starting summer-borns in reception at 5, not 4

[lingle]

Is anyone out there wanting to defer the start of their child's education by a year? have you been told that if you do this your child will be forced to go straight into Year 1?
I've been investigating this in the Bradford LEA. There is a clear right here, recognised by the Council executive, to defer entry for summer-borns by a year and place them in reception. A friend of mine has just "taken the plunge" and done it and had no trouble at all with school or Council. The Council did try to remove the right (it creates admin for them). Various headteachers in the area objected: one described it as simply "cruel and inappropriate" to force children who are not ready into formal education at 4. Luckily this proposal was rejected.
I suspect that where LEAs try to force deferred children straight into Year 1 there could be a legal case: the statutory school starting age is 5, not 4.
Anyway, as you can guess, I'm mum to an August boy. I've lived abroad and seen the ill-disguised shock on faces of my old friends there (even in places like America where you would expect them to be pushy) when I tell them he is due to start school at 4 years and 10 days. I've also seen how hard the children work in reception at his school. And I've read the evidence of how few August children are at University compared with autumn-born children. So I'm prepared to fight for flexibility for my second son.

I'm pinning my hopes on Sir Jim Rose's investigation into increased flexibility for summer-borns: his report is due out in October. The Secretary of State specifically briefed him that lots of parents want their summer-borns to defer entry. And the government now accepts that, while some summer-borns thrive for starting school at 4 years, many, particularly boys, never catch up and are affected for life.

If anyone wants links to the Jim Rose briefing or to the report from the Institute for Fiscal Studies on long-term affects of going to school too early let me know and I'll dig out the link. The consultation period for Jim Rose's report is unfortunately finished - I wasn't on this forum until recently, otherwise I could have spread the word. His recommendations wouldn't come into affect until a few years' time.
They have flexibility in Scotland already I believe. Let's hope we get it in England too.

My twins were born prem in late July so I had dreadful misgivings about them enetering reception. DS in particular couldn't so much as wipe his bum!!!
That said, they both loved it and sat comfortably alongside their older peers.
Interestingly, they were both very mediocre at sports to begin with as their muscles and co ordination were so undeveloped but now at year 4 they are going great guns and DD is the fastest girl in her year.

i didn't realise there was such a difference according to where you live. DS started at 5 but was ready at 4. he missed the deadline by a few weeks (the deadline is 2nd of july, he's 23rd) but tbh i think he was better equipped to deal with the work because he was older. DH is going to be starting when she's still 3 which i'm not happy about. 3 is still a baby in many ways and if there was any way to let her start later i would be there like a shot. NI has an odd system at times tbh. DS is the last year to do the 11 plus but the high schools haven't had a lot of guidance as to admissions and the info is not filtering down to the primary schools so we're groping in the dark
i just had a meeting with DS's teacher and she was saying that they are frustrated cos they can't give out info because it keeps on changing. i wish they would stop tinkering!!! or at least have something in place so that the transition isn't as traumatic

DS not DH....DUH!!!

DD even.....

I have one September child and one mid August. The Sept one is the older and am frustrated he will have to wait a whole year to go to school in 2009! He would be fine starting this september but if I had the choice, I would start him half way through...

...But am worried about the August baby who not even remotely there yet so no idea what he will be like.

We ought to have more flexibility to allow for different developmental needs.

Ds3 is 29th August and will start reception in September. Tbh I'm not really worried about him but I think he benefits, both socially and academically, from the fact that he is the youngest of 3 boys with small age gaps (19 months between the first two and 21 months between the 2nd and 3rd). He sits and counts, does little sums, points out letters etc along with the others when they are doing reading or maths homework.

Socially and academically I think he is ready and there is no way I'd defer him.

It will be interesting to see how he gets on but it's a very nuturing environment in the school infant section so I think he'll be fine.

There are def one or two in his nursery that I can see are not ready though and it's sad for them that they are forced into the system.

OMG GDG! I can't believe your baby will be starting school in September

Gdg - our boys were born on the same day then - my DS1 will be 4 on 29th August. He won't start reception until January though. I think he will be ready by then hopefully, he starts doing lunches from September to ease him into a longer day.
My main concern is that the school has mixed year groups so DS1 will be in classes with children who are 2 years older than him and much more physically and emotionally mature. Does anyone else have experience of this and how it affects the very young ones?

just in case you haven't considered this and use your kids birthdays as PINs etc: change them now or don't - please - post them on here!

