You don't get any priority for getting your application in early. If you are concerned, you could apply now just in case a place comes up in the first week or so of term but then visit schools in September and decide whether you want to change your preferences based on what you have seen.

So whether I intend for 4 yo to begin reception asap or in September 2017, I should fill out an application now. Right?

Applications for September 2017 may not be open yet although they will be open soon. You have until January 15th to apply. There is no benefit to applying early.

If I desire for her to do half days or delay entry till January, do I work that out later with the specific school once we have been assigned to it

Yes. You apply for entry then, when you've been offered and accepted a place, you tell the school if you want to defer entry or have your daughter attend part time. They may try to convince you that this is their decision. Don't accept that. It isn't. It is your decision. If you have any problems with this come back here and I (or one of the other admissions experts) will point you at the relevant provisions of the Admissions Code.

Finally, I know my address now, but do not have the finalized paperwork etc, can I begin the application now and submit proof of residence late

That is entirely up to the LA. They will probably want at least proof of exchange of contracts (or signed lease if you are renting) before accepting your application.

OP, are you familiar with the school oversubscription criteria such as "distance from door of last place allocated"? You will need to scrutinise the oversubscription criteria (especially distance from door if you don't qualify under any of the others) to determine which priority order it is best to put on the form. Hopefully you've already had a look at this and have a shortlist of schools?

On the deferring point, as I understand it, you have two choices:

1. Don't start your 4 year old in September in reception, because they are not legally required to start school until the term after their 5th birthday. This means that if they have a summer birthday, then can start straight into Year 1 in September, because this is the term after their 5th birthday. Or start Reception in January (when they are still 4), or start the summer term of Reception, because they are not legally required to be at Reception in September.

2. The other choice is you can defer their entry to school completely - they start Reception when they are 5. Which is quite a different choice.

I'm sure admissions experts will confirm this, but I am fairly sure "defer entry" has these two meanings, with different rules governing them.

Re visits - almost certainly impossible in August. Our school probably wouldn't even answer your email for quite a while. And I don't think they'd agree to a visit - altough I guess worth asking (nothing to lose!). But seeing an empty building doesn't tell you much about the school. On the other hand, meeting the head or another senior teacher would give you a good idea of the school's culture.

Have you seen the Ofsted school performance tool, or looked at the Osfted reports? People go on and on about the inspections not being the be all and end all, but if it was me in your position I would at least want to read the reports to check the school's you are considering aren't absolutely awful.

Applying for school places is a mindfield PITA5000 even for us Brits never mind someone who isn't a resident - yet!

If this was me I would be:

1. Wait until your proof of residency is in your hands.
2. Secure a home - rented or mortgaged or owned out right.
3. Phone the LEA (council) in the county where your are living and speak to the admissions team. There will always be someone available during office hours dealing with in-year transfers etc.
4. Ask for a list of schools with places for Reception YR AND Y2 (assuming your six year old turns 7 between Sept 1st 2016 and 31st Aug 2017).
5. Do some research on the schools - OFSTED website is a start but don't believe everything you read. OFSTED is simply a snapshot and IMO very heavily focused on data and statistics.
6. Post on MN again with questions regarding schools you show interest in.
7. There is no harm phoning the schools the arrange a visit - my school (primary) is open year round as our business manager and secretaries take their holidays whenever they like.
8. Apply for chosen school via the LEA. Everyone has to do this.
9. Wait until you get a confirmation of a place and go from there.

Most schools have a uniform policy but some schools do not strictly enforce it at Primary level.

Primary school is YR (Reception aged 4/5) up to Y6 (Year Six aged 10/11)

Contrary to what most people say, as of yet, it isn't popular to defer entry until your DD was 5 (September 2017). Until recently, most deferred entries begin in Y1 not YR and you would have to make another application for an 'in-year entry'. This isn't popular because infant class sizes are limited to 30 (exceptional cases often make it 31 or 32) and as most people apply for the school academic year in which a child turns five , places in the classes are filled very, very quickly. London in particular has a shortage of places and children literally living within 50m of a school have often been denied access. Each LEA is different with their entry policies. Most have looked after children past and present, adopted children and those with a statement of educational needs or health plan as being top priority regardless of where they live. Next in line comes EITHER siblings at the school or catchment area. The two are often different between councils. Our council (not London) puts catchment BEFORE sibling. After these 3 comes geographical location - they measure the distance -as the crow flies' from house to school.

I would give serious consideration to joining YR. It has it's benefits socially and academically and yes, you will not have her at home for that extra year like you would in the USA, it doesn't actually do any measurable harm.
In fact, I have one acquaintance who has a summer-born son and she (a teacher herself) felt that full time aged 4 years and 3 months was too much and she wanted quality time with him at home. So being part-time, she actually told school that on a certain day of the week, he wouldn't be attending until the term after he is five - which happens to be this forthcoming September.

So if you are torn between allowing her to attend school and keeping her at home, do a bit of both. Her attendance is NOT affected until the term after she is five.

Note If anyone has been given a fine or warning about absence when your child is not yet 5, challenge it. School is NOT a legal requirement (actually education is - home or school) until the term after your child is 5, so therefore cannot fine you for not attending non-compulsory education.

Thank you, everyone who has contributed so far, I am starting to get my head around the full picture.

We're having difficulties finalizing our lease, so nothing doing here for school applications.

I was reading the in year application form and it says no allocations will be made during school holidays... So, schools are on holiday right now, yes? Does this mean my application will not even be considered until September 7? I know it was a long shot, but I'd been hoping that we had a tiny chance starting with everyone else, if there were vacancies at a less popular school. ☹️

AFAIK the LA will look at the application in the holidays but they cannot talk to the school until term begins again.

If you're applying for somewhere less popular which does have places (I assume we are talking about the 6 year old), are you happy with the reasons why it is less popular?

Are you planning on being in the UK long term?

We plan to be here for 3 years

Most heads will be checking email throughout the holidays so LA will communicate if a place allocated

Btw where we are reception is not just a play based environment. Dcs are able to read really quite well by the end of the year and spend a fair amount of time sitting on the carpet and being formally taught. It really doesn't suit all the children but some are really ready for this. It is necessary in the eyes of the school's near us to be able to meet the expectations of yr2 sats to increase formal teaching in yr r.

What area are you moving to? If you know for sure which borough you are going to be in it might be worth ringing that borough's admissions team (who will still be working over the summer) and they might be able to give you an idea of which schools might have spaces for your 6 yo...

My local authority publishes which schools have how many vacancies in which school year group, updated frequently: Hertfordshire info here - have you seen if the local authority you are applying to does this? Might give you a good idea of how likely you are to get a place in sept.

Thethingswedofor I think schools vary in approach. We visited 5 schools some were more formal as you describe but my daughter's school is very much free play. I think it's important to visit and get a feel for the schools and there ethos but keep in mind that schools in some areas will be heavily over subscribed. I'm British so school at 4 is the norm for me but beyond the issue of the school being able to hold her place I would actually feel I was taking her childhood away by holding her back. My daughter loves being with other children more than anything. Wouldn't your daughter enjoy that social interaction?

Yes agreed re differences in approach klm. I just wanted to point out that it isn't always as play based as some initial posts mentioned....

Hi, vacancies are posted online at the end of each week. If a vacancy is posted for Y2 does that mean no one else is waiting for that spot and we might be admitted right away? Assuming we state a preference for that school on our application.

Yes, it does, if they are working in the holidays. you're lucky if you've found somewhere good that has a place, well done. They will need to wait for confirmation of your address though before allocating.