School Readiness

I am looking for some guidance and insight into how others have decided if child ready for school and if was suggested that maybe an extra year would be good for child did you do that or send them to school??

DS1 can get easily distracted, at times finds it hard to follow instructions and concentrate. He is currently for some reason being naughty more than normal and is playing rough which is not him that is way his brother plays not him.
Apparantly play is very basic, to me he does lots of imaginative play etc.

DS1 will be 5 soon and plan is for him to attend school next year he is very excited and looking forward to school.

We see a speech and OT and have done for 18 months or so. We are working on many things including lack on concentration. etc, about to repeat hearing test as well.

He can write name, identify some letters, count to 20, name body parts.

DS2 will be 4 in Jan and plan was for him to attend kinder then, if DS1 does not go to school and repeats kinder I will then be forced to not start DS2 as would not want them in same year level (I know not a huge issue as DS2 is going to one of youngest. My worry is that DS1 starting school at 6 and 1/2 he may get bored doing more time at kinder and may not help concentration issues.

Other issues would be child care as they have kept boys in diff rooms this year when DS2 could have moved up, but due to fact that when they are together they are just at each other and need to do everything together staff and us decided was best to keep them in seperate rooms but this would not be possible next year as DS2 can't stay in current room at 4.

I'd have a meeting (if possible) with his kinder teacher, speechie and OT and discuss the issue with them. Probably more around September than now.

For me, it's about social and emotional readiness, is he socially and emotionally ready to go?
What have his teachers said?
Look up Kathy walker, she as a service to access kids for school readiness.
DD2 is starting at 6, emotionally, she's not ready for school next year.

OT and speech are going to kinder in a few weeks to observe him at kinder.

Agree with the clucker, there is a whole lot of time between now and the start of next year so what is relevant now may well have changed in the next 8 months. I would enrol him for school and then make a call closer to the time (with input from the people you see).

He plays with other kids well normally, we are very social and out and about everyday doing things with others. Kinder 3 days a week and CC the other 2 days so plays well with kids, and when we see other friends mixes with diff ages well.
He goes to gymnatsics as well as talks to other kids as well, is shy initially meeting people but warms fairly quickly.
Kinder are saying he plays more with the younger kids in class and at times being a bit mean which i am concerned at as not the norm for him.

I didn't realise in VIC that if after Apr 30th you had any choice of year e.g - I thought you had to start school in the year you turn 6 which would be Jan next year wouldn't it? Or is it you just have to start before turn seven? Or is there more than one intake a year?

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I didn't realise in VIC that if after Apr 30th you had any choice of year e.g - I thought you had to start school in the year you turn 6 which would be Jan next year wouldn't it? Or is it you just have to start before turn seven? Or is there more than one intake a year?

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In Victoria a child has to start primary school the year they are turning 6. if for whatever reason your child is not starting by the year they turn 6, a letter from Dept. of Education is required...

Eta:- the above was the info i was given by a D.O.E rep last week :) it's not an issue for me as DD1 will turn 6 a week before the 2015 school year starts

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In Victoria a child has to start primary school the year they are turning 6. if for whatever reason your child is not starting by the year they turn 6, a letter from Dept. of Education is required...

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Cheers - so it is the exception rather than 'normal' process - makes sense now thanks.

I have read some of Kathy Walkers things and have heard her talk a few weeks ago, mostly I think he is ready by her points but other things have me confused.

Thanks all

I worry about dd1 as well - she lacks concentration and focus, she can't follow instructions and she's so darn ditzy!! And clumsy.

She also has no interest in doing anything like writing her own name etc. Ds was writing his at 3, so to have her be totally different is very hard to deal with.

I've asked her kindy teachers to get a person in to assess her, I feel she has "issues".

I'm also waiting until closer to the time that she would start prep, she might hit a developmental streak after 5 or something. I don't want her to repeat kindy for the same reason as you - dd2 will be going there next year.

yeah for kids born before 30 April parents generally have the "option" to start their child at 6 rather than 5.

my DD1 will start prep in 2015 and will have turned 6 on 21 Jan 2015. my reasons (coupled with her kinder teachers and the council appointed PFSO assessments) are similar to Olives and are more to do with her maturity/emotional readiness :)

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I worry about dd1 as well - she lacks concentration and focus, she can't follow instructions and she's so darn ditzy!! And clumsy.

She also has no interest in doing anything like writing her own name etc. Ds was writing his at 3, so to have her be totally different is very hard to deal with.

I've asked her kindy teachers to get a person in to assess her, I feel she has "issues".

