Starting Primary school - late June birthday

gibbyni

Hi

I have a friend who has a little boy with a birthday in the last week of June. Technically, they should be applying for a primary school place to start next September, but she feels he would be at a disadvantage due to having such a late birthday - he would be with kids who could be almost a full year older than him.

Do you know whether they can defer him starting primary school until the following year?

Thanks in advance
Chris

nikki1520

You should be able to defer until the term when he is 5 (in England and Wales - don't know about Scotland)

However, bear in mind that by the Easter Holidays, friendship groups will have been made, and he will be the "new kid" - not to say he won't make friends, but it will be a little harder.

In my son's year, he was 5 on 13th September - the youngest in the class isn't 5 until the 31 August 2012. Theres a full 50 weeks age difference, they both have the same first name and are the best of friends. All the older ones seem to take a lot of time helping the younger ones when they're out in the playground.

I would say enrol him for September, and make sure he's used to being away from mum and dad beforehand - assuming they don't use childcare already.

My birthday is in July, so I was one of the youngest, and never felt disadvantaged either.

gibbyni

Hi Nikki

The cut off dates are a little different over here in Northern Ireland, (2nd July through to 1st July). Had he been born a week later, he would have waited until the following year to enrol, but as it is he will be the youngest in his year. It's good that you never felt disadvantaged - I look at my own wee boy who has an August birthday and they will both be starting school together - there seems an awful difference development wise between the two of them.

Thanks!

Chris

BatCat

Hi Chris,
A friend of mine has a son with a late june birthday. He started p1 this year and actually settled better than my boy who is 6 months his senior. It all sorts itself out.
Cheers!

nikki1520

Hey Chris

Are they starting at the same school - it does make a big difference if you already know someone - another reason not to hold off!

Good luck!

Mojisola

nikki1520 wrote: »

My birthday is in July, so I was one of the youngest, and never felt disadvantaged either.

It's good that you did well but, when looked at as a cohort, summer babies do less well academically when compared to autumn children.

sunshine

Mojisola wrote: »

It's good that you did well but, when looked at as a cohort, summer babies do less well academically when compared to autumn children.

Our eldest was born at the end of June, started school at 4 in the September, was an A student right through school, went to university and is now a maths teacher. If the child is ready for school I'd encourage them to send him.

leftieM

I had the same issue with my daughter who has a June birthday. I wanted to keep her back but was told by the nursery teacher that I couldn't. Legally you must start them in P1 if they are 4 on or before July 1st.
It does impact on their attainment, there's no getting away from that. Over the years it levels out and by they time they are 16 it is negligible. Teachers are aware of this and will allow for it if they are any good.

little-miss-pinky

My youngest son's birthday is on the 29th August, This has not held him back in the slightest, he doesn't struggle at all, all his school reports have been brilliant and he and 1 other boy do their maths lessons with the year above. He's above where he should be and always has been. It all works out so I wouldn't worry about it to be honest.

Mojisola

sunshine wrote: »

Our eldest was born at the end of June, started school at 4 in the September, was an A student right through school, went to university and is now a maths teacher. If the child is ready for school I'd encourage them to send him.

little-miss-pinky wrote: »

My youngest son's birthday is on the 29th August, This has not held him back in the slightest, he doesn't struggle at all, all his school reports have been brilliant and he and 1 other boy do their maths lessons with the year above. He's above where he should be and always has been. It all works out so I wouldn't worry about it to be honest.

Of course some Summer babies do well and some Autumn babies struggle at school but, looked at as a group, Summer babies don't achieve as well.

I think if the parents are aware of potential problems, they can be mitigated by helping the child at home but Summer-borns do start off at a disadvantage and some studies show effects right up to degree level.

NAR

If parents develop their children as they are growing up; teaching them words, reading to them, nursery rhymes, colouring in etc etc there is no reason why a child should be disadvantaged by being 6 or 9 months younger over the period of Primary School.