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

jillie1974

not growing up in the UK, i havent a clue how the education system works here. I do know from the poster at my son's nursery that we will get a pack the months before he will be able to attend school.

and i started school at 3 and 340 days. the school i went to badly needed a new school, and needed numbers on the registration. in 1978 3 of us started before we were 4 as there was a shortage of pupils starting.

sunshinetours

How does it benefit the children? I never understood this thing about "ooh my little darling just isn't ready for school". Kids are capable of forming friendships from around age 3 I think, and they're certainly capable of interacting with children in a positive way from much younger than that.

When a parent bleats on about their little darling not being ready, I think they really mean they THEY'RE not ready to stop being the centre of their child's life.

Because in 6 months or a year there can be a world of difference in energy, stamina and personal development between 4 and 5, so for many of the younger ones they aren't reay for 9 -3.15 days 5 days a week straight off. Not that hard to understand is it?

I am sure there are many many parents who indeed struggle to let go as you say, as there are many career focused parents who expect schools to fit around their working life but usually there is a compromise somewhere in the middle - bit like half days for a short period (whole term is too long I would agree)

onlyroz

sunshinetours wrote: »

Because in 6 months or a year there can be a world of difference in energy, stamina and personal development between 4 and 5, so for many of the younger ones they aren't reay for 9 -3.15 days 5 days a week straight off. Not that hard to understand is it?

I find it hard to understand because my kids were both perfectly capable of handling a full day at nursery from 6-9 months.

tarajayne

skintchick wrote: »

Don't all decent parents do this with their children earlier than this? My DD is just 2 but she knows her colours, can count to 20, and up to 100 in tens, and sing songs. I'm currently teaching her left and right. If they can;t do all that at 4 surely they are disadvantaged or have special needs?

What a truly shocking comment to make, how dare you presume such utter rubbish! They are all different, some 'get' numbers, some don't. Some are Academic, some Arty. Some are extremely talented in Sports. Left and right for example is something some struggle with at 6 or 7 although in literacy they may be top of the class. Sounds like yours can parrot repeat most things well. Doesn't mean they understand. And even if they did you've probably made a few parents on here panic!

And Op, I think it's called Deferred Admission, no legal requirement to be in school until 5. And having worked in Reception there are some kids that just aren't ready and don't cope with having to think for themselves completely. Hope you sort it. X

tarajayne

onlyroz wrote: »

I find it hard to understand because my kids were both perfectly capable of handling a full day at nursery from 6-9 months.

But school is so different. I had no idea until I worked there. Not like Nursery at all.

sunshinetours

onlyroz wrote: »

I find it hard to understand because my kids were both perfectly capable of handling a full day at nursery from 6-9 months.

Child care is somewhat different to school though I am sure you would also agree. If children are sent off elsewhere from a young age they know no differemt so of course they get on with it and "handle" it

I would however agree that those who have their children largely raised at full time nursery/chilminders probably develop children who are far more ready to start school from the sense of being used to being away from parents more during the day

tarajayne

I would like to defer until LO is four and a half. She turns four mid July so September seems just too soon, but I'd be happy with January. Don't know if we can though as school here is really oversubscribed so probably wouldn't hold the place.

onlyroz

tarajayne wrote: »

But school is so different. I had no idea until I worked there. Not like Nursery at all.

In both nursery and the reception class, the "Early Years" curriculum is taught for the 3-4 year-olds. My kids' nursery tried to persuade me that there was little difference between the two, but I do think that the reception class is more formalised and structured than nursery. However, at least half the time in reception is spent "playing", and this is often free-form giving the children the chance to develop their own ideas about how they want to spend their time.

flutterby_lil

My LO turns 4 end of july and I want to send him September 2012, 3 months deferring seems pointless to me.

tarajayne

onlyroz wrote: »

In both nursery and the reception class, the "Early Years" curriculum is taught for the 3-4 year-olds. My kids' nursery tried to persuade me that there was little difference between the two, but I do think that the reception class is more formalised and structured than nursery. However, at least half the time in reception is spent "playing", and this is often free-form giving the children the chance to develop their own ideas about how they want to spend their time.

Our reception is all playing, it's lovely. It's not the lessons that bother me, it's the 'sort yourself' attitude that most staff have. Luckily mine have come from a busy home so are taught from a young age that Mum doesn't do everything for them, lots don't. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with the way those children have been bought up, they've been very fortunate to have parents with the time to do it all and I would never say the way I've done it is right, it was just what worked for me. A child who needs the toilet, or makes a mess in the toilet, can't open a packet from their packed lunch, is unsure where to sit, where to put something away, or to ask for a drink at the right time. Some just don't have the confidence and I think starting a little later may help, rather than 25 that don't know all the same time.