Age to start school

hairyprincess wrote: »

It’s far easier to hold a child back before they’ve started than when they are in school and have made friends.

I think you have to look at things at the other end, when they are doing their leaving cert and going to college. If they do a course which involves them having to do work experience which requires Garda vetting, they won’t be able to take part in that as a person has to be 18 to be vetted.

Also, from the point of view of going out with their college mates and living away from home they are far better off being that year older.

It's interesting that a few posters have mentioned the problems younger students might have when they're older. I wouldn't have thought of it but I was 17 going to college and away from home, it didn't cause any issues.

jester77 wrote: »

Depends on when you went. I was also 17 when I went and there were no issues. But things were a lot more relaxed back then. There were happy hours, which are now illegal, with reduced prices for students and there was no such thing as checking for ID. So you never missed out on any of the social events which are an important part of the student life. That is not the case now.

My son being underage for 6 months of college isn't a compelling reason for me to start him later in school. Besides in 15 years time god knows what student drinking habits are like Nowadays they all seem to drink at home because they're so broke!

I think I'll just see how capable he is in dealing with the practicalities of big school like putting on his shoes, coat etc.

With my older children who are in their 20's now I started them in school when they were 5 (almost 6, October birthdays) they were always very advanced with their school work but where I found difficulty was when they were older and started hitting puberty before all their classmates etc. I started my younger 2 children just before they were 5 and both were able for the school work (well able) but we didn't have the same difficulty when they were older (ie. hitting puberty before the other children etc) Also my older children were over 18 when they finished school and it was just awkward.

Personally I generally agree with starting the year they turn 5, but the problem is when your children are born around the boundary line. I started school at just turned 4, LC at 16 and 4 yr degree finished at 20. I wouldn't do it again. I was a quiet, non streetwise kid from a quiet-life family and although I was one of the smartest in the school I really struggled socially from secondary on, just felt out of my depth, that everyone else seemed so much older than me - I just wasn't ready for alcohol and boys when everyone else was.
A child should not be bored in school or preschool whatever their age or ability (doesn't always happen). If they're highly intelligent then at 5 they'd probably be at the top of the class whether it's JI or SI.
Mine all started at 4, but they were nov, dec and start of jan. I did think for a bit about the jan lad but he's the third, intelligent, capable, perfectly sociable, etc and I knew he'd be fine. I knew it because the older two have their own extra challenges, especially socially (starting a year later wouldn't have made a difference) and I could see that number 3 was years ahead of where the others were. I also have teachers in friends and family who all agreed he should start. He's in 1st class and many of his classmates are only turning 7 this month and last.

Another consideration is does the school have an age cut off. When a school is oversubscribed and too many fall into the same criteria on the enrolment policy then usually an age cut off is applied. We don't have one in our school as they aren't oversubscribed, they fill 5 classes and if they've enough over they usually fill a 6th. The next nearest school has their date back as far as November this year because of so many applicants. So children born after November won't be offered a place but will be top of the list the following year. So OP's child wouldn't be offered a place in that school to start at 4 anyway.

Just to bring up stuff that hadn’t been mentioned yet from the social side: things like football or soccer and age matter. So I have a 6.5 year old with a July birthday and was ready for school when she started at 5 socially: academically she struggles a bit but that would have been the case no matter what. She started soccer this year and no one under 2012 was allowed start: they don’t take them. So I have a 5 year old who will be starting in Sept: if I had started her this year (March birthday) she wouldn’t be able to do soccer with her friends next year as she would have been too young. Similarly football: she would be under 6s next year whereas the majority would be under 8s. She would have been almost a full year younger than most in her class: she is academically streets ahead of where her sister was, but socially I knew it would have continued for years where she would have been behind where her friends are in terms of clubs etc. And whereas that might not be an issue everywhere it certainly would be for her.... not that I would have been comfortable with her being a full year younger anyway. And it’s not something I realised until this year either when one of my little girls friends couldn’t play soccer because she is too young. They are all in senior infants and I know it’s extra curricular stuff but it may or may not be a consideration for you.

pwurple wrote: »

Not sure why people are saying he will be the youngest.. ours started school at 4 1/2 with March birthdays and neither of them are the youngest.

