Has anyone had success requesting early Reception admission for a September born child?

[edelweissss]

Just wondering if anyone’s had any luck getting their child into Reception early when they were born shortly after the 31 August cutoff. We completely understand the rules, but it feels tricky when a child seems ready and just misses out by a few days. I’d love to hear from anyone who’s tried this with either state or independent schools was there any flexibility? Also, is it possible to ask for an assessment outside the normal age group, just to see if the school agrees the child is ready, without it affecting the usual application process? Any experiences or advice would be really helpful

Now I’d really like her to start Reception in a private school. Budget is a bit of a concern, but her wellbeing matters most to me.

If you're concerned about how you're going to afford private school before she's even started, then it's not a route you should take. The fees will increase each year, and if you're focusing on her wellbeing, think about how you would feel if you have to suddenly move her part way through, because you can no longer afford it.

I've heard of it happening before but not since the early 1990's and most were put back in their original year group at some point.

I've never heard of this happening? I have a child with an early September birthday who is very academically capable and undoubtably would have coped well with going to school a year earlier. You get precious little time to be a child as it is though - why would we purposefully make his childhood a year shorter?

I have an early September child, I remember initially thinking she still seems so young when all her pals when off to school and she was still in nursery.

This was until the January time and she hit boredom at nursery! We worked with the nursery and they brilliant to help further install independence- coat on peg, small letter/number work and learning with play. I understand your thinking but honestly September turning 4 they are still young and if it did happen they may end up in a class that has a number children who have been held back at year and that may really impact their confidence and development.

She was very very ready to start in the September she turned 5.

I mean, call me crazy, but why don’t you just let her be a child? (I assume) she’s 3 years old, not long a baby, and you’re already trying to rush her into formal schooling. What about playing? What about joy? It isn’t just about the academics. Have you considered her emotional wellbeing at all?

My DD is a June baby and started school last month. I felt that she was more than ready to start school last year and she was. BUT I have now noticed that maybe 2/3 of her class have birthdays coming up soon or are already five, she is very obviously the youngest in the class and whilst she is enjoying school she is finding some of the skills harder to grasp than her peers that are almost a year older. I'd take being the oldest as a massive advantage.

I think this would be a very bad idea. They seem advanced in the early years, esp girls, but at secondary school or after GCSE the differences are usually much more negligible ime. Your daughter would then be at a huge disadvantage being a year younger than everyone, not least because they'll all be learning to drive and celebrating exams etc in the pub and she wont be able to! (they're much stricter these days about checking ID for drinking before 18). Also going to uni at 17 can be problematic these days - they have to wear diffeent coloured wristbands etc and are severely restricted for that fun first year in halls because they arent 18. Some unis put them in seperate accommodation. (Also I skipped a year and went to uni at 17, it was not a great experience). She could take a year out after school of course but yes, generally, being older in the year is a massive advantage (mature earlier as well so less involvement in friendship drama, again ime) so why give that up?

Mine is born 1st Sept and, whilst doing fine, has never been top of the class. Would have been distinctly bottom half of glass if a year ahead. I'd keep in year and look for a more challenging school if you're worried (3 or 4 is way too early though ...) or provide more extra curriculars.

But really, from a philosophical point of view, isn’t budget always an issue...at home, at work, even for the government? Through these hardships you can be creative and find solutions.🙃

This is an odd response. Of course there isn't always a way to be creative and find a solution, a large majority could never afford school fees even with all the creative thinking in the world.

It makes no sense to start your child in a private school if you're already worrying about the finances before they have even started and is very likely to end up with you having to remove them from the school when the price continues to rise.

Count yourself lucky it's awful for them when they just turn 4 and are up against and getting judged next to children who are a year older

If you want more enrichment up their hours at pre school send them to clubs like dancing, rugby, Forrest school, mini Einsteins
Play with th
Take them on fun educational days out like national trust or children's museums

I understand your point, but not everyone has to think like a Brit. People come from very different backgrounds and mindsets. For some, finding creative solutions isn’t about being unrealistic, it’s just about exploring all possible options before deciding what’s best for their child.

