So tonight parents across the UK are waiting to find out
Where their little ones will go to school
I have never experienced placement eve
This time last year we were not sure if and when Esther and William would start school
Let alone where
In June 2014 with the help of Kent LEA and the awesome Headteacher of our local village school
We made the decision that Esther and William would attend school part time
Starting in 2014
The LEA had actually already agreed that we could delay Esther and William’s start
Until September 2015
But David and I thought as summer approached that Esther and William seemed ready
Our children are naturally bright
They are curious and eager to learn
We thought that these things and more meant they were ready for school
We also knew that they would be going to preschool part time
If they did not start school
So perhaps part time school could work for them?
For us
Things started well
Esther and William loved school
They do love school
They love the idea of school
But with a corrected age of still under 4
They found the physicality of school very very hard
As a teacher and a parent I should have known
School is about so much more than a love of numbers and being able to read
Esther and William coped really well with school academically
But emotionally, socially and physically they were not ready at all
Their behaviour was good at school most of the time
William started to struggle just before we took them out
But at home our children were unrecognisable
They just did not have the stamina for school
And some semblance of life at home
As the weeks went by
Even though they were only attending part time
Their struggles became more and more apparent
There were toileting issues
Friendship issues
Twin troubles
Dressing difficulties
Organisation problems
School was becoming increasingly stressful
For Esther, for William
For us all
Esther started to not want to go in to school
William was always asking to come home
I knew at Christmas
But perservered til Easter
Questioning and discussing
Pondering and planning
Before finally deciding to take Esther and William out
I talked again to the LEA
And to the Head of School and Executive Head
And we all agreed that because of their prematurity
Their size and immaturity
It would be more than appropriate
It would be in their very best interests
For Esther and William to start school over again in September 2015
In September 15 Esther and William will still be 4 by corrected age
There is no way they would cope with the more formal curriculum of Year 1
They will start Year R
Aged only just 5
And be educated with their new cohort
For as long as they choose to stay in education
I know in my heart that the decision is the right one
A great weight has been lifted from my shoulders
Knowing that Esther and William will now be educated in the correct year group
And not a whole year too soon because of their premature birth
Our Small Wonders
I am relieved and grateful and filled with hope
That Esther and William will now love school as I did
That they will now thrive at school and not just get by
They will be with children more like them
They will make friends
They will be able to cope with the pace of school life
More than just cope
They will be able to look after themselves better
They will be able to make the most of their school education
And until then I am feeling blessed
To be given a second chance of counting down and preparing for school
We are going to be making the most of our summer of play
While counting down to school … again
And this time we will be ready
Better than ready
For our education adventure to begin!
You can read more about our school campaign here
5 Reasons My Summer Born Premature Twins Should Not Have Started School Until They Were 5
Summer Born Premature Babies School Start in Kent
Esther and William and #StartingSchool
School Daze: Making The Best Choice For Premature Twins
Read All About It: When Should Children Born Prematurely Start School
Dear Esther and William: Why I am trying to delay your school start
My Summer Born Premature Twins and Starting School
Letter to Primary School Admissions Team Summer Born Premature Twins
They will be in the same year as Sonny. He will be five on September 24th xxx
I am pleased for you this is the right decision.
Aww! That is fantastic news…It much be such a relief for you!
Enjoy your summer xxx
I am pleased you have found a solution, it really must have been such a hard decision at the start of this school year. It’s amazing how much difference half a year will make from now-Sept this year in terms of how they will cope with school too-enjoy the spring/summer with them back at home 🙂 x
God bless those 2 little gorgeous people and thank goodness they have such sensible parents. Brave decision that will no doubt pay off in spades. Will be watching eagerly to find out how all our little ones get on in September x
What a lovely post! Because I live in Scotland I was able to defer my daughter who was born at the end of December for another year. So she was 5 and a half by the time she left school. All her friends that were in my maternity group started school a year earlier and although I knew in my heart that she wasn’t ready to start early, I still went over and over my decision to delay her. I’m so glad I did, she is now thriving at school and I am so glad I had her at home for that final year and she was ready to start school. I’m sure your twins will thrive this time around xx
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