School

I think my little girl will be ready for school but I'm not haha! So I'm going to look into her going 4 days a week rather than 5 until she's in year 1. But need to speak to the school to see if that's an option. If we can the day I don't send her i was going to look at doing a forest schools day or days out.

Oh that’s interesting. I didn’t know that was a possibility, hopefully it is as I’ll probably do the same.

Someone mentioned it to me at a baby group, but I haven't yet spoken to the school so I'm hoping it's a possibility!

I’ve just been having a look on some forums and I think it’s something you can ask for until they turn 5. Although that’s unofficial info haha. My friend is a primary teacher I’ll ask her and report back x

From my understanding if you keep them back until they're 5, they'll go straight to year 1 so in my eyes it's pointless! I just feel like it's a year to bond with her classmates. My birthday is 28th August and my daughter is 29th August so from my experience I was fine at school. My mum said I was tired at the end of term but most kids are? 🤣

I work in a school and if you hold them back until the following year when they are five, they will miss out on vital bonding with class mates, a year of initial phonics, maths etc and it will be so much harder for them to catch up as they will go straight into a year one curriculum whilst missing the reception year. It’s like them effectively missing a year of education and expecting them to have no issues catching up. Personally, holding them back is setting them up to fall behind their peers before they even start but that’s just my opinion xx

Thinking about home education... I just hate the idea of school... it squashes children's imagination. 🫠 not sure if I am going to be able to facilitate it though 🙃

Absolutely amazing! Looking forward to it 😂 she starts pre school in the summer & she's not shy so I think she will be fine! Plus I don't want to hold her back and be behind anyone else. X

I’m freaking out about it tbh, like I can’t believe he’s almost old enough for it yet. I honestly have no clue what I’m going to do yet, I don’t want him to miss out on reception but I also don’t know how I feel about him going into school so soon after him turning 4, really can’t decide what to do

Aw I was thinking about this today and I’m actually so sad about it I can’t believe our babies are going to be 4 next year😭

@Emily totally agree with you on this. I’m a 29th August baby and my little one is 19th. I did fine at school so fully intend on sending my little one when she’s just turned 4!

You can actually hold your child back a year and still have them start in reception. It’s a special rule for summer borns. There is info on the government website but also a useful Facebook group if you are considering it called ‘flexible school admissions for summer borns’. It can be a postcode lottery about whether schools are on board with it or make it challenging. Certainly at my sons school they are open to it and 2 kids in my sons class started in reception at 5 under this rule. So it’s worth finding out if your preferred schools are open to it to help any decision making. I agree it doesn’t make sense to skip straight to yr1. I don’t know why some schools think that’s a good idea. You also legally don’t have to send your kid to school till they are 5 and I don’t think you lose their place so you should be able to negotiate a part time or delayed start

We’re probably going to keep him at home at least two days a week until he’s compulsory school age ! Xx

@Emma yes this is all true, and my friend who teaches primary has echoed exactly what you’ve said. I guess it totally depends on each child and how ready they are. 4 must be deemed too young for many as I don’t think they would set the compulsory age to 5. I think that’s what worries me. A lot expected of them at such a young age. Agree the year 1 thing is silly as well. I will have a look into all the options. This message is very helpful. Thank you x

I still may send him at 4 I’ll just see how ready he is nearer the time and go from there. I’m sure many of the 4 year olds that go do absolutely fine.