youngest in the class for reception - advice please!

[Mamabear12]

My DD just started at a French school and she loves it! I love it too and my son of course wants to go. However, because it is a French school, he would be required to start reception this September 2017 at 3 years old!!! His bday is end of October and he will turn 4. This is because French system does by calendar year for bday. But bc the school is mixed half w kids coming in through British system lottery, they will be aged according to British age. If we were able to get in via lottery he would start September 2018, which we actually prefer bc he will be one of the oldest in class instead of the youngest. Pros to starting in September 2017 would bc he would be one year under his sister and they are super close and he already saying he wants to go to her school. The earlier you are exposed to second language the better. My sister was youngest in class and did excellent, so she says go for it. But my worry is he seems a little young to start reception! It's not really an option to get him in via the lottery, bc everyone applies and it's impossible. If we delay application, the would just put him straight into year 1. Anyone who has experience w kids being the youngest in class please share!

Presumably he won't actually be the youngest, as there will be Nov & Dec birthdays too? So like an end June child starting in the English system?

Is their Reception like English Reception, or more like English pre-school / nursery?

I was the youngest in my year and I'd say defer for a year. I was fine academically but emotionally and socially not so much until 16+ (was quite young for my age as well which didn't help).

I went to the French Lycee in London, and have an early Nov birthday, so 40 yrs ago I was just the same as your son!
TBH I struggle with being so young, but also because we did not speak French at home. Is your daughter in the year your DS would move into now? Presumably it's quite okay based? How do you think he'd manage?

Okay based = play based

It is a lot of play and some learning phonics and reading on the English side. As one week is English and one week French. I think he is too young, but he has been going to nursery since 2 so it might be okay. But if I had a choice I would defer a year!

My son is summer born. English system. He is bright but socially he struggles. Also, being the eldest you have more chance of getting picked for sports. Enter the lottery!

Personally I think 3 is too young to start.

My DS is August born so was just 4 when he started. He was fine in Reception because it was play based. He then REALLY struggled in Y1 as the academic expectations increased. He had only just cracked his basic letter formation in the last half term of Reception, then he was being expected to sit and write a basic story and write topic work weeks later.

We did a HUGE amount of work with him at home, which was possible because DH and I are both teachers and I am a primary Special Needs teacher. He has now caught up and is flying in Y2. However, I wish he hadn't had to spend so much of his free time working at home at 5-6 years old. I'm also not sure a family without the specialist knowledge we had would be able to do the same.

My DC only turned 4 a fortnight before starting school in UK. They are bright and managed academically but struggled socially and emotionally (aged 12 now and still very 'young' in lots of ways). If I could go back I'd certainly have waited another year. Being seen as immature by other pupils can be a magnet for being bullied.

My DD did not do any MFL until she was in Y7 when she started French and a second one in Y8. She got a place at Oxford to read MFL and is now a Barrister. She has a mid August birthday. Can't see why you need the second language so early really, unless you are both fluent French speakers. Sometimes children can be confused by two languages so early when their grasp of English is not yet established. Is it worth it if he has to go into Reception at 3? Not all summer borns are socially behind their peers. My DD absolutely was not. She was more mature than plenty of the September/October borns.