P1 and P2

[Mama0ftw0]

Good morning,

In a situation which I don’t mind explaining however, has anyone homeschooled for P1 and started their child in P2?

Any teachers reading this would be great to know if you have seen this happen.

Many thanks

I’ve never seen this happen in a (nearly) 20 years of teaching infants.

I have very often had children arrive from other countries who haven’t started school yet or been to nursery and they manage, but it is a huge adjustment.

It wouldn’t be a choice I’d make for my child. P1 is a lovely, fun year and helps them adjust to the size of the building, the new expectations and should give them a good grounding in phonics.

I've seen children arrive from other countries where they wouldn't start school for another year or so. Usually placed in their year group with help for phonics etc in P1. Easier if it's a composite class for the learning.

I think it depends on each individual child as to how they will settle.

Having worked with kids in school this maybe a huge transition and very tricky for a child. P1 is a foundation year where kids learn basics and start building friendships, social skills and skills they need in preparation for P2 upwards. Personally I would say it's better to start a child straight into P1 rather than home school them for P1.

We did this, as did quite a few of our friends. No issues at all. My DC entered school in P2 and by the October holidays caught up academically and were well embedded socially in the year group.

Thank you everyone for the feedback.
Mine has completed preschool and now in reception in England however when we get to Scotland next year they would enter P1 even though they are ready for P2 (Year One England).
I was thinking of home schooling for P1 and joining in P2.

Let them join in P1. The advantage would be they aren't the only new starters and friendships won't have been formed yet.

There is a real mix in ability in P1 so the teachers will be able to keep your child motivated and learning. You can do some at home to keep them interested.

When is their birthday?
Scottish kids are on average 6mths older entering school than English kids.

End April @Needanewname42

Thank you for the responses. It helps to get advice.

I think the only reason I thought to do homeschool is that for the first 6 months it would be just me and the children in Scotland as father is away and we are 7.5 hours from family. We would move to Scotland in time for the start of the academic year (August) however, Dad would be away for those first 6 months.

Therefore, I was just exploring my options and one option in my mind was could I home school next August to December and either join P1 in The Jan or just take the whole of P1 as home school.

Thanks again.

Not sure if there's something I'm missing as I can't see the advantage in homeschooling based on the starting age or their dad being around, is it the logistics for dropping off and collecting you're concerned about? But I'd be tempted just to join in August. That way you'll be applying for a place at a standard time of year, rather than having to set up a place midway through, be there for all the orientation stuff, and your DC can make friends before everyone's established friendship groups. Assuming your other DC is younger, you'll also be able to focus on taking them to groups for their age in the daytime.

Depending where in Scotland you're moving to I wouldn't be confident of getting a place in your local catchment P1 class half way through the year. Schools in popular family areas are full and so your child would be given a place in another school, which may be some distance away.

Thank you. Get what you are saying about joining half way.
Yes it’s just that daunting feeling that I’m on my own with the children for the 6 months no where near family. 7.5 hours in the car.
thanks again

Good morning.

My youngest has just gone into P2. She has a school friend who joined P1 late after being homeschooled. They were already friends through an external hobby and I chat with her mum. The child struggled for a while with the classroom environment. It was little things like running off to use the toilet instead of putting her hand up and asking, or running inside at break time.

With you saying dad will be away for six months, I'm guessing you may be a military family? That's how we ended up in our area. The schools in our place have additional support for children from military families.

Could you delay your move until dad can join?

Personally I think starting P1 with everyone else would be the best way to build a network. Knowing other parents who might be able to help you out e.g. having your child for a play date so you can go to the dentist might be really useful. Plus would help your DC make friends.

Thanks both.
@CottonPyjamas yes military so no way around it to delay move etc.
I don’t have a Mother and Father. Many people I know have there family up for a few weeks to break it up - if that makes sense.
My Sisters have children in school therefore they won’t be able to come up to break the big six month. Just daunting to think I’ll be going there and no where near anyone for that 6 months know nobody. Comes back goes again for 2 months 3 months later.

Many people (mainly friends) have told me to stay put near family in England and to visit Scotland in school holidays if he is in the U.K. Also him to come to England when he can.

Anyway, it was just a thought to join later when the big 6 month is done but yes understand it might be problem joining school half way.

If you're military family then there may be special arrangements locally for children arriving mid year and getting place in catchment school if it's an area with many military families.

@BendingSpoons yes makes sense about building network.

@DolyKat yes a couple of people did say this that many spaces come up throughout the year as nearly 95% of P1 and P2 is Military kids.
Thanks

If they've already done Reception in England being an April baby the school MIGHT allow them direct entry into P2.

But I'd pick up the phone and speak with the school. If your moving to a miliary area they will be well used to children coming and going part way through the primary school years.

How long do you think he'll be based in Scotland, if you think it's a move that will be a few years I'd move, especially in the primary school years.
You'd maybe want to stay in one place with the kids when they hit secondary but that's a long way off.

@Needanewname42 3 years.

thanks again.

If he's expecting to be in Scotland for 3 years I'd move. That's a long time to only see each other at holidays and when DH can get time off.

I'd speak with school explain they've done Reception, and would be close to the oldest in the year in P1.
School might be willing to do an assessment and see where they think LO would be best placed, if they think they could cope with P2 they might go with that.

I think it would be a bad move to do Reception, then a year of chilled out Homeschooling to then try and put them back into a classroom environment.
While you could do groups and stuff I think it would be bad for their social skills. And very very hard on you not to get a break from LO.

As I mentioned, the military is the reason we moved here. I happen to be 7 hours from my family, so not too different from you. The first time we moved into quarters (in England) my husband was away. We only had a baby at the time and I felt very isolated. When we moved to Scotland, I was pregnant with my second and my first was in his last year of nursery. For me, the routine of doing the nursery run helped. I got chatting with the staff and other mums. Pretty soon we were meeting up for a cuppa, and it was one of those who took my eldest in when our childcare let us down as I went into labour.
Obviously you know your child best, but being in school does bring up opportunities to form friendships for you both.

In your situation I’d put them into P1. They might be ready for P2 and find the early part boring but they won’t even have to think about learning phonics etc so can just concentrate on making friends. They’ll be playing most of the day anyway. Having a child in school will get you integrated in your local community which can only be a good thing so far from family. Also they would be very very young in a P2 class, which could feasibly have kids turning 7 in the autumn.

I would agree that if it was my child, I'd send them to school in P1. My eldest child was reading two years ahead of his age when he entered P1 (school did an assessment) and he still got a lot out of P1, particularly socially. They should differentiate the work where appropriate, so e.g. my son had a more advanced reading book, etc.

Thanks very much for all of the responses.

Think I will do it. Just enter in P1 after Reception in England.

@CottonPyjamas thank you for your advice from being military yourself.

Thank you everyone