Sons turning 4, haven't been to school yet!!

[demiallen]

Hi, my sons turning 4 in October and still have been too any educational school.

Before Covid began and lockdowns I was preparing him for school. Now he's tuning 4, I feel awful. Is anybody else in the same situation??

I don't think it's that unusual. My daughter started at a school nursery in the September when she was 3.5. She was entitled to funded hours from Easter but the school didn't have a place and we didn't want to send her somewhere else for a term. I'm sure some of her class with Autumn birthdays were starting at almost 4 for the first time. She is thriving now in Reception, even after missing chunks of nursery and Reception. Have you applied for anywhere now?

If he is turning 4 in October he could go to a school Nursery class (for 3 turning 4 year olds). Although entitled to 15 hours of education from the term after he turned 3 - ie in January of this year, most schools only do a September intake after turning 3 so he could start in September and have a full year of nursery class, then he will be starting Reception.
That is actually what most children have. Although loads go to 'nursery' before 3 it's actually daycare not a school setting. School setting starts from the September after the 3rd birthday. So your son is fine.

It’s def more unusual these days in that a huge percentage of children (in the U.K.) go to nursery/daycare a few days a week from around age 1 as mums return to work. Or at least in my social circle they do (& wider).

But pre-school starts the September before they go to school. This is voluntary.. but if you want him to go, then find yourself a local pre-school for September. Could be part of the school he’s likely to go too or private nurseries have pre-schools as well (with FAR better hours for working parents!)

Are you in the uk? If so that doesn’t even sound unusual to me. If he turns 4 I. October he’s not due to start school until September 2022.

I found it helpful for the kids to have some experience of school type settings before they started actual school. My went to preschool for 3 half days a week for the summer term before he was due to start in reception. That’s all, and he settled into school very well and had no issues.

So not sure what you’re worrying about tbh!

Also remember everybody knows children haven’t had the usual experiences due to lockdown, so any preschool/school that’s any good is adapting how they do things to reflect that, it’s not like your kid will be the only one who hasn’t been at playgroups etc.

Don't worry, Reception classes mostly play. They are building and measuring and role-playing which is how they learn. Many countries don't start till much later

It's totally normal for children who don't need childcare not to go to an "educational establishment" until at least their pre-school year (which for you, will be September). Some don't go anywhere until they start Reception. So I wouldn't be feeling awful.
Due to Covid your child has undoubtedly missed out on some of the mixing with other children that he might do at groups or even in the park, but everyone else his age will be in exactly the same boat!

Are you in the UK or elsewhere?

If you're in the UK, your son is eligible to 15 hours funded childcare per week (and has been since January). I would suggest that you enrol him in preschool ASAP. Perhaps you could get him a place for September.