Will they put DC up a year?

[Ohnoivebecomethatmum]

My dc has just started in reception in a private school, due to having younger sibling and me not returning to work, they didn't attend nursery. DC is very bright for their age, even when looking around private schools this was commented on, along with other parents stating this. They are reading and writing and adding and subtracting already and they are a late summer baby. I don't say this to boast, but to give context. Anyway, they have been at school for a week and we've had the plan for the rest of the month and none of it will stretch my DC. Am I being ridiculous to ask if they will put DC up a year? Or should I just wait and see and ask for some stretch/challenge tasks?

No categorically they won’t

He has been at the school… a week?

Just to add I absolutely love this school otherwise. Pastoral, parents, other pupils, school grounds, ethos etc.

Just over a week

I honestly wouldn’t get them to put your child up a year. Socially that will make their lives so difficult.

I was put up a year and it was awful. I was so much more immature than my classmates and my U6th year was hell as everyone else aged into adults and I was still 16/17

I was a late summer and up a year at private school.
I don't think it did me any favours socially.

You would be better off asking for extension work on areas where they are ahead.

Don't ask to be put up a year. She would be very young for the year ahead. Ask them how they plan to stretch her, but consider wider areas than pure academics. My DS started Reception able to do what you have described, but still learnt lots around friendships, looking after his belongings, getting changed for PE, stamina for writing etc.

It’s very unlikely they’d put him up a year, and that’s generally frowned upon now anyway. Kids may be academically ahead but they’re still socially and emotionally their real age, generally they do much better progressing with their peer group.

Its also important to remember that at this age some of the kids will catch up to your child very quickly, he may not be ahead for long.

Much better to let the teacher know “yes, he can already do x, y and z” and ask how they’ll manage /stretch his tasks so he doesn’t get bored.

As a late summer baby there's absolutely no way they'd move them up a year.
And even if she's bright nit having been to nursery means she's probably got social skills to acquire which is really important in reception.

You also can't criticise them for not stretching your DD after a week! They're still figuring out what they can and can't do!

Your child has been there a week. Even the best private school in the world won't be stretching a child after just 5 days of being in school. Moving them up a year is a ridiculous idea and not at all in your child's best interests.

In answer to your question posed in your user name @Ohnoivebecomethatmum

Yes, it would appear you have

He has attended this school for may 6 or 7 days, and you are already posting about this. Your 4 year old. They will be taking it very gentle because it’s the start of school for these very young children.

The teacher will be surprised that after a week you are asking for your summer born 4 year old to move up a year. And the answer will be… no

Thanks for the replies. How long would you wait to have a conversation about stretch/challenge? A month? A term? DC is very mature as well, always plays with older children and holds their own.

I wouldn't have any conversations at all. These people will take time to get to know your child. They are not mature and they don't need stretching. They are 4 years old and need to be allowed to be a child and develop in all areas of the curriculum not just the academic side.

My answer to this would depend on your child. If they are happy, leave it a bit longer. Personally I'd raise it at the Oct/Nov parents evening. If they are complaining of being bored, I'd try to have a conversation earlier. Right now they will just be pleased if children have settled in, aren't crying and know how to take themselves to the toilet!

Wait till the first parents evening, check your assumptions about how your child is doing in a busy unfamiliar environment are correct, check you’re correct that they’re significantly ahead of the class, and then ask about stretch.

I was your DC - July bday- had a very hands-on SAHM and could read and write / do basic arithmetic when I started school aged 4 etc. I stayed academically inclined (Oxbridge undergrad) but I'm definitely not a genius and socially it was much better for me to stay in year. Apart from anything else, DC who go up a year will have a disadvantage in sports unless super talented due to size and development differences- they would be playing against DC almost 2 years older than them (see data that shows sports teams skew towards Sep-Dec bdays in the UK). My DD is a sporty summer born and it's notable that she's only now consistently getting in the A teams as they get to year 8/9 and the age differential stagger starts to unwind a bit. However, she is August born in the right year, not the year ahead.

Your child has been there a week. The teacher will give him/her extension work. Give them at least half a term before you go wading in! There's so much more to school than just academic learning.

Relax and treat it like school is for social skill building at this age. Academically they'll work her out and stretch her. It would be a travesty to move her up after 7 days in school and then she suffers socially for the rest of her school life.

I would wait for the school to approach me! This is a private school. Very small classes. If they think he isn’t being challenged - they will contact you!

Our DD was very able and had attended a brilliant school in Thailand where she was confident reading and writing.
We moved to a European country where 'children were learning to form letters'.
The new school offered to put her up a year.
We chose not to do that.

It all evens itself out anyway.

@AllJoyAndNoFun makes a very good point about sport - even if your DC was moved up a year they are unlikely to be able to play in a team with older children as the ages tend to be set by the governing body and, in most cases, restrict young children playing ‘out of year’. It may not matter in YR but could become an issue in years to come.

Let your child settle, they will be learning lots outside of the academic curriculum in these early weeks. Be glad that they are finding the start of school relatively straight forward.

Also worth being aware that children develop differently - you may find that whilst your DC seems to be ahead of the pack just now, it may not always be the case as other children catch up.

Wait for them to approach you, otherwise they might be very put off. You need to think of the social side as well year 1 is very different to year 2 and also many senior schools want children in their normal years and will refuse to defer or take a child on whose not the correct age which means repeating a year. Your jumping the gun far to much here.

The early years curriculum allows teaching staff to meet children where they are. There is no reason she can't be doing the same level of academic work as higher years, while also benefitting from the "prime areas" of learning in EYFS. At the moment though they are, quite rightly, getting to know the children as people and not just academic abilities.

As PPs have said, let things be. A skilled Reception teacher can easily stretch your child e.g when the others a writing sentences your child can be asked to write a page. This is easier than trying to make allowances for your child’s social skills in Yr1. Just because you see your child mixing with older children it does not automatically mean they are mature.

Education is a process not a race. Let your child find their tribe and their route towards adulthood (so sad but adulthood has to come).