I would think catching up/not having to catch up will also depend on the nursery and primary combo in question. Some nurseries do a lot of preparation for their 3/4 year olds whilst others believe in play. Some nursery teachers are qualified some are expat women looking to occupy their time. Some primaries focus more on play in the Early years than academics, even at Primary level some teachers are qualified and some not.
If you are interested in a well rounded school with emphasis on academics such as JAPS, it will be better to enter the kids at Reception, age 4. One of my kids did Reception at Safa and the other one at JAPS - it was two completely different experiences and in our experience JAPS was more consistent, structured, organised and academic than SAFA by yards. Why on earth BritCur kids have to start school at age of 4 in Dubai boggles the mind anyway.
During the Reception year at primary, the children get to know one another very well, bond, integrate and the class functions like the living system it is. Entering such a class at Year 1 level means that the kid is faced with new academics to master, a system to slot into, little daily dynamics of the group etc etc. That can be stressful too. That said,if you have a well rounded, curious, smart kid - it won't be a problem. Kids are highly adaptable and what we worry about doesn't bother them in the least.
Oh so this is what I want to know, let's say I put my girls into nursery until they are 5, can they go straight into grade 1 at the age of 5? i mean if they dont start KG until the age of 4, does that mean they'll be delayed in all their schooling and be one year behind their peers when they're in high school?
Where I come from, the kids go to Kindergarten (play-based-learning) at the age of 3-5. once they turn 5 they start grade one.
Yes, they'll be fine. We came from Australia where my just turned five year old had been in kindy two days a week and went straight into Grade 1 in Dubai, no problems, no catching up to do.
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