I'm also waiting until closer to the time that she would start prep, she might hit a developmental streak after 5 or something. I don't want her to repeat kindy for the same reason as you - dd2 will be going there next year.

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Thank you for making me realise i am not alone, I have been so upset and worried and keep crying.

Feeb- to answer your queries, I think you'll have a more rounded idea of where your DS is at once the meeting of all those involved with his care have 'compared notes' so to speak? When does your DS turn 5?

i know for *me* Iwish I'd taken up the kinder deferment option for DD1 when they were available but our council (and most from what the DOE rep was saying) will no longer be offering deferment options as of next year :o

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Feeb- to answer your queries, I think you'll have a more rounded idea of where your DS is at once the meeting of all those involved with his care have 'compared notes' so to speak? When does your DS turn 5?

i know for *me* Iwish I'd taken up the kinder deferment option for DD1 when they were available but our council (and most from what the DOE rep was saying) will no longer be offering deferment options as of next year :o

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How do you mean deferment option not available?? I am under the thought that kinder can apply for extra year of funded kinder for DS1 and I can defer DS2 till year after.

He will be 5 in July.

Hugs Feeb :hug:. You will be amazed at how much your DS will change and develop in the months leading up to school. I remember wondering how kids could be ready for school in the first half of 4 year old kinder, but as the year goes on you really see them change and you just know they're ready for school. Both of my boys went through "naughty" patches that seemed out of character in 4 year old kinder too - maybe a rise in testosterone at that age? Both got worse towards the end of the year (sorry!) and I think it was just because they needed more, that the kinder hours and activities weren't enough for them any more (I'm not a child psychologist and I could be completely wrong lol!).

Please don't stress just yet, and it sounds like you are doing all the right things anyway :)

What a tough choice! I think I would wait until after he is assessed until deciding though. When do school enrolments need to be in?

Arimeh, dd2 is similar. She has minimal interest whereas dd1 was writing and reading at the same age. Maybe second child thing. Dd2 said she would learn when she went to school and she is stubborn like that so I'm hoping she will learn when she gets there. I'm enrol lying her tomorrow! Eek!

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How do you mean deferment option not available?? I am under the thought that kinder can apply for extra year of funded kinder for DS1 and I can defer DS2 till year after.

He will be 5 in July.

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The info i was given last week from DOE was that in order to get a second year of funded 4 year old kinder, the child needs to meet set criteria (I *think* there are 3 main criteria the only one i can remember is speech - sorry, i kind of tuned out when she started on that because I *knew* my DD wouldn't meet all the criteria to get a second year of funding. Our council offered 2 deferment options, one before 4yr old started and another at the end of term one. I didn't really "get onto it" with DD1 so i missed out on being able to defer her for this year and the 1st round of assessments that she has had, her only "low" scoring was in the emotional/maturity part. Social, language, cognitive she was fine in - so i will most likely be sending her to a Steiner kinder which caters for for 4 and 5 year olds as I asked council if i could send her to 4yr again at our own expense, but it's not an option, they don't "allow" it.
Apparently it used to be that if your child started 4yr old but you then felt they weren't ready etc, deferment would be offered at the end of term 2.

We have been told that we have until October to decide and apply for a deferment, the teacher didn't think getting it would be an issue. Dd is borderline with her social maturity but for now we are enrolling her in school as we think holding her back would set her confidence back and she is already wanting to do dd1's homework with her.

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We have been told that we have until October to decide and apply for a deferment, the teacher didn't think getting it would be an issue. Dd is borderline with her social maturity but for now we are enrolling her in school as we think holding her back would set her confidence back and she is already wanting to do dd1's homework with her.

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i think it depends on the council. from what our council rep told me in conjunction with the info from the DOE lady i spoke with, deferment options will be fazed out over the coming years. this is a move coming from DOE not council too.

GW - I will be deferring my 3yo. I spoke at length to kinder and they said that for now, it's in the hands of the kinder leader to assess a childs readiness. They believe that this rule will change and that there will need to be an external assessment either speechie or psych.
Our kinder has a 'hold them all back' theme. This seems to be the 'done' thing in our area.
My children will be more emotionally ready for kinder at 6 than 5. I am very happy I made my decision.

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Hugs Feeb :hug:. You will be amazed at how much your DS will change and develop in the months leading up to school. I remember wondering how kids could be ready for school in the first half of 4 year old kinder, but as the year goes on you really see them change and you just know they're ready for school. Both of my boys went through "naughty" patches that seemed out of character in 4 year old kinder too - maybe a rise in testosterone at that age? Both got worse towards the end of the year (sorry!) and I think it was just because they needed more, that the kinder hours and activities weren't enough for them any more (I'm not a child psychologist and I could be completely wrong lol!).

