Page 3 | Starting Primary school one year earlier than normal age.

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LeekMunchingSheepShagger · 18/10/2019 14:54

You can't put a 3 year old into reception.

Nat6999 · 18/10/2019 14:58

I would look for a pre school who are prepared to work to stretch her abilities & work on her social skills so that she is well prepared for her starting school at the normal age.

fedup21 · 18/10/2019 15:01

As per Local Council's policies, It seems that it's possible to start school either one year earlier or one year later than normal schooling age.

Can you please link to one of these local council policies?

I have taught reception for over 20 years and have never known a child to start school a year earlier than CSA.

You will need to pay for private childcare if that’s what you want.

codenameduchess · 18/10/2019 15:03

OP, it would be easier to just search for your LAs policy on applying for schools. Every LA publishes it and you can contact them easily if you have any questions. It's really not difficult.

If you want to start a 3 year old in school because you don't want to pay childcare though you should stop and consider the child rather than whatever weird agenda you have.

Benes · 18/10/2019 15:05

Is this to avoid paying for childcare??

BrieAndChilli · 18/10/2019 15:13

the best thing to do is find a good nursery for them to attend

you posts do not make any sense. I cannot work out what you are trying to say!!

I was put up a year in primary school but had to repeat year 6 as the secondary school wouldnt take me a year early.

MrsElijahMikaelson1 · 18/10/2019 15:13

You still haven’t said the age of your child or why on earth you would want them to start school age 3-you do realise that research shows the older the better don’t you?!!!

Wern · 18/10/2019 15:15

Hi bobthemoggie,

I was at secondary school with someone a year younger than everyone else in the class, but he 'jumped' a year after starting primary school with the rest of his age group.

57Varieties · 18/10/2019 15:16

Why would you do this? Most people want their kids to be older in the year, not a year younger

Andsoitisjust99 · 18/10/2019 15:18

Please don’t do this to your poor child. If they are gifted then get the a tutor and ensure they have lots of time to play. Don’t start them early, it will do them no favours even if they are allowed to.

LizB62A · 18/10/2019 15:20

I wouldn't - my son is now 21 and was a July baby
I still wish that I'd delayed him starting school for as long as possible.
There's no way I'd consider putting any child into school any earlier than they absolutely have to.
Look at the Scandinavian countries - they don't start school until 6 there, which sounds like a much better idea to me.

And if you really are thinking about this just so that you don't have to pay for childcare, that's shocking that you'd put finances above your child's best interests.

QueenBlueberries · 18/10/2019 15:21

In some circumstances (premature birth, twins, child with developmental delay whose birthday is in August for example) can start school 'a year' late but I have never heard of a child starting Reception a year early. I know each borough works slightly differently, but I have been working in schools for 20+ years and I have never heard of or worked with a child who started Reception a year early. Sorry this isn't helpful, but maybe you will need to contact the borough to ask the specific question.

Velveteenfruitbowl · 18/10/2019 15:22

I think that the option of starting early is more for children who miss the deadline by a week and are advanced.

3 is ridiculously early to start school. You can always put your child in a nursery that has a more school like setting if you want.

Hoppinggreen · 18/10/2019 15:25

Dd had a friend who missed out being in the year above by 1 hour.
Her mum really fought for her to start school “early” but it wasn’t allowed. She wasn’t especially ahead of anyone else academically (didn’t pass 11+) but she did look older than most of the others in her year, at least until about age 12 when they all caught up.

user1573334 · 18/10/2019 15:29

My friends asked to do this for their 1st September born son. I was in disbelief as I was locked into a battle trying to get my August born to school the following year. The friends were told no, but that they would consider moving him up at a later date in the year if they felt he really wasn't being stretched enough in the preschool.

MC68 · 18/10/2019 16:41

Yes I know my friends son was 4( by about a month only!) but he could have had another year of childhood prior to starting the slog of school & being with other children who can be older by over a year & physically & mentally more developed. Personally I’d have carried on with nursery another year but that’s just me in my circumstances.

However, my friend wants to remove him from school for a week in December to go away. She has put in a request & it has been approved ‘ because your child is not of proper school starting age’ (slight paraphrasing) but that’s the official reason given in the form that his absence has been granted. We are in England just to confirm incase anyone is wondering.

CaptainMyCaptain · 18/10/2019 17:23

However, my friend wants to remove him from school for a week in December to go away. She has put in a request & it has been approved ‘ because your child is not of proper school starting age’ (slight paraphrasing
Substitute compulsory for proper and that is true, you can take a child out of school for holidays until they are 5. Children are entitled to a school place in the September of the academic year in which they become 5 but it is not compulsory.

SleepingStandingUp · 18/10/2019 17:31

my friends son was 4( by about a month only!) but he could have had another year of childhood prior to starting the slog of school
You know childhood doesn't actually end when you start school right? It's reception, not a coal mine

Pinkflipflop85 · 18/10/2019 17:36

You are still missing the point. Your friend's child did not start school 'early'.

MartyrGuacamole · 18/10/2019 17:36

My ds started at 3. He has an autumn birthday and is physically big and very clever. He was reading, writing and able to do addition and subtraction. The school accepted him into reception after a lot of discussion with his preschool and he has thrived. I do not regret my decision and he loves school. Nobody knows he is a year ahead as he fits right in. He's now in yr 1 and still doing very well.

Pinkflipflop85 · 18/10/2019 17:37

And if she had waited a year her child would most likely have gone straight into year 1 as it is very difficult to get a delayed reception start approved in many areas.

Wellmet · 18/10/2019 17:45

You won't be able to do this. And your suggestion of getting a private sector going for these things is good, so good in fact that it has already existed for hundreds of years. You are perfectly entitled to enrol your child in a private school.

Wellmet · 18/10/2019 17:48

Martyrguacomole, is this in a UK state school? I've taught in many of them and it wouldn't even be considered as an option where I live. I'm very surprised to hear it's possible.

fedup21 · 18/10/2019 17:51

My ds started at 3. He has an autumn birthday and is physically big and very clever. He was reading, writing and able to do addition and subtraction. The school accepted him into reception after a lot of discussion with his preschool and he has thrived. I do not regret my decision and he loves school. Nobody knows he is a year ahead as he fits right in. He's now in yr 1 and still doing very well.

Which LA is this?

This would not happen in any state school I have worked in.

MC68 · 18/10/2019 18:36

Pinkflipflop85:
I didn’t say he’d started ‘early’ I stated ‘l’ felt it was a bit young & I wouldn't have done it with a child of mine, I’d have waited until the following September when they’d have been 5 for a month (if it had been my child as it were).