Earlier this year I fought
I fought hard
On behalf of my premature twins
To get their school start delayed
Born in July 2010
Due at the end of October
They should not start school until September 2015
But in the current system were being asked to start in September 2014
At just 3 Mummy said No
No way!
Esther and William are now nearly 4
I am still certain that they are not ready for school full time
But am now wondering about starting them part time
It is not easy to decide
And I am sure I will change my mind again
Perhaps many times
But I owe it to my children
To explore all the options
Based on how they are now
Not where they were 8 months ago
Now my beautiful twins
Are showing themselves to be incredibly bright
Curious and imaginative
They know numbers
They know letters
They can read and spell CVC words
They love stories
They love learning new things
William has an amazing memory
They both have a capacity for learning facts
For understanding processes
Now my beautiful twins
Are still very very small for their age
William is still in nappies
He cannot dress or undress himself
Esther can but still needs lots of help
I think they would struggle with full days at school
But I wonder if they would enjoy 15 hours a week
Getting to know the school and the children
Getting to know the rules and routines
Getting to know the system
That they will spend the next 7 years of their life with
We have already decided that we would move them to a new preschool
Perhaps a Montessori
For the year
But now I am thinking if that is best?
If we are going to move them
Why not move them to school?
Let them have a year of mornings
Before going full time in 2015
When they are 5
I wonder if this would be best?
It means that they will only be moved once
Not twice
We only need to explain our family story
Esther and William’s history
To one school
The school is literally over the road from our house
The school are willing to offer 15 hours a week
And then decide in September 2015
Whether Esther and William stay in reception full time
Or move straight up to Year 1
It is a mixed age class
So whichever decision we choose
They would remain with the same class
The same teacher and staff
I think that they would enjoy the mornings
I would bring them home for lunch
And then we could spend our afternoons
Much as we do now
Outside
Doing messy play
Just playing and being
And learning about life outside of school
Because that is important too
Especially when you are only just 4
We still have time to decide
What is the best thing to do
A slow transition to school
A year of Montessori
Staying at preschool
We still have time to decide
What to do for the best
What a lovely post! I actually relate to it a lot, even though my son is only 2 and a September birthday, we are debating whether to send him to pre school at all next January when he is just over 3.
They spend so little time being little, and so many years in school. I want to treasure this time with him.
I think a year of mornings to a school so close to you is a lovely idea 🙂
Good luck with your decision, whatever it is xx
I think if it is a slow, steady, relaxed start and that they are not in a class of 30 children, which it sounds as though they will not be, then why not start them on mornings?
I think it’s lovely you are fighting for what is best with your children. I didn’t expect my twins to settle so quickly and so well into yrR. They surprised me! They had only done their 15hrs a week at preschool prior to starting school. I chose the option to let them settle in with the slowest option of weeks but half way through I soon realised they were more than ready and were more bothered that they were missing out on lunchtime and more playtime with their new friends. So I changed it and let them start full time. They loved it and it is beautiful seeing them learn new things and making lovely friendships. So maybe it is worth them starting school as a yrR and see how they go. The teachers and them will tell you how they are doing and follow their lead. The school sound lovely and perfect for you.
Well done on fighting your corner. I personally would keep them at pre-school for the extra year. If they attend just mornings they will miss out on friendship groups being formed not being there in the afternoon, this could have an effect on their social development. Also if they spend the year doing mornings and then you decide they will redo the year they will see their friends move on and not them. My friend had this happen to her child and he has really struggled socially seeing his friends move on and those children have been picking on him calling him a baby. I’m not sure of the school set up you have chosen but this might not happen if mixed classes? I do not agree with starting school so young and love the Scandinavian ethos and they are the only country and excel in exams. I would keep them out as long as possible if I could.
A big decision, good luck xx
Such a huge decision for you both to make-I have found it a hard decision based on only choosing a school so can only imagine how hard it must be for you both!
Could you try them for 15 hours a week and then pull out if it was not working for them or does it have to be completely definite. It certainly sounds like they are more than ready mentally, I think you just have to follow your gut instinct, good luck with whatever decision you choose xx
Both my big girls have gone to preschool within a school from 3 and for them it was brilliant. Rosie can’t wait to start school in Sept now when she will be 4 like her Sister was. Each child is individual but it sounds as though they are more than ready x
Montessori is a wonderful choice a half way house between home and school and a great safe place to begin to learn. For different reasons letting my twins go was not an easy decision but it is one I have not regretted for a minute thanks to the Montessori world they have been introduced to. Whatever decision you make it will be the right one, you are an amazing Mum. x
Hi Jennie, as you know Amelia was born on the same day as Esther and William, 7 weeks early, and I so relate to this with you. Actually we decided to put her in a Montessori school literally qtr a mile away, it’s small and select and the teachers are wonderful, she has been there 6 months now and has come on heaps, she adores it, and made so many little friends, she has the afternoons at home doing messy play and clubs with her daddy, their ages range from 2.5 to 4, so if she wants to play with someone young than her age then she does and thrives on it. We have made the huge decision to let her go to school in Spetember, we know the school and think She will be okay, but god it’s been a tough decision, and I’m still worried she will be tired. I wish you so much support with this decision but only you and David know whats best for them. Xx
It sounds like Esther and William are doing incredibly well Jennie. I was in a very similar situation having prem 27 weeker twins in June ’09, so they should theoretically have gone to school this Sept ’14 if they’d come when they were meant to! However, I decided to keep them with their preschool friends and they started last September ’13. Their preschool teachers thought they would cope too. I have to say I am so pleased with how they are doing, despite one of them being in nappies till the March before they started and not much dressing ability either. They matured so much over the summer before their big school adventure, have made friends and are progressing very well with their academic work – no extra interventions now being needed. They aren’t quite the shortest ones in their class either!! I am one very proud mum!
Go with your gut instinct and good luck with whatever decision you make xx
I think Montessori is a terrific option. I wouldn’t start part-time at school, because they will then be missing out on half of what goes on in the class, and may then have to see all their new friends move up without them and start Reception all over again, at which point they may even become a bit bored with the same routines, same topics etc. There’s so much research into the benefits of starting later and the disadvantages of starting early. However ready they are, they will not ‘go off the boil’ just by waiting a little more. xxxx