First day in reception

[Lmagic]

Am feeling worried for my youngest little girl starting big school on Tuesday, she will be 4 years 1 month old. There are children turning 5 this week who are so tall in comparison (our child measures up to a 3 year old). Academically I think she will be fine. I've bought her a little First Day at School card which we are going to give her before she goes on Tuesday. Anyone else have the usual mummy worries about their little ones starting?

Dd doesn't start til 18th (such a pain!). Like you i'm not worried academically and she will be one of the older ones as she is 5 in Oct. But just worried about getting childcare etc straight in her head so that she feels secure and settled as it's a bit of a hodge podge as i go on mat leave in November. Also not looking forward to limited daily feedback from the teacher

Should add that i had some proper photos taken of her in uniform yesterday just as a keepsake and was the first time she tried on her full uniform - she looked so smart!

I'm a year into this with my summer born. She found school absolutely knackering and has struggled with the motor skills stuff (writing, catching, etc) but has survived!

DS4 is starting reception 9th. Despite being one of the older ones (October) he's small for his age and is v clingy. The school isn't the greatest(!) and most of the class went to a different preschool together. It's a v small class (13) with a full-time TA, so at least there's that!

I have an August born going into year 1. She was absolutely fine. She had a little extra support with her reading but actually so did some of the ones who are nearly a year older. I think a lot is down to the character of the child as well as their age. Good luck.

I've been where you are twice in fact as both mine are August birthdays in fact my daughter was only 4 a week before she started and she is also tiny - starting secondary next week. I worried but she was absolutely fine, relished the challenge and yes there were children who were five a week or so after she turned 4 and they could read but she managed. The school is set up for all children and will support them all in their challenges. My son is going into yr 2, he hasn't found it as easy academically as he's a leftie too and finds fine motor skills difficult but he has loved every second.

My advice for what it's worth support them and try not to listen to others talking about their children who are doing better, concentrate on your child!! Try to enjoy the ride! That said I'm still nervous about my eldest starting secondary next week!!

please don't get caught up on whether there are others who are 11 months older or whether they are the tallest or not etc. It really isn't relevant.

All children are different, certainly in both my childrens classes some of the top performers and some of the tallest are in fact the youngest.

My son starts today, he has been crying about it for days so I’m dreading waking him up this morning.

He is a June baby, he is in the 98th percentile for height so is often assumed to be older than he is.

He will be fine academically he do simple addition, subtraction, can read basic words etc.

Emotionally however he is going to struggle, I’m not sure how his teacher will handle that as at my meet the teacher meeting she seemed to think being adopted wouldn’t impact his PIES...so watch this space.

I have children at both ends of the school year. My dd was 5 when she started school. I still worried about her the same as my summer born son, she still cried some days going in to school, she still got tired, school was still new for her too, she had the odd accident when she couldn’t make the loo in time, she still had to learn how to be a school child. Yes she was older and more mature in some ways but they are all still new to school and will learn together.

Good luck to you all sending off your little ones.

I have a niece born mid August so similar to the OPs daughter.She was also small, her brother who is 2 1/2 ears younger weighed the same as her, he wasn't fat, just built like a rugby player.

She not only survived but thrived did well in her exams now has a degree and a masters and well paid job.

This thread is reassuring - thank you. My mid August-born DD is starting reception tomorrow and I am very anxious as she seems so young (still very emotionally volatile and no real interest in learning to read or write). However she is exceptionally tall so at least she won’t look like the youngest! It’s good to hear stories of late summer-who have coped well.

"SimonJT" : If your DC is adopted, can the school get pupil premium funding for him? Check this out. It gives the school extra money that they can use towards helping him.

I have positive stories about summer borns too and each child is very different. I have seen very immature September borns. I know several summer borns who got places at Oxford and Cambridge. They were reading well at 5 years old and some grasped maths concepts very early.

Most children thrive at school. It takes some a bit longer to get used to the idea but for the first few weeks it is not too different to nursery. They will have a chance to play and get used to the setting. Always be positive and reinforce the good about school.

First day of reception my stomach is in knots worried about the toilet we have really struggling with toilet training and hes not the best at going he starts this afternoon he was excited when i told him there was school today until he realised it was not nursery but big school now he doesnt want to go i just want this day to be over

Ive delayed mine after experiences with older brother.
A lot is behaviour and attitude, concentration.

My DD started last week and she's literally only just turned 4 so is the youngest. I had all the same worries as you but she's gone in happily as she doesn't realise that there are children there almost a year older. The teachers are expert at helping young ones-they also have separate plans to give extra support if needed. I personally think us parents of late summer babies are in a strong position as we are often over worried about how young they are and therefore have thought of all the what-ifs; what-if they need help academically, what if they need more support socially etc... Good luck to littlies starting school!

Many many years ago I was a May born 4 year old starting reception. Family legend relates the epic tantrum I had when I was collected upon completing my half-day when I realised that the older children got to stay...I hope your DC loves school as much as I did!