Starting school at 4 years old

foolofbeans

I just received a letter telling me to choose a school for my child to attend September 2014. Child was born beginning July 2010 so will only just have turned 4 :eek:
I thought school was not mandatory until after the child's fifth birthday but it doesn't mention it anywhere in the letter. I was going to consider part-schooling where child attends school but on a part-time basis.
Does anybody have any advice/ info on where I can find out more on the options available?

double_mummy

depends what area you are in - in my area the kid starts in september with everyone else or you home school there is no option for part timing its just luck of the draw my LO is also 3 but her birthday is this week so she will be one of the eldest in her class

there is a boy in my sons class born on the 28th august he started with everyone else as normal and is doing very well

i think its us who get more worried than the kids!

meritaten

School isn't 'mandatory'. but, I don't think you can 'part-time' unless the lea agree.
However, education is 'mandatory' from the age of five. the law states that a child must receive an 'education' - it doesn't state it HAS to be in a 'school'!

delain

I have a couple of August babies (one who also starts sep 14) and I can't say there's been any trouble. They haven't been behind or anything. The schools are always aware that the youngest are more likely to get tired in the first half term or so. They all even out pretty quickly!

You can defer a year but then your child will start year 1 as an 'outsider' having missed the reception year when a lot of important social stuff goes on.

balletshoes

you can defer - it will be on your LEA's website.
You don't have to send your child to school until the term after they reach the age of 5.

It may not be logistically possible to send your child to any state primary school in your area "part-time". You would have to check that with each school you are considering for your child.

What I would say is this - unless you are absolutely positive its too soon for your child to start reception at age 4 in the September following his birthday, I personally would try him out with it and see how he gets on. Half his class will be 4 when they start school with him, and he may not even be the youngest. Reception is where the kids get used to the school day, get used to being in groups, get used to structured play etc. If you defer your child until he is 5, he'll miss reception and go straight into year 1 - and year 1 is hard work for little ones compared to reception.

MX5huggy

Move to Wales, mine has been in 2 hours 15, every day since the first term after his 3rd birthday. As said it is optional, but he loves it and its cheaper than nursery (just as I have to pay nursery to pick him up). He goes full time first term after 4th birthday.

notanewuser

foolofbeans wrote: »

I just received a letter telling me to choose a school for my child to attend September 2014. Child was born beginning July 2010 so will only just have turned 4 :eek:
I thought school was not mandatory until after the child's fifth birthday but it doesn't mention it anywhere in the letter. I was going to consider part-schooling where child attends school but on a part-time basis.
Does anybody have any advice/ info on where I can find out more on the options available?

DD will start nursery in September 2014 - she won't even be 4 till the middle of October. I was exactly the same age when I started school. It's not a big deal for most children.

notanewuser

meritaten wrote: »

School isn't 'mandatory'. but, I don't think you can 'part-time' unless the lea agree.
However, education is 'mandatory' from the age of five. the law states that a child must receive an 'education' - it doesn't state it HAS to be in a 'school'!

The LEA don't have to agree anything before they turn 5. DD could go to pre-nursery in January (but there aren't any spaces). Had there have been I'd have sent her when I wanted to, not necessarily full time and there's nothing the school nor the LEA could legally do about it.

notanewuser

MX5huggy wrote: »

Move to Wales, mine has been in 2 hours 15, every day since the first term after his 3rd birthday. As said it is optional, but he loves it and its cheaper than nursery (just as I have to pay nursery to pick him up). He goes full time first term after 4th birthday.

I'm in Wales. DD should have a space in January, but there aren't any places so she'll be staying at her part time meithrin till next september. She'll be 3 in 3 weeks.

She'll go to nursery (full time?) next september when she'll be almost 4.

notanewuser

double_mummy wrote: »

there is a boy in my sons class born on the 28th august he started with everyone else as normal and is doing very well

i think its us who get more worried than the kids!

I think that's true. My birthday is in mid October, so I was one of the oldest in the year. My sister was born on 28th August so was always one of the youngest. But it was always school holidays and hot on her birthday, and never on mine!

Janepig

DD/DS's school take them full time, one intake, the September after their 3rd birthday. Had no problem with mine and tbh I haven't heard of anyone else with a problem - the school is heavily oversubscribed so it's obviously a popular move!! My cousin's little boy has just started the nursery class, he was three at the end of August and still in nappies (not for the want of trying). He absolutely loves it, he's settled in really well. His class have children whose birthdays are from the end of February to August so a 6-7 month gap between eldest and youngest, which is better than a 12 month gap.

OP, you'll just have to look around to see what individual schools near you tend to do. If they're oversubscribed (like many are) then I think you may have to put your child there at four or lose the place.

Jx