Hi everyone! 👋
I’m looking for some budget-friendly gift ideas for nursery birthday parties. My little one has a one coming up, and I’d love to find thoughtful presents that are fun, age-appropriate, and won’t break the bank!

What do you usually give or love receiving for nursery-aged kids (around 2-4 years old)?for a boy and girl…

Someone I know triee everything keeping her girls in a private school down sizing house over time for her and partner side hustles

Literally spending every minute not being a family just to keep the kids in a posh school

They still couldn't afford it and the school kicked them out

All that stress for nothing

Now in a state school miles away from home as none locally had space but apparently very happy which is lovely

My son was born just over 3 and half hours after the midnight deadline and I've tried but unfortunately no he had to wait and was bored at nursery. But it gave him extra time with his sibling so they could have half a year with them. Which is stupid as it should be the day BEFORE the new school term starts for that school.

That's the way to respond. Thank you!

Double post sorry!

School terms vary so this would never work

Tge cut off is not to do with academic ability its emotional development. An example a girl my daughter class went to school early and when they went on a week long trip to france she was hysterical most of week. Don't rush them to school they are there long enough

My eldest is early Sept baby and I was thinking if only I could that but let me tell you that being the oldest in class is soo much better. Homework is a breeze at reception and he is so much more mature that he would have been starting a year before.

Such a shame they wasted so much money and gained so much stress it must have been so difficult. I'm so glad they are settled again now, hopefully they are also now able to carve out some savings and have some nice trips away, some things are more important than a posh private school and trying to keep up with the jones.

Why?

The outcome is still the same. The child/ren still had to move from the school. Op, would you really rather sacrifice you and your child's family time, financial security, holdays, extra curriculas etc, just so they can limp along for another extra year or 2 before being forced to leave the school?

@Easterchicken, It's an incredibly sad situation and I assume the parents also heaped the guilt on about how much they had sacrificed? When the child/ren never even asked to attend the school in the first place.

My niece was born on 1st September and her parents managed to get her into a private school a year early. It was the 90s. It did her a great disservice as she was behind, emotionally and socially, and struggled every year until finally she was put back into her year group. Academically, she did well.

We always felt sorry for her

A friend of mine had her daughter almost bang on midnight between 31 Aug and 1 Sep. She was actually asked what day she wanted on the birth certificate. She wasn’t thinking and chose August 31, everyone was shocked that she would choose to do that to her daughter! She was just thinking it’s nicer to have a birthday in August!

Do not do this! The advantage of being the oldest in year is huge and makes a real difference the older they get through the school years. Your decision now based on ability to form letters, phonics etc needs to be weighed against your child as an 11-18 year old. Emotional development, onset of puberty, age-related thresholds etc.

My DB was put up a year and though he was fine in academics it was a disaster in the emotional maturity front and the sports side of things.

Have a look at private prep schools, every single one round here does 1 or even 2 years prior to reception as a private early years setting, to ensure the move into reception is smooth. Also reception is Early years Framework - aka actually still the same assessment and milestones as pre school (just a year on), actual "school" doesn't kick in until Year One. So if I were in your shoes, with an advanced and mature child, I'd start looking for your ideal prep/private primary and then move them into their early years provision, rather than try and skip a year. A good early years provision will stretch them well, and at a prep early years provision they will often just be part of the main school, join in school activities and there'll be limited difference between that and reception class anyway. My daughter started reception reading very fluently (for a 4 year old, obvs shes not a genius but biff and chip was within her remit), with basic/beginners French, some basic maths (addition and subtraction and recognising numbers up to 100) and the ability to write short sentences and spell some basic words correctly. It set her in great stead to relax and enjoy reception, play, make friends and I'd much rather that way around than her be the youngest, feel stretched etc. It's great for them to go in feeling confident and happy with the basic principles and any good pre school or nursery should do that with them.