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

tarajayne

flutterby_lil wrote: »

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

Like I said, they're all different, and so are we. What one of us does doesn't suit the next. I may be back at work then so who knows. Haven't got there yet, time goes too fast.

nottslass_2

tarajayne wrote: »

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

Couldn't agree more. Suggesting that a child must have SN or is "disadvantaged" in someway because they can't count to 20 or know left from right by the age of 4 is the most ridiculous thing I've heard.

Generations of children didn't used to start school until around their 5th birthday ( or indeed go to nursery ) and still managed to achieve academic success.

My middle DS went to nursery school just as he turned 3 and started primary a week after his 4th birthday,with hindsight it was wayyyy too early,yes "he coped" but I wished I'd followed my instincts. I can see no real advantage of pushing children into formal education when they are barely just out of toddler hood.

Sammy85_2

The children going into reception class at my local school do it in stages. 6 children at a time, then 12 and then the full class of 24 by the end of September. Its not because the children arent used to full days or cant handle it, its because many are used to smaller groups at nursery and so being thrust into a full class with 23 other kids is often too much.

It also enables the teacher to spend time with every child and help them settle into the new routine of going to school, which while it involves alot of play can be alot more rigid and structured than anything they may have encountered before at nursury.

Buttonmoons

I'm 23 and still get muddled with my left and rights! I have to stand behind DD and look from my POV weather her shoes are on the right feet, I'm not special needs, I just struggle with that (and fractions) She couldn't count to 20 until she was almost 5, but she is nearly 5 and a half now and can count to 100, tell the time etc, but, when younger they just repeat what you say, they don't actually understand it, DD was speaking a few sentences that I taught her in French at 3, doesn't mean she knew what it was!

What a load of bobbins :rotfl:

We are in Scotland and as DD was born in April, she just started school this past August (had went to nursery for 2 years) she started school at 5yrs and 4 months, and she started nursery at 3yrs and 4 months, (im pretty sure they have to be the *4* months before starting nursery - for the jabs I think?)

I am clueless mind and she was at the nursery attached to the school so it was V easy for me, but if I was new to the area and she was 4, I'd of thought she started then :rotfl: because my younger sister started when she was 4 and a half. It's all very confusing!

andrealm

Where I live you have to start school the September after you turn four, unless your birthday is in July or August, then you will be five when you start. You can't start in January or stay in nursery for an extra term, or wait until the term you turn five. So if he lived here he would have had to start in September.

There are no posters in windows here and HVs don't tell you, I knew about it because of talking to other parents. I do know of someone who missed the deadline for nursery, as they didn't know they had to have the form in for the January before they start in September.

tiamai_d

There is no information ANYWHERE about school starting dates! Unless your child is in the nursery attatched to the school when you get told, no letters, no posters, just word of mouth. And only if you are in that particular nursery. Which exlcudes children that go to different nurseries, don't go at all, have childminders/nannies etc. Also in Scotland you have to register with the school your are in catchment for and every school will have a different enrollment day.

HV's in my area don't know anything about school, hell you even have to chase them up for preschool boosters!

So yeah, it is easy to miss. Unless you are off at every little stupid club going and the local gossip chain includes you. Or heaven forbid, you work or WORSE, you think that children should be children and you're not spending their younger years prepping for school and ramming education down their throats.

cambermam

pigpen wrote: »

It baffles me how parents cannot know this.. not only are there posters everywhere

No there isn't

including shop windows here!

No there isn't

The HV tells you

No she doesn't

and you get a leaflet through with the info and protocol.

No we didn't

It is in ALL the health centres, childrens centres, a lot of churches and playgroups have the info

Again, no.

I almost missed the intake for my son too as he was in a private nursery and they told us nothing. When i overheard some other parents talking i asked them and they said "oh, we must have forgotten to give you the form". But no, no posters, no HV, no letter, no nothing. Luckily i got him into the preferred school.

Don't assume all areas are the same. And also don't assume everyone "just knows", you've got about 20 kids so obviously you'd know.

Person_one

cambermam wrote: »

Don't assume all areas are the same. And also don't assume everyone "just knows", you've got about 20 kids so obviously you'd know.

I've got no kids, never go near nurseries, never met a health visitor and I know. Its pretty common knowledge.

If you do have a child, you'd think you'd vaguely remember that you started school sometime around 4ish and, I don't know, find out?

jillie1974

tarajayne wrote: »

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!

agree totally.
at this age they might understand what 2 things are, but if you asked them to bring 7 items they probably wouldnt know what you mean.

OrkneyStar

In Scotland, you are given a nursery place for the term starting after their 3rd birthday (eg my son is a June birthday so started in Aug last yr). They then start pre-school the next Aug (aged approx 4) and school the year after (aged approx 5). There is some flexibility though and children will start school at anything from 4.5 to 5.5 or thereabouts. This is because the intake only happens once a year and so children with Christmas birthdays will be either 4.5 or 5.5. Up here is it more common to 'defer' (i.e. wait until 5.5) than not.