When to start School

[~Gee_Whizzy~]

ok, so I've watched it now, and whilst you are entitled to your opinion Ali, I don't think the retired principal with 36 years experience was all "BS". Whilst I can see both sides of the story and their reasoning behind it, I think it is a decision that only a parent can make based on the fact that really, they are the only ones who truly *know* their child, moreso, than any teacher ever will. The only thing I disagreed with was the Mum who said, well, they can always stay back and repeat if it's too hard. That, to me, is worse than keeping them at home another year. They've made their friends, formed bonds with them, then that is taken away from them and they have the added stigma of being the one that "stayed down". I would rather keep my child home another year, than subject them to that kind of ridicule. And before anyone jumps up and down, yes, I am fully aware that this could happen at anytime during their schooling years, however, if you believe what the principal said, then it is usually within the first 2-3yrs of schooling life.

I should also say, that my older sister and 3 of my best friends are all primary school teachers here in Vic, and from *their* point of view, there have been just as many kids pass through their classrooms who really would have benefited from starting school later as those who were older and still had issues. So, as with anything, there will always be arguments to support your point of view.

I still don't know what I am going to do with my DD, but I know I will have her assessed in term 3 for school readiness as well as spending time doing parent helper stuff at kinder so I can also see, firsthand, what she is like.

*Snap* EJ!

ETA: for those who can, check out the "Extra Minutes" interview with the Principal on the 60mins website (not sure if they have the full segment for the pp who asked). He went into to it a bit more, about cognitive readiness which was quite interesting. He also gave reference to schools having to meet certain expectations (eg: Naplan)

[AliBaby]

ok, so I've watched it now, and whilst you are entitled to your opinion Ali, I don't think the retired principal with 36 years experience was all "BS". Whilst I can see both sides of the story and their reasoning behind it, I think it is a decision that only a parent can make based on the fact that really, they are the only ones who truly *know* their child, moreso, than any teacher ever will. The only thing I disagreed with was the Mum who said, well, they can always stay back and repeat if it's too hard. That, to me, is worse than keeping them at home another year. They've made their friends, formed bonds with them, then that is taken away from them and they have the added stigma of being the one that "stayed down". I would rather keep my child home another year, than subject them to that kind of ridicule. And before anyone jumps up and down, yes, I am fully aware that this could happen at anytime during their schooling years, however, if you believe what the principal said, then it is usually within the first 2-3yrs of schooling life.

I should also say, that my older sister and 3 of my best friends are all primary school teachers here in Vic, and from *their* point of view, there have been just as many kids pass through their classrooms who really would have benefited from starting school later as those who were older and still had issues. So, as with anything, there will always be arguments to support your point of view.

I still don't know what I am going to do with my DD, but I know I will have her assessed in term 3 for school readiness as well as spending time doing parent helper stuff at kinder so I can also see, firsthand, what she is like.

*Snap* EJ!

ETA: for those who can, check out the "Extra Minutes" interview with the Principal on the 60mins website (not sure if they have the full segment for the pp who asked). He went into to it a bit more, about cognitive readiness which was quite interesting. He also gave reference to schools having to meet certain expectations (eg: Naplan)

The whole segment was on chronological age being the deciding point between success or not at school. That is the BS.

The principal said that the gap between the low achievers and the rest of the cohort is dangerous (cant quote his exact words). This I agree with. However, the children who are falling into that dangerous bracket are not necessarily all the young ones n the year group. It would be a mix of children.

I am glad to read that many people in this thread are basing their decisions on whether their child is socially ready for school and has the maturity to cope with school rather than basing it on 'well they will be chronologically older than other children so will do better' attitude (which was shown on 60minutes last night).

[~Gee_Whizzy~]

The whole segment was on chronological age being the deciding point between success or not at school. That is the BS.

The principal said that the gap between the low achievers and the rest of the cohort is dangerous (cant quote his exact words). This I agree with. However, the children who are falling into that dangerous bracket are not necessarily all the young ones n the year group. It would be a mix of children.

I am glad to read that many people in this thread are basing their decisions on whether their child is socially ready for school and has the maturity to cope with school rather than basing it on 'well they will be chronologically older than other children so will do better' attitude (which was shown on 60minutes last night).

I believe he said, "statistically" speaking (so i'm guessing *some* form of rerearch has been done into it) it has been shown that some"younger" children (not all) do struggle both socially and academically throughout their schooling life. Would it have made any difference had they started when they were more socially/ emotionally/academically ready etc, who knows? obviously there would also be kids who are older that would also fall into that group.

