need some advice please: son turns 5 in feb 2012 should he be in school now?

balletshoes

theshadow wrote: »

thanks for all the info to those that gave advice,

i live in Manchester, i will try to get him started in jan, as i dont want him to settle in his first school and then we move house and as to settle again. As we are in the way of looking for new house to live in another town. Just didnt want to get in to any trouble with the "government"

home school for first year! not sure about that, but i am self employed and we work from home, but don't want him to miss any social life

..ps he was late toilet trainer as he was scared of the big bad Loo

you won't get into trouble, don't worry - you don't have to send him to school until the term in which he becomes 5 years old .

Torry_Quine

If you were in Scotland he could have started last month but children born in January or February are automatically deferred one year if requested so wouldn't start until next August. I think starting days or weeks after being four is far too early.

Alikay

Torry_Quine wrote: »

I think starting days or weeks after being four is far too early.

Yes, some children are just not ready. Maybe it's fine at a nice child-centered Montessori or Steiner type primary but my experience shows many schools already have their eye on getting high scores in the year 2 SATS, and are coaching literacy and numeracy skills from day 1.

Last year our 4 yo foster child was getting homework set and was expected to read each night - she was exhausted at the end of a school day anyway and practically falling asleep in her dinner

adamantine

i was born in jan and i started in the august after i turned 4.

my eldest was a may baby and just started school 3 weeks ago aged 5 but his brother was born in feb and will start school the august after he turns 4.

if the child is born in nov, dec, jan or feb then they can start when they are 4 if they are ready or you can defer for a year till they are 5 but you need a good reason to defer.

best thing would be to call the council or even your health visitor if you cant get through to the council.

balletshoes

adamantine wrote: »

i was born in jan and i started in the august after i turned 4.

my eldest was a may baby and just started school 3 weeks ago aged 5 but his brother was born in feb and will start school the august after he turns 4.

if the child is born in nov, dec, jan or feb then they can start when they are 4 if they are ready or you can defer for a year till they are 5 but you need a good reason to defer.

best thing would be to call the council or even your health visitor if you cant get through to the council.

I take it you are in Scotland? The rules aren't the same in England and Wales.

silvercar

In my areas you would have applied by October 2010 for a school place to start September 2011 (ie this week). I think a lot of schools would allow you to defer starting by a term, but you would still have been allocated the place. By not applying you may find the places have already been allocated for your chosen school.

balletshoes

silvercar wrote: »

In my areas you would have applied by October 2010 for a school place to start September 2011 (ie this week). I think a lot of schools would allow you to defer starting by a term, but you would still have been allocated the place. By not applying you may find the places have already been allocated for your chosen school.

I don't think the OP has a chosen school yet though, they are intending moving areas before the child turns 5.

rachbc

Ou child doesn't legally have to be educated til Jan - either at home or in school. Your problem will be getting a place for Jan start as many will be full with the kids starting this week.

There was another thread on this recently and I am still shocked that people can get to this point and not realise - especially if they have older children

Ravenlady_2

balletshoes wrote: »

I don't think the OP has a chosen school yet though, they are intending moving areas before the child turns 5.

If they know an area they are probably moving too then its up to them to ring the council and asks which schools have vacancies.

adamantine

balletshoes wrote: »

I take it you are in Scotland? The rules aren't the same in England and Wales.

yeah im scottish. thought everything was the same country wide - ante-preschool/pre-school the term after the childs 3rd birthday then school at 4 or 5 depending on their birth month? learn something new everyday!