Please don't stress just yet, and it sounds like you are doing all the right things anyway :)

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Thanks hun he has CC 3 days of 3.75 hrs and 2 full days off CC, gymnastics once a week and tennis once a week so I would have hoped he had enough!! AHH thanks for warning!!

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What a tough choice! I think I would wait until after he is assessed until deciding though. When do school enrolments need to be in?

Arimeh, dd2 is similar. She has minimal interest whereas dd1 was writing and reading at the same age. Maybe second child thing. Dd2 said she would learn when she went to school and she is stubborn like that so I'm hoping she will learn when she gets there. I'm enrol lying her tomorrow! Eek!

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I have until end of term 3 to get forms in to apply for extra year she did say an do that and enrol him at school and make a choice later.

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The info i was given last week from DOE was that in order to get a second year of funded 4 year old kinder, the child needs to meet set criteria (I *think* there are 3 main criteria the only one i can remember is speech - sorry, i kind of tuned out when she started on that because I *knew* my DD wouldn't meet all the criteria to get a second year of funding. Our council offered 2 deferment options, one before 4yr old started and another at the end of term one. I didn't really "get onto it" with DD1 so i missed out on being able to defer her for this year and the 1st round of assessments that she has had, her only "low" scoring was in the emotional/maturity part. Social, language, cognitive she was fine in - so i will most likely be sending her to a Steiner kinder which caters for for 4 and 5 year olds as I asked council if i could send her to 4yr again at our own expense, but it's not an option, they don't "allow" it.
Apparently it used to be that if your child started 4yr old but you then felt they weren't ready etc, deferment would be offered at the end of term 2.

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Oh ok at info night last night they said that field officer can come in and assess and they had to be deficient in 2 of the 5 components
Language skills, Physical well-being, Motor co-ordination and skills, Concentration and emotional adjustment, and Independence.

How silly that they wont allow you to send her again and pay.
Good luck

My mum has been part of research into readiness for school and found many boys were not considered ready until 7. In fact Finland doesn't start schooling until around 7, so much later than many of our preppies (dd will be just 5 and ds still 4).

I think a lot depends on the school too. Our local primary has a great prep program that is very similar to kinder, with play-based learning.

It's so tough. Good luck with it all.

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My mum has been part of research into readiness for school and found many boys were not considered ready until 7. In fact Finland doesn't start schooling until around 7, so much later than many of our preppies (dd will be just 5 and ds still 4).

I think a lot depends on the school too. Our local primary has a great prep program that is very similar to kinder, with play-based learning.

It's so tough. Good luck with it all.

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Although my understanding from Finnish friends is that they are in full time or almost full time programs but are just not called school. Really I think that if school is not right for most 5.5 year olds then it is school that should be changing (or hours of kinder becoming more useful) to be more suitable rather than delaying starting because there are many people who can't afford to delay starting even if though it might be beneficial. I remember being in Finland and seeing classes of 3-4 year olds tramping round in the snow in their snow suits - very cute.

I was going to mention that too Gee, feeb I believe your DS would probably qualify for a second year of funded, though Gee I think your council is telling porkies when it comes to kids repeating at parents expense, as far as I know you can repeat at your expense.

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I was going to mention that too Gee, feeb I believe your DS would probably qualify for a second year of funded, though Gee I think your council is telling porkies when it comes to kids repeating at parents expense, as far as I know you can repeat at your expense.

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I thought the same thing too.....however, after speaking to the "head honcho", she advised that it was a decision made by council due to the fact that we are one of the fastest growing municipalities in Melb atm and they don't have the leeway to allow for private funding due to the sheer demand for the funded year.

as i said, this information is "fresh", having been on the phone to both the council and the DOE only last Monday!!

Wow feeb, you sound like you're having a rough trot with this decision. :hug: I hope that when he's able to be assessed at school you'll have a better idea.
I have no idea on the funding thing as here in the NT if you want to hold them back, you just can. No need/assessment necessary.