In the extra minutes interview with him he did actually say that the chronological age should Not be the sole deciding factor but to look at your child as a whole entity. And funnily enough, he actually said that it is parents and society that focus too much on the chronological age of kids and that that goes both ways. ie child turns 5 so they *must* start school, or no, the child is 4 or just turned 5 so they can't possibly be ready for school. he urged parents to work in conjunction with their childs caregiver to help make the right choice.

[Rowellen]

GW - I think some kids might just be followers. I know my DS is certainly like that. I have watched him playing (with both older & younger kids) and he is very much a follower. It scares me a bit but I think we will just have to make extra effort to teach him that it's ok to say no to his friends, what to do if he's uncomfortable with what his friends are doing and that sort of thing. It is human nature for some people to be leaders and some to be followers. There is nothing wrong with that. I have asked DS's kindy teachers and they think he'll be fine (he'll be 5 in feb 2014). I am still a bit concerned but I don't intend to delay starting him at this stage. They change so much in just a few months. I have a while to decide in any case. I didn't see that story, I will have to look for it.

[~Gee_Whizzy~]

GW - I think some kids might just be followers. I know my DS is certainly like that. I have watched him playing (with both older & younger kids) and he is very much a follower. It scares me a bit but I think we will just have to make extra effort to teach him that it's ok to say no to his friends, what to do if he's uncomfortable with what his friends are doing and that sort of thing. It is human nature for some people to be leaders and some to be followers. There is nothing wrong with that. I have asked DS's kindy teachers and they think he'll be fine (he'll be 5 in feb 2014). I am still a bit concerned but I don't intend to delay starting him at this stage. They change so much in just a few months. I have a while to decide in any case. I didn't see that story, I will have to look for it.

Yep, I totally agree with this Rowellen. The issue with my DD is that she is very "headstrong" and stands her ground with us, ppl she knows as well as 'strangers'...A prime example is that we went to a play centre last week and within 15 minutes of being there, she had the kids lined up, waiting their turn to go down the slide and this was both older and younger kids. So for me, I don't think she is a "genuine" follower, because I've seen first hand how she can lead etc. The two girls she is "best friends" with at Kinder are very similar in personality so I'm not sure if its just a case of DD not wanting to "upset" them by not doing what they ask her to, or if she is just still finding her feet? - I haven't said I am keeping her back next year, but i won't send her just because it's perceived as the "norm". In the conversations I've had with her two Kindy teachers both have said that she is above average for her age and that *they* think she will be more than ready given that there is 10+ months before she starts prep. They suggested i have her assessed by an external Field Assessment Officer in addition to their advice, so that's what I will do. I also know that the primary school I want to send her to do both an academic and emotional "test" in December this year, which also helps to give an overall picture of their readiness for school.

[MummyNaomi]

Is it available online at all?

WYSIWYG - its on the 60 Minutes site, I just watched it online

I was really interested as after a LOT of debate we have decided to start DS next year, he will be 4yrs 9 months when he starts. I was worried about him being socially ready but after talking to his child care carers and attending a principals interview at one of our preferred schools its suddenly clear to us that he is ready to start next year. He's our firstborn so we don't really have another child to compare his current development with. We went through a school readiness check which was really enlightening, and our chosen school (Private) has quite an extensive and individualised program to get the preppies ready for year one, with lots of extra support for the children if required. We had previously decided to wait until the following year, but have done quite a back flip now as waiting a whole year is a long time and all the extra info and assessment of DS has really helped us understand that he is where he needs to be to start.

So I'd highly recommend talking to principals, teachers etc about your individual child and if they attend childcare ask for their perspective on how your child interacts (as its the closest environment to school so its a good gauge) and find out exactly what your chosen schools reception class entails - eg if its all about results then they may not get the support they need.

[wysiwyg]

Thanks MummyNaomi - will have to check it out.

I do think the focus on chronological age is a quirk of the system here - where some people get a choice of which year and others don't. I really think is a very strange system whereby if you are born by a certain date then your parents get a 'choice' of when you start - whereas someone born a day later for example doesn't get a 'choice' - they start when they start. I still really struggle to see the benefits of such as system (especially as the criteria for when you have a choice or not changes from state to state)as opposed to a system whereby say as long as you are 5 by start of school year you start, if you aren't you don't. Thereby giving a maximum of 12 months per year group (if you forget about holding back etc.).