Starting school inSeptember 2025
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As a primary school teacher and a mum, I would suggest looking at the local schools websites where you will be able to find most information. Reading their latest Ofsted reports can be useful to see how they are graded and what their areas for developments are. You can then book visits to look around schools during the day too where you can really get a feel for the school. Can’t believe it won’t be long before we have to start considering this for our August babies!
When should we apply then?
Between September this year and just after the new year I think this year's deadline was 15th Jan.
Is anyone considering holding their kid back a year?
Thank you @Nikki for replying me back
I checked OFSTED reports for our local schools. I applied in December last year for my daughter who starts in September this year so I would think it will be December this year for my August 21 girl. Can't actually get my head round the fact that my daughter who is 5 in September and she will only be a year apart at school! 😆
@Jo I'm considering delaying my son starting but still undecided
Do you think we can apply and not send them in case we feel they’re not ready yet?
@Sha you apply as if they are going then you have till next Easter (ISH) to defer them a year.
@Nikki thank you again for your reply 🩷 Great advise. My son was born on 27th of august so I’m not really sure what’s right to do.
@Sha You have plenty of time. Is he in nursery? Speak to nursery if he is and find out how they think he is doing and what they recommend doing. Is he delayed in his development at all. Mine are mid august I did think we may end up deferring a year up until 6 months ago and now I don't think we need to.
He goes to nursery only two mornings (9-12). I will ask them what they think of him going to the school. He reached all his milestones so far but English is his third language. He speaks very well my language (Farsi) and Italian (dad’s language) but English is only when he’s at nursery.
These posts are really helpful, no idea what to do for the best. I feel so sad my boy will be away from me 5 days a week in a year (we are together most of the time now!)
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@Sha that is amazing that he has 3 languages at 2.5 years. I would say he would learn English very quickly at school and the 1st year is more about play learning. I would speak to nursery, you also have another year and a bit find a school that you both like and see how he is next Easter. You also get the 15 or 30 hours from September if you don't already so you can always increase nursery hours if that's something you want to do. I'm increasing to 2 days (10hours each day) a week from September and 2.5 days from either Jan or Easter next year to get them ready.
@Sha it's so hard, my son's the 29th. They will literally be the youngest in the class
@sally yea it’s hard. But at least we have time to think about it which brings us obviously to overthink about it. Please let us know if you decide anything and why 😊
@Nikki we aren’t entitled to free hours yet but he’s going to have those 15 hours from September this year so I’m going to send him 2 full days (6 hours each) and a morning. Is the school usually 15 hours or more? If it’s more should we pay for it?
@Sha 2 full days and half day sounds good, you still want to spend as much time with them before they start school properly. School is usually 9-3 5 days a week, you can if you don't defer them start them just mornings a week or increase slowly over a few weeks.
@Jo I’m not as I personally think my little girl will benefit from being at school and loves her 2 mornings a week at nursery. However I have a friend who’s little boy is also an August baby and she is looking into holding him back but as far as I know it depends from school to school if they will let you just delay him starting reception or if they will just let him join in year 1. She will only do it if he has just fully start a year “later” in sept 26. I think it’s a very personal choice and really depends on the child and your needs. It does seem soooooo early for them to go to school and they’ll be very little having only just turned 4 however I personally believe it’ll be better in the long run and I would worry my little girl may be thought of as being in the “wrong year” for being not smart enough or anything and would hate that to be a problem down the line. Good luck with your choice and defo go speak to your local schools and see what their school protocol is
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