I have 2 August born sons, DS1, was born on the 30th August and is now coming on for 13, he was deferred for a term but that was due to him having dyspraxia, rather than his age. He is doing well as can be in the circumstances. His brother was born the 31st August and is now in YR2, I was seriously concerned about him starting school 4 days after his 4th birthday, but he has proven everybody wrong. He has the reading age of a 11 year old and his maths is also higher than average, the only real problem he has is his pencil control, but I am reassured this will improve with time. Obviously, as parents we all worry, but sometimes kids have the upper hand and surprise everybody around them. As you can see, even though my boys are the youngest in their years, they are far from struggling because of it.

I know Roisin - it's frightening! He is ready though - he absolutely loves school nursery and the reception classrooms are right next to the nursery. The nursery children already go to those classrooms for story time and other activities so it's very familiar to them. They also do 'PE' and have assembly in the hall with the rest of the infants.

It's fantastic actually, the way that they ease the transition for them by mixing activities with reception when they are in nursery.

Perhaps I'll start to notice his age when he gets to yr 1 and things go up a gear - spellings etc?

ScarletA, it is nice to hear someone who feels as I do. When is yours supposed to start school?

It sounds as though there isn't anyone who doesn't agree that more flexibility would be good.

Anyway, the consultation document question said "What are the options for providing more flexibility for starting dates for summer-born children" - which made it sound as though the government already accepts the principle of the matter.

Lots of the people on this thread registering concern are ones who have seen from elder children that the early start can really be a problem. But you would never know that England has an exceptionally early and inflexible start unless you happened to have experienced other cultures. So most people only find out when it is too late.

Two August children here. I would have loved them to start a year later. They are both bright, but summer children have to be, in effect, doubly bright to be better than a September child.

What gets me is that in Reception the teachers are well aware of ages and make allowances etc, but from year 1 nobody knows or cares. It was always the September borns who were top of the class, had the parts in the plays, won all the races on sports day etc etc.

That said, SOMEONE has to be the youngest. If July/August children are allowed to go into the year below, then all the June children's parents will be bellowing for justice.

Allowing some children to defer may also compound the problem... If July/Aug children have the choice then the ones that choose to stay in their year will be up to 14 months younger than the eldest rather than just 12 as now, and as fircone says the June children will potentially be in a worse position than the August ones previously were. Not sure what the right answer is really.

My DD is an August baby and her sibling will be too when it arrives. She is only 2 this summer so I haven't really considered the implications for school yet, but then I'm an August girl too and went to school when I was just four and was fine. Someone's got to be the youngest, as Fircone says. It must be tricky if you feel they really aren't ready, though. It will be interesting to see whether the report sees 'flexibility' as being able to defer for a year, or can come up with something rather more creative. Or whether it will conclude that any flexibility is actually less helpful rather than more helpful. Interesting.

This is something that I'm going to be looking into.

My ds is 2 on 25/8. So he would probably be the youngest in the class. I know it's too soon to decide for sure, but from what I can see from him at the moment it looks like he will not be ready for school at 4years and 5 days.

My other son is a September birthday, he is the eldest in his class. He's fairly bright and copes ok but had he been an August birthday he would have struggled for sure.

The school is Voluntary Aided so will have to speak to the head.

I have gone through the system with DS (June) Year 3 and am due to send DD (July) to reception in September.

Both have different maturities. DS emotionally very mature for his age, mixed well and had lots of friends, struggled with reading and writing. Handwriting still poor although mine was and I was October. DD emotionally immature but far brighter academically and is beginning to recognise letters etc and counts really well. She struggles with making friends as that part of her psyche has not yet developed. Her handwriting will also be poor as physically she is also not as developed.

The new system really benefits the little ones as it concentrates a lot more on the social skills and less on handwriting etc In fact it has been criticised by some of the parents with those kids who are ready for more of an academic challenge. Personally I am quite happy for DD and would not have held them back as I think they may have missed out more on the social development. I think the new structure is much better. My DS would have been much more confident now if his first years had been in the same sort of structure but he is a happy sociable child and did fine in his SAS in Year 2 and his reading is really good now. Going straight to Year 1 could be a bigger shock to the system.

