Speak with the Kinder teacher. It's very hard to get 2nd year funing for Kinder these days (where I live, might be different where you live) so you might find that holding her back will mean she's home for a year. Schools probably would take her mid year but then she'd be 6 mths behind all the other kids which could be hard for her.
If she's academically ready then I'd be inclined to send her to school, the social skills will come and if need be she can repeat prep.
Jandals is in Qld, our prep system is different to kinder - the rules are frustrating at times. I am not sure about starting part way through the year - I know if you moved you certainly would be allowed to do this, but not sure whether you can if you are already living in the intake area. I also am not sure about the benefit of starting part way through the year, as she will have missed all of that the other children have learned. She may also find it difficult socially to start part way through a year.
Is she attending kindy or childcare with others her own age? Do her teachers there share your concerns about not being ready?
Sorry for the delay in replying. My email notifications weren't working - seems to happen quite often
Thanks for all of your comments.
nic - Your experience definitely helps. Interesting that the decision to hold your DD back has had such long-term benefits. I was really only thinking of next year but it's great to hear that it has worked out so well for you guys.
ausgirl - I have some 'contacts' that will give me the necessary paperwork to hold DD back if I want to. I would only hold off if she was able to start in Prep as I can't see the benefit of keeping her out of school only to throw her in to Year 1, IYKWIM? Which is the same as starting half way through the year now that I've had a good think about it. She is in childcare 3 days a week and she does really well there but she does require a lot of 'emotional support' from her teachers ie, extra cuddles and spending a lot of time with her on mornings that she doesn't want me to leave. I usually stay until she's happy for me to go but some mornings it's not practical for me to hang around so one of the teachers will take over. Through-out the day she goes to her teachers for reassurance more than most of the other children and I worry that a single teacher in a room of 25 children just won't have the time (or inclination) to give her what she needs. I have really good relationship with her preschool teachers and they agree that she is ready socially and academically but not emotionally.
I'm not really sure what to do with her if I keep her back though. I don't know that another year with younger kids at preschool is a good idea and she would be so bored if I kept her at home as all her friends will be at school. I thought about enquiring at the local C and K to see if they have any other children DDs age that are doing something similar. Aggh, it's such a big decision to make!!
We considered holding back Brendan from Kindy (4yo) but decided to go ahead with it anyway. Brendan has a range of issues, developmentally, socially, sensory and some medical things too. Holding him back seemed like a good idea, because I don't think he is ready. But at the end of the day he has to go someday and I figured that if we enrolled and he didn't cope well we would just pull him out for another year.
I havent experienced this as yet, but we have the dillema that dd1 is an April baby and she just misses the cut off to start the following year. She is elligable to go to 4 year old kinder next year, however we have decided to keep her home for a year and start her in 2012. I was hoping to do 2 years of 4 year old kinder but it is next to impossible to get funding for the 2nd year unless your child has other developmental issues... not just socially not ready! So dd will be 5 turning 6 in the April of her first year of primary school. My brothers had to repeat mid primary school and it did terrible things to their self esteem..... very evident at the ages of 21 and 25.... Good luck
mel can you send DD to 3 yr old kinder next year?
FWIW DD2 is a feb baby abd we've already decided she will stay back, she will start prep as a 5yr old turning 6
Olive - what will you do with your DD during the year that she's 4 turning 5? My DD is a Feb baby too and the difference in maturity between the girls that have already turned 5 and those that won't for months is very obvious at her preschool.
What is the kinder system like in Vic? Is it fully funded, or do you pay fees?
Registered User
that will give me the necessary paperwork to hold DD back if I want to. I would only hold off if she was able to start in Prep as I can't see the benefit of keeping her out of school only to throw her in to Year 1, IYKWIM? Which is the same as starting half way through the year now that I've had a good think about it. She is in childcare 3 days a week and she does really well there but she does require a lot of 'emotional support' from her teachers ie, extra cuddles and spending a lot of time with her on mornings that she doesn't want me to leave. I usually stay until she's happy for me to go but some mornings it's not practical for me to hang around so one of the teachers will take over. Through-out the day she goes to her teachers for reassurance more than most of the other children and I worry that a single teacher in a room of 25 children just won't have the time (or inclination) to give her what she needs. I have really good relationship with her preschool teachers and they agree that she is ready socially and academically but not emotionally.
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks