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Pkease Help ladies with FS1/FS2 entry age - worried i am sending DD too early?

588

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 28 October 2013 - 13:50

Ladies I am very confused about which grade my DD should enter at and in what year! She is going to be 3 in June 2014 , and 3 yr, 3 mo when she is being asked to start FS1 in September 2014, but I think this is too ealry. Am I wrong??

The registrar at the school I have spoken to, says if I wait till the next academic year to enroll her (Sep 2015 for FS1, when she will be 4 y,3 mo) she wont be allowed and will be put in to FS2, that is spaces allowing. Is this age appropriate grading? Can I ask for her to be put in FS2?

Pleeeease help, tearing hair out.

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1618

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 29 October 2013 - 19:37

Just to reassure you, RT, your DD will not be the youngest. There are many summer-born children. My DD is in Year 1 and turned 6 in September yet there are a few children in her class who turned 5 in September! That is a difference of a year, which is huge at that age! Year 1 is for 5-6 year-olds. Why don't you let her do FS 1 next year and see what the teacher says at the end of the year? She could always repeat the year if her teacher feels that she is emotionally and academically immature. Personally, I don't understand the logic of having a child do FS1 at nursery because they are younger than the others. That doesn't erase the issue that they will start FS2 at the age of 4 and I would think it is more beneficial for the child to go to FS 2 having done FS 1 in the same school. Can you tell me what sort of things they would cover at FS1? My boy is 3 in November and going to a nursery 5 days a week. DBS have advised him that he would go in to FS1 in September 2014, a couple of months before his 4th birthday. I had always thought he would start school at 5 so have not got him registered anywhere yet. At 5, is he too old for FS1? FS1 is all learning through play an exploration. It is nursery but they go 5 days a week from 8am-1230pm in a big school campus. However all their breaks are different and they don't interact with the big kids. <em>edited by starsouthern on 29/10/2013</em>

497

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 29 October 2013 - 19:27

My son is a july baby and i have decided to keep him back one year. He was just not ready. There are studies that show that older children perform better and i just dont want him to struggle for the rest of his academic life. If i can avoid all this why not? So far i have registered him for horizon, safa , gems wellington , dess and they were all ok with it. <em>edited by Eli1979 on 29/10/2013</em>

232

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 29 October 2013 - 17:43

Just to reassure you, RT, your DD will not be the youngest. There are many summer-born children. My DD is in Year 1 and turned 6 in September yet there are a few children in her class who turned 5 in September! That is a difference of a year, which is huge at that age! Year 1 is for 5-6 year-olds. Why don't you let her do FS 1 next year and see what the teacher says at the end of the year? She could always repeat the year if her teacher feels that she is emotionally and academically immature. Personally, I don't understand the logic of having a child do FS1 at nursery because they are younger than the others. That doesn't erase the issue that they will start FS2 at the age of 4 and I would think it is more beneficial for the child to go to FS 2 having done FS 1 in the same school. Can you tell me what sort of things they would cover at FS1? My boy is 3 in November and going to a nursery 5 days a week. DBS have advised him that he would go in to FS1 in September 2014, a couple of months before his 4th birthday. I had always thought he would start school at 5 so have not got him registered anywhere yet. At 5, is he too old for FS1?

588

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 28 October 2013 - 22:36

Thank you, Anon, as always I am grateful for your advice.

5452

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 28 October 2013 - 21:17

Just to reassure you, RT, your DD will not be the youngest. There are many summer-born children. My DD is in Year 1 and turned 6 in September yet there are a few children in her class who turned 5 in September! That is a difference of a year, which is huge at that age! Year 1 is for 5-6 year-olds. Why don't you let her do FS 1 next year and see what the teacher says at the end of the year? She could always repeat the year if her teacher feels that she is emotionally and academically immature. Personally, I don't understand the logic of having a child do FS1 at nursery because they are younger than the others. That doesn't erase the issue that they will start FS2 at the age of 4 and I would think it is more beneficial for the child to go to FS 2 having done FS 1 in the same school.

