Would you defer school entry for one year in my situation.

peachyprice

Kaye1 wrote: »

There is a growing school of thought that children in the UK start school too early. Lots of countries who have much better literacy rates than ours do start until children are 7.

Yes, that may well be the case, but that is how it is and unless/until it changes holding back one child from the rest of their peers because their parents believe we start school too young will only disadvantge that child.

Jagraf

Sorry does that mean that if you defer in the English system you don't go back a year you actually miss a year of teaching?

peachyprice

Jagraf wrote: »

Sorry does that mean that if you defer in the English system you don't hikd back a year you actually miss a year of teaching?

Yes. In England you miss reception and start in Yr1.

Floxxie

My son wasn't ready for school (he is a March baby) and although he started reception, I soon took him out. He didn't start back until we moved to Northern Ireland and went straight into P2 (year 1). He couldn't read or write when he started the new school. He has done amazingly well and the teachers have not had to do any extra work with him. He is now an independent reader and loves school. There are only advantages to him starting later.

I'm not a fan of children staring school based on a birth date. My youngest was not ready. My other two certainly were (September and December).

pigpen

Jagraf wrote: »

Sorry does that mean that if you defer in the English system you don't hikd back a year you actually miss a year of teaching?

Of course.. they are put in classes based on birthdate.. so if you homeschool until they are 10 they don't start in reception class they go into year 6 (or 5 depending on birthdate) with all the other 10 year olds

silvercar

peachyprice wrote: »

Yes, that may well be the case, but that is how it is and unless/until it changes holding back one child from the rest of their peers because their parents believe we start school too young will only disadvantge that child.

Totally agree. Consider it is not only starting school and being older than the rest of the class, it is remaining in nursery as a 4 year old and interacting with all the 3 year olds. If you really feel your 4 year old is young for their age, then keeping them back to continue to mix with younger children is not going to help them.

Rain_Shadow

My sons were young in their year (DS1 - August birthday, DS2 - May).


Both were more than ready to start school at 4. If they were disadvantaged by the early start it hasn't shown in their subsequent academic achievements as they are now studying sciences at leading universities and on course for firsts.


As for accents. We moved from the NW to the south coast when they were at the end of year 6 and 4 respectively. Their, quite light, 'northern' accents marked them out as exotic for a short period but they soon lost them.

lisa110rry

Maybe we did our son a dis-service 29 years ago when he started school...or maybe he was always going to be a fiercely independent world traveller.

At 4 years 2 months he started school in Warwickshire. After one term we moved to Lancashire (Daddy's work). Daddy had been commuting weekly for 18 months so we knew it was going to happen. On Fridays when we collected Daddy from the station, he would sit in the back with our son chatting away. Anyhoo, after one term, we moved to Lancashire but we lived in a hotel for seven weeks until our new home was conveyed to us. I would take son to school in the village where the new home was situated. I remember asking son if there was anything teacher or the children said that he didn't understand because of the difference in accent. He said "yes, purse" or at least that's what I heard. I said you mean the thing Mummy keeps her money in? He said "no when you put your hands together to talk to God". (His teacher was from Chorley.)

Fast forward to about 10 years old and we're thinking about secondary school. Local comprehensive was rabidly anti-competition and did not play competitive sport, which was a non-starter for our son as much discipline was of the "if you carry on that way I will not take you to rugby club" variety. We asked him early if he would like to sit the exam for independent day school, not caring if he passed to be honest (we made that clear to him). Of his own volition he requested extra work from his teachers (we didn't know this). He passed and went to an entirely new school 25 miles from home at 11 years two months where he knew absolutely no one but rose to be captain of each year's rugby team until at 15 he decided he wanted to go to boarding school. He visited two schools in the North, was interviewed by both and offered scholarships/bursaries for the boarding portion of the fees. Again, he knew no one but the people of Durham (where he chose to continue his schooling) are among the most friendly anywhere! He soon made a lot of friends with whom he is still very much in touch. Since leaving Uni he has worked in Siberia, UK, Jamaica, Dubai and Melbourne and back to the UAE, currently working in Dubai/Saudi Arabia and has travelled with his dear girlfriend, now wife for the past almost 4 years, to many and various foreign locations on holidays.

It's all about the child and you, Mum, you know your child best and what is right. On his wedding day our son thanked us for allowing him to know there was a great big exciting world outside his village and although we miss him and would like to see more of them both we're glad we brought up a fiercely independent adult.

evangeline

I'm in Scotland. Next door neighbour is a retired primary teacher. When my son started at just 5 , his super intelligent best freind was only 4 and a half. My neighbour was his teacher. Poor boy really struggled to settle in., despite being otherwise very confident. Neighbour said boys are better to start later at 5 and a half , as problems can arise when they go to High School aged only 11. Whilst the girls develop earlier both physically and maturity wise,, the boys don't by that age and many can't cope with the huge change. Completely understand your concerns over quality of schools , my son had a terrible time in our local primary and we had to move him before end of Primary 1. He loved the new school and sailed through the years. Scandinavians may have the best system , starting at 7. Good luck whatever you decide.

Goldiegirl

Caleb11 wrote: »

He wouldn't miss any school years. Only delay it.

So does that mean, by deferring, he'll leave school a year later as well?