Holding son back from school

HRV

As a reception teacher I would say he will miss a vast amount by not attending reception (he will go straight into year 1 if he starts next sept) his recpetion year will really help him settle- as others have said year 1 will be much more formal (will depend from school to school). If he's gonna be in a class of 14 that's fantastic ratios ( I have 30) and I'm sure he'll soon settle especially if he's been to Nursery. Why don't you settle on a compromise starting after christmas and up his nursery sessions until then eg. every morning?- however your place won't necessarily be held open if you start after xmas as if another child comes along I think the school are obliged to accept them

wornoutmumoftwo

I deferred both my boys from starting school for year, but I'm fortunate to be in Scotland where they defer not only for age but development. Neither boy was ready to start school with their year group and the extra year gave them time to develop their social and emotional skills further. They both still need support in school, the older one more than the younger. DS1 just turned 8 and starting P3, while younger will be 7 shortly after starting P2.

I think our reception is a second year at nursery though (my boys both had 3 years at nursery/preschool)

lauhen

My son turns 4 in September and the local school has an intake into early years in January, the times for this are similar to preschool, they first do afternoons for a term and then mornings for a term and then they go into reception, and then the usual year 1,2 etc every September. This really helps them to adjust. Does your school really take them straight when there four into full time school, I have not known a school to do this for kids who just turn 4. The other school in my area takes them straight into reception but they are nearer to 5 when they do.

jcr16

My son was 4 in the july and was due to start in the sept. i was really worried. he is a tiny lil thing, not interested at all in any type of schooling. would much prefer to play lego etc. He has speach problems . he can't hold a pen. write his name. he just isn't interested.( this is because he wasn't sure if he was left or right handed. turns out he is left. my other son is 2 and left handed but has perfect hand control with drawing. but thats because he enjoys it. My son has often fallen asleep as soon as walked in door. he has also fallen asleep in assembly at school.

it did cross our mind to keep him back. but then he would miss reception and go straight into year 1. which in my mind would be more of a struggle.

So my son started in the sept. He has loved every day. He can now hold a pencil and write his name and count up to 50. his teacher said he has the ability to make it look like he not paying any attention, but she said he is a veyr inteligent little boy . and he has a real thirst for learning now. he loves it.

Until your child turns 5, they don't have to attend. so your child could go just mornings, or every other day. there is no pressure. but i think your find once they are there, they will really settle in and enjoy it . It will be harder for your child missing a year out.
i'd say take the reception year as a trial year in prep for year 1. and do as much as your son can. I didn't think my son would cope , but his school report has 100 % school attendance and he has learnt so much and developed so much as a person. it has given him a fantastic foundation to go into yr 1.

onlyroz

twinkliestar wrote: »

At my school all children start in September, but spring/summer borns do mornings only until January.

Yes, and whose loony idea was this? It's a nightmare for working parents to be picking up their kids at 1pm for a whole term. I had to do it with my son, who was a summer baby - crazy, crazy idea and I wish that it wasn't such a wide-spread practice.

bromleymum

Firstly, reception class is very similar to preschool and they follow the Early School Curriculum so it is mainly play based, or at least should be in England & Wales.

Secondly, in my borough, they do allow you to defer a year but the child then has to go straight into Year One. This may be OK for you and your son but I always worried my boy would be the odd one out when others may have formed initial friendships (I know these are not particularly established at 4/5 but I still fretted).

Finally, schools are really geared up for this and some parents I know kept their children in for the mornings or afternoons only for a while to give them a longer settling in time. I'd be amazed if your school doesn't have this flexibilty.

Only one of my three children was August born but all three of them were absolutely knackered for the first term in school!!!!! Tantrums reared their ugly heads again, as did falling asleep at the dinner table.

I avoided after school activities until at least Year One as they really don't need any more stimulation in Reception. Infact, they are now discouraging Reception children from joining any extra-curricular activities in my school now.

ailuro2

We were in a position where our DD could start school at 4 and a bit, or 5 and a bit, we chose 5 and a bit, much tot he dismay of her nursery teacher (but she's so bright, why would you keep her back?)

We didn't feel she was ready in her social skills, and she would have been one of the youngest and smallest in the class.

So we put her to full time nursery (different nursery from the one that had decided she should go to school) and she blossomed.

Our neighbour taught first and second years schoolkids all her life and said the older ones always coped much better, were better behaved, needed less help with the basics like tying shoelaces.

DH's sister taught older kids, and said she could tell the difference in the kids who had been sent to school as soon as they were old enough and the ones who had been given an extra year before they started.

I know we made the right choice, DD is now in top groups for everything going into her seventh year at school.

Do what you think is best for your son, and never mind what anyone in authority tries to tell you, if he has a choice then let him do what's best for him... best wishes, hope you find a solution that suits you.:)

Kate78

Different schools/local authorities have different rules, so I would check that they aren't funny about him not starting this year.

All kids are different and you know your son best at the end of the day.

Btw: I'm a mid-August baby, so I sat all my GCSEs when I was still 15, did just as well as anyone else.

To my knowledge I don't have any behavioural problems either.;)

minerva_windsong

My best mate's birthday is the 31st August and she started school when she'd just turned four. She got five As at A-level and a First in her undergraduate degree, and is about to complete her Masters. It doesn't necessarily have to be a bad thing to have a summer birthday.