It is all over the news again today
Children are too young for school at four
Summer borns should be all allowed to delay their school start until they are five
Parents fighting education boards because they know their children are not ready for school
I think it is time that I updated our story
Esther and William are summer born twins
But they are an exceptional case
As they were born extremely prematurely
13 weeks too soon
Because they were born in July
Rather than at the end of October when they were due
They have in effect been forced to start school a whole year early
Last year I fought Kent LEA to make them see
That my children starting school when they would in fact still really be 3
Was just ridiculous
Ridiculous and incredibly unfair
I wrote letters and emails
Talked on the phone
And on the local radio
I won my case
The LEA finally agreed that if the school were willing to take Esther and William
Into a reception class when they turned 5 rather than 4
I could delay their start
The few schools we spoke to agreed
That because Esther and William were born so early and were summer born
They would be willing to take them in Year R aged 5
It was not easy
I was told that I was being over protective
I was told my judgement was hindered because our baby had died
I was told that Esther and William would suffer socially and academically
I was told that they would not be able to go to grammar school!
And so this is when our campaign stopped
Our battle was lost
Everyone agreed that it absolutely made sense for my children to have another year before starting school
But in doing that, in making that decision aged 3/4
We were deciding for them that they would not be able to sit the 11+ with their classmates
They would have to miss a year of primary education further up the school
Or not sit the test and not go to grammar school
The fight was over
By doing what we knew to be right for our children’s early education
We would be taking away this opportunity further on
It is not possible to sit the Kent Test according to year group as you can with SATs
It has to be sat at the right age
So Esther and William would miss Year 6
Or have to miss a year in the middle of primary school
If we delayed their start
Because of this
We reluctantly sent them to school this year
Aged 4 years, 1 month
With a corrected age of 3 years and 10 months
Both ages far too young to be starting school
Esther and William attend a tiny village school
And though the school is incredibly supportive
And does the very best they can
The fact of the matter is
Esther and William should not yet be at school
They should be at part time preschool
Learning the skills they need to be able to cope socially and emotionally with school
Growing big enough and capable enough physically for school
Esther and William started school in September 2014
And it is a struggle for us and them
I question our decision every single day
Because I know, I am their parent and I know
Had they started in September 2015
They would have been more ready
It would have had less of a negative impact on them and our family life
They would be thriving instead of just about coping
They should be thriving!
I urge anyone with young children in this situation
If you have any doubts about your child’s readiness
Please talk to local schools and to the LEA
Make your voice heard
School admissions and our education system
Need to be more flexible
Modern medicine is a wonderful thing
More and more babies born early are surviving
And because of this
We need our school system to reflect this and to be able to meet their needs
Esther and William should have started school according to their due date
And they should have been able to do so without consequence
It was not their fault they were born too soon
They did not have three extra months of life
They just finished their development in a plastic box instead of in their mother’s womb
They are miracles and fighters
They are children
And they deserve a fair chance to make the very best of the rest of their lives
Starting with school
I completely agree. We are, I suppose, on the opposite end of the spectrum with a September-born boy who was two weeks late (due on the 11th, born on the 24th). I find it crazy that had he been born early, even by a couple of weeks, he would be midway through his reception year already. He is not ready! Even though he will be five by the time he is doing full days at school, I am sure he will struggle. He is tall and strong and loves learning and playing but he is a sensitive soul and he does not like to be away from me. If I could, I would give him another year of nursery. If he struggles I will seriously consider home education.
What I find most crazy of all is that Esther and William, by due date, are a whole month younger than my boy, and yet they have been made to start school already. It is just not right! xxx
Thank you Jen x It is crazy isn’t it? I hope that something can be done though it is almost too late now for Esther and William. I have not completely ruled out them doing reception year again if it would be possible to address the issues around the Kent Test x
I completely agree with you. My son is an end of August baby yet while he’s going to be starting school next year his friend who’s only a week younger will have another year at pre school. My friend is going to have all this to deal with similar to you. Her little girl is seven months old but was seventeen weeks early so came in July rather than November.
I know that Bliss are campaigning hard for prem babies so hopefully they will help to find a solution in time for your friend x
Thats just crazy isn’t it – by due date your twins are younger than my Kitty but she sat tight to 42 weeks and won’t start until next year. She’s going to be climbing the walls by September but that seems to make more sense than little ones barely coping just because there’s no flexibility in the 11+ – what about the children that have moved ahead a year – do they have to twiddle their thumbs for a year until they’re old enough? It just sounds like a recipe for putting children off learning at both ends of the age spectrum!
Hi Jennie, this is something that I totally agree with. We ought to be able to request a start date. Esme’s birthday is Aug 29th and she started at just 4. Fia is Sept 1st and she will be 5 when she starts. Esme really could have done with being held back. Fia on the other hand could most definitely do with starting earlier! Bonkers that they do not have a double or better still triple yearly intake. It would allow the children to all work at the right pace for them – and the teachers too. Esme coped but physically she has only just caught up now – and she is in Year 2. I still struggle to think that the week she had her sixth birthday party, a child in the year below had her sixth birthday too. Madness. Thanks for raising the issue again. Hope you are well x
Formal education starts far too young in this country. As an example, in New Zealand children can start school any time between the ages of 5 and 6; education is compulsory from their 6th birthday. This sort of flexibility would surely benefit children here, and avoid the ridiculous situations mentioned. To the best of my knowledge, formal education at barely 4 is unheard of in most other countries.
I don’t understand why we feel the need to send our children into formal schooling so very young. Why do we get it so wrong when other countries are showing us the benefits of doing it right.
