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

Lol I was in same position though and in the correct year. Aug 30th birthday.Acadwmically top of the class in majority of subjects ( not art or music) Still 15 at leaving age. I'd been working for 2 years before could get served in pub, unless I went with older workmates

So a birthday of 1st Sept in year above i cant really see any difference

OP I have one kid who's September born and one July. Honestly - the September born kid just had an easier path through education. They were physically and emotionally ready for school and found the first few years quite straightforward.

Although my july kid has done really well it was always a struggle to catch up academically and it wasn't until about Y3 that their sporting talent started to shine as they were so much smaller than some of their peers.

So I wouldn't rush anything...

We went independent schools right the way through and although they both enjoyed school and did well, with hindsight I think I'd have gone for a state primary to start. It's such a massive financial commitment from 3 or 4, and if budget is a concern before you even start then maybe wait a bit? Fees go up significantly year on year and all the uniform/clubs/trips really add up.

See I've brothers in sept and Oct. Both struggled at school far more than me

Teacher here. I've had experience with a handful of students who have been moved to the year above. All of the pupils had issues, were a little socially isolated and also by the time they got to secondary any benefit had long been forgotten. The rationale in the UK is they are better to develop mastery and security across the board. Both of my children are at either end of their academic year groups and my daughter who is one of the youngest in her year definitely has it harder. If you are going private it might be worth a perusal but honestly OP I'd think very very carefully before doing it.

No, I tried as he was only one day off being able to start school a year earlier. He went all the way through school being the oldest child in his class with all the benefits that entails. He’s just started university already aged 19 and I think that extra maturity has made a lot of difference to his confidence.

So how would that affect the twins who should've been in different school years. Would the one a few hours younger really suffer so much starting school with their twin?

Surely the sensible thing to do would be to defer the older twin rather than trying to get the younger in earlier? Both twins would be at a huge disadvantage being the youngest in the year

Didn't have the deferring at the time

There are three quite different issues here:

1. Should you put your child up a year? Is it possible? I'd say don't, and that it's very very very rare, even in the private system, for good reasons.
2. Do you want to go private or state? Well, we could be here for a long time, many many pros and cons to both.
3. You're worried you can't really afford private. I'd focus on this one. The fees for reception and Years 1 and 2 are often vastly different from the fees for years 3-6/3-8 and then senior school is a whole new level. Depending on where you live day fees are 10k a term, boarding fees nearer 20k per term. Who knows what they will be in the future...

I have read a few of the posts but not the entire thread sorry. Also not private school for us.

My eldest who is a early September baby has absolutely had a lot of benefits in my opinion vs his sibling who is a late summer baby.
I am in Wales where they don't allow you to push back a child from their cohort and if they did I genuinely would have done.

Wishing you all the best and that you find the right placement for your little one!

This. I posted earlier, but can’t say it enough seeing a friend’s child go up a year and struggle despite being super bright. It is not the maths and English. So many other areas are a challenge. Relaxed evenings and minimizing stress around school is worth so much. They have an opportunity to be children for longer and have the time to try lots of activities. So many fundamental skills are learnt in primary school and it is great to lock these down thoroughly, with the confidence that goes with a solid foundation.

DD's birthday is literally the first day of term every year. It's a huge advantage to be yhe oldest, so i wouldn't remove it. That extra year of boredom at preschool (where you can easily enrich them with extra activities) pays off hugely in the years to come with the extra maturity etc that the extra year adds.

There is zero flexibility in pushing them up a year, and I really wouldn't recommend it. There is a reason why so many parents are desperate to delay Summer borns.

