Summer babies starting school

[mary70]

I have been in touch with my local council education today beacuse i wasnt happy about Hannah starting school at just 4 years old and am looking at my options eg home education ect, they have told me today that if you have a summer baby meaning they would be the youngest in their year you can defer admission until the summer making them 5 when they start school which i think is a much better idea.

 

[Xena]

I didn't know you could do that. My kids are at the opposite end of the school-age spectrum. Lydia is a September kid, so she'll be one of the oldest when she starts school, whereas Alex is an August baby, so he'll be one of the youngest. (there will be only 1 academic year between them if they both start on time, despite there being almost 2 years between them in age).

When I was in school, there was a boy in our class called Adam whose birthday was 1st September 1983, and in the same class was my (then) best friend Sarah, whose birthday was 31st August 1984. I always thought that was quite crazy. I remember when it was his 13th birthday party, the previous day my friend had only just turned 12!

 

[valentine]

This is the same in Scotland - but the school age thing runs from 1 March one year to 28/29 February the next.

I was a February birthday but went to school when I was 4 1/2 as I was definitely ready. Other February birthdays could be delayed (and still can nowadays based on nursery teacher's recommendations and parent's own wishes) and go to school at 5 1/2.

Valentine Xxx

 

[mrs_tommo22]

We have it here too and i could defer my two but stephens been to the pre school so made sense for him to go up with his friends and he needs school anyway, he gets so bored and naughty when hes not in a stimulating enviroment.

I will be sending Imogen to pre school and depending on how she is i imagne she will go up as well

 

[mary70]

This is the same in Scotland - but the school age thing runs from 1 March one year to 28/29 February the next.

I was a February birthday but went to school when I was 4 1/2 as I was definitely ready. Other February birthdays could be delayed (and still can nowadays based on nursery teacher's recommendations and parent's own wishes) and go to school at 5 1/2.

Valentine Xxx

that sounds a brilliant idea its a pitty that England dont do the same

 

[lea m]

Both my boys are summer babies and started school at just turned 3! TBH they loved it so it wasnt a concern of mine!

 

[trixipaws]

gosh i didnt no u could do that. melissa is a summer baby. i might consider it depending on her progress, some things she did really early (rolling at 2 months) and other things she was late (not crawling properly til 10 months) i'll see how she goes i suppose and decide whether i think she's ready or not. if she seems advanced at 4 i shall send her, if not its nice to no i can keep her back.

 

[mamichuli]

This is quite different here, children go to school the year they turn three (the year is not academic like in Britain, it is Jan 1st to Dec 31st), so all kids born in 2007, like Ani, will start school in 2010, regardless of which month they are born in. To be honest, mine started at school at the age of three, and loved every minute of it. Admittedly, they went to a nursery from the age of two, so were used to it.

Lisa

 

[chickadee1976]

Cameron is an August baby and went to school just before he turned 5. His friend is a October baby and didnt think he was ready for school yet so she defered

 

[Magic Monkey]

I was only having a conversation about this today, how weird is that!

As a Year R teacher, I have to say, please think carefully about deferring for a year. The first year SHOULD be a fun introduction to school, where children play a lot and learn a little, but where they build lots of friendships (providing it is a good year R class). If a child misses the first year, they start the following September as a new child, who has to integrate into existing friendship groups. From an academic point of view, they will have missed a lot of the foundations in terms of phonics and number work, so be prepared for the fact that, to begin with at least, they will be in the bottom groups for most things as they will have some catching up to do. Also in our school, year 1 is a very structured environment e.g. lots of whole class teaching, followed by sitting at desks writing, with very little time to play. In my opinion that would be a huge shock to a child who had experienced nothing of school before.

I think that it is a difficult decision to make and I am glad that Ella isn't a summer baby so I don't have to worry! In my experience 99% of children are ready for school. How does the school manage the start e.g. our summers didn't go full time for ages (not until almost xmas) so had a nice gradual introduction to school (unlike they would get going straight into year 1). If they don't offer this as standard, perhaps you could request it so that Hannah starts in Year R, but slowly.

Sorry if I went on a bit there! I just wanted to put the other side across. Let me know if you want to know anything else.

 

[mary70]

hi hun i am familier with the school system i was a hlta in the school where she will be going and i have taught foundation 1 and 2 and years 1,2 and 3 but i still think that summer birth children are at a dissadvantage, my son is an august child too but he didnt start school until easter which was fine but they have done away with easter start which i think is a shame. I have had a email today from the education department and she can do part time reception or sart at easter is i can ok it with the school