This is incredibly sad to read Jennie.
There are far too many summer born children being forced to start school earlier than compulsory school age, with the very real threat of a missed year of school later on being a very common reason many parents feel they have no other choice.
We have been campaigning for more than two years now, and all we can hope is that eventually the government admits that its policy of allowing schools and councils to simply take away a year of our children’s education – just because we decided to enrol them in school AT compulsory school age – is wrong.
See summerbornchildren.org for more information.
I will link to your post from there shortly.
I totally agree with you….My girl was born on the 29th of August 2 weeks early…..If she had even been born 2 days later she would be in a whole different year group at school….It annoys me so much as she wasn’t ready to start school when she did. She struggled a lot but she had been a trooper and she is now 7 and a half and is just about caught up with the classmates that are nearly a year older than her.
Children start school far too young I think!
Joseph was born 13 weeks early but due in August and born in May, so we didn’t really have a leg to stand on, and I decided to send him. He had been in nursery since he was 2 so thought he would be ok. Reception was a nightmare. I stand by our decision not to fight, we wouldn’t have won, and I was aware of the “correction” issue later in primary.
The real issue here is the education system’s complete ignorance about the impact of prematurity. I have had to fight just like in NICU to make Joseph’s needs understood He is not stupid, he is not autistic, he just is younger than his chronological age suggests. There is much still to be done
I am having the same problem particularly with William. He is so small and very young for his ‘age’. The whole thing makes me so cross and I feel totally helpless. David and I have not yet decided what we will do next year.
My gorgeous girl wasn’t premature but was born in mid August. I thought about keeping her back a year. I worried about her feeling separated from her friends if they started school and she stayed in nursery. But I worried more about her being made to start school in Year 1 at just 5. She would only just be statutory school age, why on earth should she go into Year 1? It doesn’t make any sense at all! And to miss out on all the play, phonics and so much other important stuff in Reception is ludicrous. So she started school at 4 and 2 weeks. She ended the year hugely underachieving (according to the national expectations). She struggled with the start to Year 1, crying for the first 3 weeks and distraught about the fewer play opportunities. I can’t help but feel she would have coped with these issues better had she been a year older. At a recent parent’s meeting I was told that the teacher was delighted with her progress and that she’s holding her own. I’m sad that it’s taken such an effort to hold her own; why wasn’t she able to be in the right year group – maybe she’d be flying….
Hey 🙂
My son was born 31st aug and turns 4 this year meaning he will start reception just turnt 4. I was in nearly tears over filling out the school application and read up on holding back a year for summer born babies. They suggesting ringing up the schools you have applied for. I did ring up and she said she had a few around the same age applying so reasured me he wouldnt be the only one. She also went onto say that they can hold back and start in the January term, they are really flexible with the summer born. she also said not to worry to much as the age doesnt matter until futher on. From what i have read they hold them back a year but then put them into year 1 instead of reception?! So ive decided on just sending him this September as much as this breaks me heart as he will be the youngest, I guess i can always talk to the school if i feel he really is behind x
Our school are so supportive and flexible, we do a lot of part time weeks. It is so hard knowing if they had been born when they were due they would be excelling at preschool now rather than struggling at school x
The fight should be for starting Reception a year later. I think that the reception year is a vital bridge and the base stone of learning in schools and it’s tragic that children who could vitally benefit from quality play based learning with a teacher miss this. I see no issue with children born in August in some situations missing a whole year and joining the year later in Recpetion as one of the oldest. And due date starts for schools for prem babies could also be a really positive step. I’ve seen the impact of a 31st August birthday on a child’s future potential in and out of school.
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Jennie, I am sorry to hear your two are struggling. With the 11+ issue you were in such a difficult situation to make a decision that was right for them. I agree with Kylie above that the education system really doesn’t understand prematurity. My two 27 weekers skipped a school year like yours did, and while I didn’t think to fight to have them start a year later, I did have to fight to keep them together in class as the school wanted to separate them. Starting school at a corrected age of 3 years 11 months is bad enough, let alone being separated from your identical twin for no good reason. With a wealth of research I ‘won’ my case after a lot of stress, but despite a change of headteacher and all available info to hand, the school still believes ‘twins do better separated’ rather than treating each case individually and actually listening to parents. Another issue I guess all together… I hope Esther & William find it less of a struggle soon and that that aspect of life gets easier for you xxx
I struggle with this, our daughter was born in July as well (although not premature) she is in amongst kids who are very close to a year older, and a year further along with their development, while we are lucky she is bright (and very tall for her age, being one of the tallest in her class) there is still the fact that her progress is being measure with children who have nearly a years extra learning (maybe not at school but the point stands).
I am dreading her teen years when she will be among children who will be nearly a year older but she will be expected to be at the same level (emotionally, physically and more frighteningly sexually).
I really think there is a huge disadvantage (and will potentially be placed in difficult and awkward situations) to our children in so many ways.
Jennie,
I’m struggling too, as you know I have said before Amelia was born on the 26th July, 8 weeks early and now in school too, she is one of the youngest anyway, not to factor in her adjusted age, we didn’t have the option of half days, and she struggle with being so tired, it’s a great little school and luckily her teacher is aware, however, we have had a couple of instances of her playing with the older children and then some teasing her for her speach. We are into the 2nd term, and she’s getting more settled, but I’m still finding it hard. When I try and speak to to the teachers, I am sure they think I am just being paranoid or over protective, I try and be strong, but again I feel we are forcing her to grow up too. I empathise with you so much, and wish that the schools take this into account.
Xx
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