FWIW though I totally agree with Trish on the behaviours being rough and out of character in the last half of that fourth year. My DS was a downright shocker. I felt I couldn't even take him out anywhere. He turned 4 in February and slowly but surely has gone back to the lovely kid I had before. No doubt it will change again in a few months.
I've also had one that went to school as an older child. I'd do it again in a heartbeat for her. Even though she is very very bright, it was the best thing I have done for her. A different and much more school receptive kid 12 months later.

hugs feeb
it is a tough decision whether to hold our boys back or let them go forward
I can reply as a mum who was been there and done that with my older kids, a mum going through it with DS2 at the moment and as a qualified person with degrees in education

The main thing to do with kids that you are not sure about what to do, is ensure that the school that you are sending them to, is a play based prep year, rather than an academic focused year. So pick your school carefully !! Also speak at length to the prep teacher at the schools you are considering to find out what they expect the preps to do before they start!

The main point i consider important for a child starting prep is to be able to play and join in with other kids, be compliant and able to follow simple instructions, and be emotionally ready to be separated from mum all dad. Toileting, and other basic tasks such as being able to take clothing off or on are also important. The rest can be taught and picked up as they go.

The toughest year for behaviour with kids is the last 6 months before they start school- its a shocker- thank goodness someone had warned me about it !!!So be aware that could be the reason DS1 is being 'naughty'
Also dont expect them to be ready for school now- the wont be ready until just before they start!!!! Dont stress- he will get there!!!

Also if you are worried about DS1 not quite being ready, be open to 2 years of prep!!! This is an possible option as well
Please feeb that what the feeb officers say as advice, not as gosple.
They will always paint you a picture that your kids arnt ready if they have any doubts. Even if they are small!!!!
You know you child better than anyone, mummys instinct is so much more reliable than one session observations with a field officer, or a teacher that sees you child only 1/8 of your childs waking time during the week!

My twins were recommended to repeat by their teacher- I chose to send them to school despite kinder teachers advice- found out later, that she had advised all the kids that were 'young' to repeat. Her only reason was because they were young!!
In hindsight I couldnt have kept my boy twin down due to his size !! He is 5ft 8 now and in grade 5! Imagine a kid that big in grade 4!! Also girl twin is bright and would have been bored as if i kept them back - so glad i did send them - win for mummys instinct!!

This year i was advised to think about DS2 doing 2 years of 4 year- the reason once again is not because he is developmentally behind, but because he is young!! I have chosen to send him next year to school as he is busting a valve to get to school next year, with the possiblilty of doing 2 years of prep if needed. It is a play based prep year and he is a very compliant child who picks up cues very easy so I am not worried. I have spoke to his prep teacher to be for next year and she is happy with my decision and supports it!!

Go with your gut hun- no one else knows your child better than you!!!!!

Thank you everyone support and advice is great have spent most of day in tears over this.

Det would love to a chat sometime when easier to chat than online re whats going on, just not sure how to find time as we are not close in distance!! Between work and CC 2 days a week and kinder the other 3 days its hard add in speech path, gymnatsics and tennis and no time to scratch!

Spoke today with teacher at day care who was unhappy with what was said as she states that she has none of those concerns with him. Yes he at times goes to la la land but can be brought back and re engaged, she states that he is involved in group time and they do fairly complex topics at times have done in last 18 months while he has been in kinder room space, astronauts, geology and rocks etc, science experiments etc. She stated in last 6 months she has seen massive growth in him.

So that eased my worry a fair bit.

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Although my understanding from Finnish friends is that they are in full time or almost full time programs but are just not called school. Really I think that if school is not right for most 5.5 year olds then it is school that should be changing (or hours of kinder becoming more useful) to be more suitable rather than delaying starting because there are many people who can't afford to delay starting even if though it might be beneficial. I remember being in Finland and seeing classes of 3-4 year olds tramping round in the snow in their snow suits - very cute.

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Also by delaying starting we end up with an even bigger range of ability levels due to an increased age range - schools should be modifying and differentiating for your child if they need it, whatever the skill deficit, that should be part of the plan.
I'm not a big fan of delayed start for this reason, the Scandinavian studies are definitely relevant, but I think they should ge considered as a curriculum thing, rather than case by case, as schools and teachers are expected to teach to each child's level at the same time as teaching a class (big job, but I have seen it done, it's definitely possible). I think the time of year your child's birthday is makes a difference too. (I don't really think holding back is necessary, but...) if its at the start if the year it might work as there won't be such a big gap in age.

I have seen some parents quite frustrated at the other end when they realise that by holding their child back their child has missed out on a year at a special school - so if that becomes a consideration for parents (obviously that's for those reading who have gulden with disabilities, not pointed in particular to anyone here), it might effect the choices they make.


So lovely lady, whichever way you decide, it will work out, you just need to figure out what you feel comfortable with. GL xx