Every child is different and I've taught summer born children who were the most "ready" in the class and Autumn borns who were very immature. In my LA all children start in the September after their 4th birthday meaning some children are literally 4 and a few days when they arrive. Personally what I would like would be a system where all children could start at a time when they are "ready" for this big big step.

Have been thing of this this morning - quite crossly actually. DS is an August boy and is just coming to the end of Yr 2. Really struggles with his writing - has been assessed by school OT and will be working with her next year. Teacher pulled me to one side this morning and asked if it was OK if she arranges for him to do some extra work next year with the SEN team. They would work on structuring his sentences etc.

He is also struggling with maths.

He is a very good, nice popular boy in class and the teacher says he works really hard and concentrates well but I really feel he is struggling because of his age. His reading is OK but not great - stage 7 ORT.

Basically he should be still in Yr 1.

I thought about not putting him into Reception at 4 but was convinced that I should. Regret it now.

The only good thing is that we will move back to UK in 2 years and have already mentioned to the school we would like him to go to that we would like to keep him down a year at that stage and they said it should be OK - obv wouldn't do it if he was top of the class but he isn't.

It is so frustrating.

My sis in in Dublin and has already gone through a tough time with her DD - June born and really struggled. Kept her back a year this last academic year (she is almost 8) and although it was tough for the first few weeks, she has totally blossomed. Sis is now not starting her youngest DS till he will be almost 5.5. Rule is that they can start term after they turn 4 but don't have to start till term after they turn 5. He will be 5 in Feb and will start in the Sept.

Should read - "thinking of this this morning"!

I tend to agree with those who say it all depends on the child. My two are October and late June born. The eldest (October) was more than ready to begin school in the September just before hisfifth birthday. My youngest really wasn't ready at 4 years and two months, BUT, the school they both went to were very accomodating of their younger reception children and a lot of the day was of the 'learn through play' type of activities which they had been doing at playgroup etc. The eldest has always been acknowledged as bright and has certainly achieved outstanding results (14 GCSE at good grades A & B) and is currently sitting A levels. The youngest was felt throughout infants and juniors, to be very much average if not a little behind. The school didacknowledge there might be a link to his being a summer baby. Once at secondary school however, he bloomed and has gained a reputation among both staff and his peers for being the clever boy in the year. He is currently sitting 12 GCSEs and is expected to do very well in all of them. He has been accepted into sixth form to take maths and sciences at A level and has just completed a year as head boy. So yes, summer born babies CAN do aswell as their autumn born siblings, it might just take a bit longer to see their potential. And yes, I am extremely proud of both my wonderful sons!

Oh yes, forgot to say that both boys also took at least one GCSE a year early and gained excellent passes!

DD1 is the youngest child in the school & started the day after her 4th birthday.She went full time as all her friends were & I felt it unfair to take her out halfway through the day.If she had struggled,I'd have thought again,but she loves school and was more than ready for it.

She can read already,do simple maths & is learning French.She enjoys school so much that I can't imagine what she'd have done if kept back a year.She was definately ready,despite her age.

That is great FG - and I hope she continues to do well.

My DS also coped well with reception. Was totally uninterested in the academic stuff initially but the teacher just left him to it and when he was ready he suddenly just refused to leave school one day without a sheet of words.

He also coped well in Year 1.

He is now coming to the end of Year 2 and struggling with maths, writing, sentence structure etc.

All in all I am left feeling that he would be doing fine academically if he was currently in Yr 1.

I do really feel that there should be more flexibility with summer borns - especially boys.

In Denmark boys start school a full year later than girls. Makes sense to me!

Haven't read the whole thread however we moved back to the UK 3 weeks ago and DS(5.8 & September birthday) is starting school tomorrow for the first time! I should add he has completed 3 years in Kindergarten (in German) but no formal reading/writing. He will have 6 weeks in Reception until the end of the Summer term then move into Year 1 in September. Evidence suggests he will catch up pretty quickly, i.e. the older they start (within reason) the more reay they are to learn..... but I'll keep you informed!