Moving to UK, should DS go straight into reception or hold back?

[Dinasaur]

DS will turn 4 in August, so due to start in reception in September. But we will have just moved back to UK after 5 years abroad, and then are planning a second move to another city within that first school year.

I wonder, should we hold off with sending DS to school until we have made the house move, OR, settle him into reception at the local school straight away so he doesnt miss out on reception year (and he will then move schools at some point)?

Although he will be the youngest in his year group, he is a pretty sociable, confident fellow, also tall for his age. I am worried he will get very bored and also lack a social life, if we keep him at home for too long.

Have you got him a place already?? At that age they make friends very easily so if you think he can handle another move having moved to the UK then I'd say go for it and let him start in the Reception Class. My own personal view would be if I think my son could handle it I would do it. My ds2 is a July birthday so will always be one of the youngest too. Is there not a way that you could see how he handles the move first before you decide whether he goes into reception? It may give you an idea as to how he handles change. Good luck whatever you decide.

Thats another thing to think of, I havent yet got a place for him. I dont suppose we can get a place properly until we are living in our house (which won't be until the begining of September). I should call the nearest school though to find out if they are already full/oversubscribed or not. If all the local schools are full, we may have to keep him at home for a while anyway.

Dinosaur, just to let you know, most LEA's wont hold him back a year, he will go straight into YR1 the following year, missing reception all together if he does not go in September. It has to do with schools not taking them out of year iyswim?

why are schools so obsessive about keeping a child in year when some are so obviously out of place (at both ends of scale)

I know, I don't agree with it, but they do.......have heard the "able to leave before sitting GCSE's" reason quoted a fair bit.....it is inflexible really, i like the scottish system better, as my understanding ( i may be wrong) is that you can keep them back.....

and the other direction (for a september born 5 year old going on 15)

You need to talk to the local schools about their intake procedures too - a lot take summer born children in January or even April so he would only have one or two terms of Reception anyway - it may not be worth putting him in for that short time.

Have you thought about a private school for the first couple of terms? At least you would have a good choice and it would mean he could go straight in and would give him a good head start for when you move cities so in his first motnhs at his new school he will be able to focus on settling in rather then learning everything they have already learnt (esp if he has not already had any time in Reception due to intakes / school full etc)

Thanks for the replies (have just come back on due to time difference here!).

We won't be able to go private (dont have jobs organised yet!), but will probably try the local schools. I think the intake is all in September, so due to our timing, DS may miss out on the first couple of weeks or so. I geuss at least he will get used to school routines and have the social bits, even if its then a bit disruptive to move after less than a year. A pity we cant move straight to the new city but were not organised enough...

Don't want to worry you, but have you even talked to the schools in the area you have moved to, to see if they have places/ how long the waiting list is?

Many schools will be full with a waiting list by now I suspect. And the schools will likely not offer you a place anyway without an address in the local area. Can't you move any sooner?

Sorry, I don't mean to be blunt, but you do sound fairly casual in your approach to your son's schooling - it's realy important to get this sorted out. If he misses Reception year entirely he may be very far behind his peers when he goes into Year 1. You don't have the choice about when he starts school - he MUST be at school in the term in which he turns 5 I believe?

Or you could home school for the reception year - is that a possiblity. Contact your local home schooling group which would give you some access to other kids.

Have just found out from the council that all the schools in our area are now full for Sep and Jan intakes (ds would be a Jan intake due to his age). One school currently has places but is miles away. So now in a different dilemma.!! Will we get a place at all, even when we move to the new place......

To be honest, I had not realised how tricky the whole school admissions process is and how hard to get a place, just had assumed that one local school at least would provide a place (am the wiser since reading more mumsnet chats about it). Am a bit out of touch I suppose after being away for so long. So, better investigate properly all the options .... I dont think home schooling would be possible as I will have to start work sometime, but maybe for a short time. Thanks.

He can go to a nursery if he is just 4, or playgroups, or some preschool,as far as I'm aware, they follow some early years development guidelines which involve, at the very least, a bit of very basic teaching.

Your child is entitled to early years funding from the term after he is 3, which covers the price of 12.5 hrs of early years education).But start ringing the nurseries/preschools asap as sometimes it takes forever to get a place.