My son's birthday is 28th/9/03. He started his nursery school last october two weeks after his third birthday. He now can't start infant school until september 2008 as he doesn't turn four until end of september thus missing the new term by literally two weeks. I need to now if any allowances can be made as I think this is wrong why should he be held back a whole year just because his birthday is at the end of september. His school make allowances in the nursery, where by they have january admissions etc so why don't they follow suit with the infant school?
thanks
2007-03-09 00:03:56 · 26 answers · asked by Andrea B 1 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Toddler & Preschooler
be grateful he does not have to. he is too young to start full time education. Most civilised european countries(scandonavia etc..) dont start proper until 7.
Enjoy your time with him now.
STOP STOP STOP - why do all you people think it will be better for him to start or is a problem if he does not. as 1 person said, he will be academically brighter and more mature next year, which means when he does finally sit exams at 16 ,18, 21,22 he will techincally have almost a years more development, get better grades and job. Don't force him too early. live is supposed to fun for him.
2007-03-09 00:08:06 · answer #1 · answered by dsclimb1 5 · 7⤊ 0⤋
They have to have a cut off.
When I was four, I had already been to a year of pre-school, was reading fluently, knew my addition/subtraction, etc. (I was a nerd, even as a small child). But, I couldn't start school for another year b/c of my birthday.
Well, went when "they" said I could start kindergarten, I was off the damn charts. They wanted to then SKIP me over first grade the next year and just throw me in second grade. So, they could do that, but couldn't let me start early?
IF your son is ready in all ways (emotionally, intellectually, etc.) you could try to force the issue, but, really, it will end up being better for him if you wait that added year. When kids are forced to learn too early, it catches up with them later on. Also, I don't know about where you are, but here in the US, it's suddenly the new trend to hold your child back anyway so that they'll be the eldest in their class and have some sort of "head start" (I guess on the premise that the extra year will give them the opportunity to be grilled in phonics and math, and Lord knows what else, so they'll look smarter when they start). In some classes, there's already an almost two year gap between youngest and eldest, which can make a difference at that age regarding maturity.
2007-03-09 14:53:59 · answer #2 · answered by katheek77 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't think of it as him being held back. My daughter was almost 6 when she started kindergarten because of the rules at our school. I could have pushed the issue the year before and sent her when she was 4, but I'm glad I didn't. Out of her Kindergarten class last year, all of the ones who were only 4 or who had barely turned 5 when the school year began are repeating Kindergarten this year. And in her 1st grade class, my daughter and the other "older" students are doing better than the younger ones as far as reading, math, comprehension, spelling, behavior, etc. Even just a matter of a few months age makes a big difference in them. My friend's son turned 5 in August of 2005 and the school said he could officially go to school but she'd be better off waiting a year because he'd still be a really young Kindergartner. She didn't wait and she regretted it, he just couldn't keep up with the kids who were already 6 or almost 6. Kids grow up way too fast anyway, don't push the issue. Just enjoy the extra year with him, and he'll be a much better student and enjoy the school-year a lot more next year. Good Luck.
2007-03-09 00:22:25 · answer #3 · answered by nimo22 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I started Kindergarten when I was 4 and turned 5 in the middle of Sept. I had a lot of trouble the first few years cuz I was a lot younger than my peers who were 5 and 6. It haunted me all through school too not just academically but socially as well. I was a junior in high school before I could drive, my parents always baby'd me compared to my friends cuz they were older, I graduated at 17 and started college at 17. I felt like I would have done better being the oldest in the grade below me rather than the youngest in my grade.
2007-03-09 06:47:12 · answer #4 · answered by stargirl 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The state I live in, the cut off is December 1st. I missed it by 9 days. The school told my mom that if I started at 4, that I would be behind. I actually ended up in accelerated classes. Schools have to draw the line somewhere. Don't take it personal. As long as he can continue in nursery school, then I wouldn't worry. At this age, they are really learning more social skills and adjusting to school routines. I wouldn't worry about it.
2007-03-09 01:14:47 · answer #5 · answered by Melissa B 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I dont think there is anything you can do about it. My son is 4 in November and so wont be going to school until sept 2008. I am ok with this tho, as he gets a another year at nursery, learning with a lot less structure! He will be very ready for school by then!
2007-03-11 11:34:57 · answer #6 · answered by ? 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Many localities have age cutoffs. In my state the cutoff used to be Dec 31 but it was gradually moved up to Sept 1. They also don't allow for younger kids to test in, as I did when I was starting school. My son has a classmate who was born Sept 2 and will not be able to start kindergarten until the next year because of his birthdate. My daughter got lucky, she was born on Sept 1 so she just makes it in. Whether we decide to start her then or wait another year will depend on how ready I think she is at the time.
2007-03-09 06:34:20 · answer #7 · answered by reflux mommy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There has to be a cut off point somewhere. In the UK, the cut off point for the school year is the 1st September, so he has missed it by 4 weeks.
By nephew was born at 1am on 1st September, and he had to wait until he was 5 to join school.
Don't see it as being 'held back'. It's not going to affect his life at all, he will just be one of the older people in the year, which has lots of advantages when he gets older - can learn to drive first for example!
I have my birthday in mid September, and was always one of the oldest in my year. It never affected me at all. I did very well at school and got really good results throughout my time at school.
If schools make exceptons for you, then why not for kids born at the start of October, or the middle of November? The schools would be overcrowded pretty quickly! Enjoy having him at home for another year.
2007-03-09 00:13:33 · answer #8 · answered by Ricecakes 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
The school board I work for has their cut-off as Dec. 31. My daughter started school when she was 3...which was okay because she was ready (we do every other day for junior kindergarten). Truthfully, I think 3 is a little young. Little boys often have a harder time adjusting to school, and keeping him home for a year will only benefit him (maturity etc.) It isn't a bad thing to be the oldest in a class. I was one of the oldest (Feb. birthday) and I liked being "older"!
2007-03-09 05:03:08 · answer #9 · answered by melissa H 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Every state is different. In Hawaii, my son missed going to kindergarten by 10 days. He was always the oldest, but he also did very well. My second son had JUST turned five, and I wish HE would have missed the cut-off date. In TN, if the child is not five by September 30, they can't go to kindergarten. My daughter missed it by one day and has always been the smartest child in her class. She gets straight A's, is very mature, and loves school. However, I'm not sure if the age has anything to do with it, or just her personality.
2007-03-09 02:44:42 · answer #10 · answered by bina64davis 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