I haven’t read the thread but I was that child (in the 1980’s). My birthday is 1st September, I started school early, I don’t really know the ins and outs of why but nursery education was not routine so I started school. I was in no way disadvantaged by being the youngest so I’ve always been sceptical about the younger children being disadvantaged because surely it’s individual. I was the last one to learn to drive I suppose.
There were a couple of issues that went with it though. I had to see an educational psychologist to be assessed whether I would cope with the move to high school. Which obviously I was, I was only a day younger than my friend, so I did start high school with my friends but I do remember being worried that I would be separated from them. I also couldn’t leave school after GCSEs but I would have stayed in 6th form anyway, because all my friends did.
My dd is also a September baby. I wouldn’t have attempted to do the same for her, not because it wasn’t the right thing for me and not because it wouldn’t have been right for her as she’s always been socially mature as well as academically able, but to avoid those periods of uncertainty about whether I might be kept back.

My sister looked into this for my nephew, who’s born the 3rd September. Was a no straight away, he was ok, bit bored of nursery for the last half of the year and actually started school on his birthday bless him. He still looks much older than the rest of his class in year 2, and is doing super well in everything like reading etc, probably thanks to that extra year!

There is no facility for this to happen. The best that could happen is where some schools have full time nursery places for children who will be 4 in a particular academic year, ie the year before Reception. But these schools will charge for half the day as they only receive funding for part time nursery places.

Just to add to my other posts - I coped fine with the work and got really good grades. I just felt out of place - people always wanted to know why and it felt like bragging to say it was because I was clever enough to (it was a good private school with an entrance exam and interview) - I honestly just don’t think there was any benefit.

What’s the rush with putting a child into formal schooling so early? Let a child have another year in preschool and enjoy the advantage of being one of the oldest rather than the youngest.

Have you looked at fees across all year groups in private schools? Pre prep is cheap relative to later years

Same, I rarely mentioned it in my whole life, if it couldn’t be avoided it made me cringe at myself. I also pushed back as a kid against that expectation of success that came from it.
I’m not sure my academic outcomes would have been much different in school or later tbh, so actually I can’t see the benefits, unless of course you’re going to Harvard or Cambridge at 12 type bright. The disadvantage is school leaving age - you can’t change that - though it won’t always be relevant if uni or college follows straight from year 13 now.
Interestingly, Finland, higher up all league tables by a long shot, don’t start school till later than here.
Having been through education, had kids/grandkids and taught adults, I think probably main key to learning and doing well/being happy in school, is engagement in learning and interest in what’s being taught (less phonics more forest!!) - not happening in primary so much now I think, no home corner in reception even! So I wouldn’t push them in early.
If I could I’d base my kid’s educational choices on making sure they got as much of that exploration, fun and interesting learning as possible. They spend so much of their lives at school it’s really sad (for them and you) if they don’t enjoy even a bit of it regardless of later outcomes, imo.

No I don't think this is possible, nor wise.
Instead, there are other ways to challenge them while they wait to be the right age for starting school...

• Squirrel Scouts (and some Rainbow Guides) start from age 4 and they work towards badges in a different social setting to nursery, with 4-6 year olds.
• Swimming lessons, and/or other sports such as dancing, martial arts, gymnastics or tennis.
• visits to places such as zoos to learn about animals, or getting a pet they can learn some responsibilities for,
• go and see shows with live music, and learn lots of songs,
• cook together, crafts and free imaginative arty play, and plenty of play dates for social skills.
• And talk to their nursery to ensure they are planning ways to keep your child engaged, without rushing ahead with things like teaching reading as then they'd only get bored next year at school.

August babies have a distinct disadvantage, so I certainly wouldn't push for it, just put them in a good preschool.
Our little ones start school too early as it is.
Prolonged early years provision would be better for them.

DD1 did, and they made her repeat reception (along with two other September born children). We moved schools when she was going into year 3, and they moved her straight to year 4, but she ended up repeating the last year of primary, as the secondary school wouldn’t accept her out of her year group. So it ended up being a bit of a mess!

So only for kids of well off people then. The bored poorer sept born kids just have to stay that way if parents can't afford all these extras

Schools do not receive funding for Reception children until the year in which they turn 5. They will not be admitted a year early. Instead, find a school with a nursery so they start in preschool before being admitted into reception.

Just have to be extra creative if funds are tight. Scouts and Guides are really good value and usually have access funds if families can't afford them.
The OP mentioned private school which would be much more expensive!