Our decisions were part financial and part ability. We simply couldn’t afford creche for the extra years at the time and the kids were well able. They are both thriving at school, no issues socially or acedemically.

I think it’s because of the way the ecce has changed, particularly this year. If kids take up the two years of the ecce, anyone born after January will be 5& 9 months starting. Up to last year, it was configured a bit differently

mirrorwall14 wrote: »

There’s probably plenty like us tho, ours was due April start but started in September or there’d have been no place and we paid. So he’ll have had two full years of playschool and is still starting at 4 years 7 months

Edit: for this year at least. They moved everyone to September start dates after that

Lots of people did this I think. Even this year, with the September start, but the earlier birthday, I know people who are paying for preschool for year one, getting a free year for year two and sending kids to national school at 4.5. I think the only way it will ever change fully is if the schools actually make it policy and the DoE decides where the cut off should be and enforce it

Tiredandcranky wrote: »

Looking for a bit of advice, maybe from some parents who have been in a similar situation.

My DS will be 4 1/2 this September and we don’t know whether to start him in school this year or next.

I’m not trying to boast or anything, but he is extremely bright. His preschool teacher said his level of ability in language etc is exceptional. Socially he’s pretty capable i.e. he likes playing with other kids. However, he can be quite cranky, and irritable at times e.g. . So, I’d imagine he won’t be the most popular child. But my hunch is that’s just his personality and a year won’t change it.

I’ve read all the stuff about kids being better off starting school later rather than sooner. But my question is, does that necessarily apply to a very bright child? Would they perhaps be better starting school earlier? We are so good to soak up information when we are young, is it better to keep a child challenged in terms of learning.

I don’t try to teach him anything at home. But recently he’s started taking an interest in words and alphabet, and wants to start writing letters by himself. He can also count objects very well up to about 20. Looking at the junior infants curriculum, it only has counting to 5.... does this mean school will be very dull for him? I loved school and learning always, and I want him to find the same joy in it.

His preschool is excellent by the way, but it’s obviously very play based with little emphasis on formal learning. I’m just afraid if we hold him back that he’ll be bored next year, and he won’t get to take advantage of those precious early years when you can develop a real love of learning.

Any advice/ comments welcome?
We’re very confused and undecided!!

Thanks

Definatley the older (within reason!) the better. My 16 yo son is the eldest in transition year and it's definitely benefited him. My brother was the youngest and had to stay back a year. Both were born around august/september.

I’ve a feb baby and have decided to wait till he’s gone 5 for a number of reasons. He’s only going to be young once so I want to let him have another year to just play. Socially I’d prefer him be on the older side. Same for sports. Also, down the line when he’s a bit older I don’t want to be always having to say he can’t do the things his older friends are doing so from that point of view I’d prefer he be one of the older ones. I don’t even mean things like going out but being able to walk home from school on their own / hang out at weekends etc. Plus I think being a bit older when making decisions on subjects to study for the leaving cert / what courses to apply for in college won’t hurt.

Plus I think that with the way things are going with social media etc the maturity that an extra year could bring may be of benefit.

While a lot of children seem to be older due to the 2 year ecce, I’ve been told by my crèche that a lot of kids in their care are heading to school at 4 to 5 rather than 5 to 6 as crèche is still expensive even with the ecce funding taken off the monthly payments. For us it does mean our son may see some of his friends move on without him but I’m sure he’ll make new ones.

tscul32 wrote: »

Plenty of preschools around where I am that you just drop off at beginning of session and collect at end and there's no charge.

Me too. I haven’t paid a cent for either of mine.