588

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 28 October 2013 - 20:57

This is my fear. I feel she is too young to cope with a five-day, 6 hour weekly schedule, with swimming and PE, and she may not even be completely 100% potty trained even. Are children not supposed to be 6 years old in Grade 1/Year 1? So if I work backwards from there she will start a year early, and will be 5 y, 3 mo in Year 1. I am not sure about the 6 year-Year 1 scenario though, unless someone can confirm. I am stuck with the school as the older one is already enrolled and very happy there, as one of the oldest in class, I may add. If I stick to my guns do I stand a chance or lose the place altogether? : /

391

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 28 October 2013 - 18:00

I agree that the entry age is very very young. My kids are the older ones in the class. #1 is an August baby but we held back (mainly due to curriculum swapping but so glad). #2 is an October baby Even as they go through you can often see which kids are the younger ones. Do some research (UK based) that shows that the youngest babies do worst statistically. Yes, there will be children that excel - but the research shows that this is not the case overall. And often, the age issue catches up to them later down the track.

goldengirl48249

60

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 28 October 2013 - 16:00

Hi Redrec Tangle I had the same concerns as you - I have an August-born boy! He is now in FS2 (Reception). Last year (when he was meant to be doing FS1), I sent him to a nursery that offered the flexibility of part-time enrolement. So he went to nursery 3 mornings a week. I just felt that 5 days of school was too much for him. And I crossed my fingers and enroled him for FS2 for this year. Thankfully, it has all turned out and he got into FS2 and is thriving. - good luck!

849

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 28 October 2013 - 15:26

RT, if you're not dead seat on British Curriculum, you might consider an IB or US curriculum school where they typically don't start until age 4. Many nurseries are also offering FS1 in the nursery setting which might be helpful for the early transition to school.

bintyibbs283740

71

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 28 October 2013 - 15:22

I don't really get this. In the UK they start school (reception year) the year AFTER they turn 4. So why do all the British curriculum schools over here tend to start at FS1 in the year after they turn 3? Or have I got it all wrong? I presume FS2 = Reception year and FS1 = Nursery school in the UK? Yes you're correct. FS1 is the equivalent of nursery in the UK, here some nurseries have FS1 as their last year in case some children don't get into school ones. Then they can go into fs2 straight away. Reception is the equivalent to FS2.

548

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 28 October 2013 - 15:13

Based on my research it's not all schools, it depends on the school. GEMS tend to accept them earlier than others. Some other schools told me that even if kids are born in July they recommend the parents wait one more year and start them in FS1 when they are 4y 2 months effectively. So, I'd say if you're really keen on a school and they are telling you you need to start at 3y 3m, go for it but otherwise I tend to agree it is too early...

151

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 28 October 2013 - 14:15

I don't really get this. In the UK they start school (reception year) the year AFTER they turn 4. So why do all the British curriculum schools over here tend to start at FS1 in the year after they turn 3? Or have I got it all wrong? I presume FS2 = Reception year and FS1 = Nursery school in the UK?

116

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 28 October 2013 - 14:08

My DD is June born too, what I liked about my DD nursery is, they divided the kids into Oct-feb born and march-Aug born which really helps. Schools i guess will mix the age groups and she will be one of the youngest.

31

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 28 October 2013 - 14:06

This is one of the reasons I am looking at the IB curriculum. I think the starting age in the UK curriculum is far too young!

5452

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 28 October 2013 - 14:01

BTW, RT, I know how you feel. My DS was also born in June and should start FS 1 at 3 years and 3 months in 2015. I don't like it, but it is beyond my control. I worry about him being one of the youngest...

116

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 28 October 2013 - 13:57

My DD is 3yrs 4mths and she is in FS1, so your DD should be in FS1 next year.

5452

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 28 October 2013 - 13:53

Yes, you are wrong. Your DD should start FS 1 next year at the age of 3 years and 3 months.

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