General Chat

Mine started in January 2004 at age 3 and a half in the nursery. Then as follows

Sept 2004 age 4 Reception class
Sept 2005 Year 1
Sept 2006 year 2
Sept 2007 Year 3
Sept 2008 Year 4
Sept 2009 Year 5

Dianne xx

Diane, was the reception class a *playclass*? Where the emphasis was on having a good time and not even realising you were learning?

Love

Daff xxx

HI Daff :-)

When I started school there were two intakes, one September the second January. When my son and daughter started school (son has just left, daughter now in her final year, age 15) all children started in September.

I can understand your concerns that some are too young to start in September but my friend's daughter, whose birthday is mid September, was ready to start the year before she actually did.

I think one of the reasons they all start in September is that, from my memories as a parent helper in my daughter's school, they were taught to read and write right from the beginning of the year.

Hiya Cat.... some youngsters are definitely ready earlier than others... my 4 year old granddaughter is not coping very well.... she started in September, but she is quite a shy girl. It isn't the work aspect... it is the *busyness* she is very clingy and is upset for the first half hour or so... I took her daddy out of nursery at the same age... he then went to school the following year just before his fifth birthday, and he was absolutely fine... that extra couple of months maturity made a huge difference to him. He was ready to learn... he learnt how to read with me before he went... but for him it was the bustle, as well.

My younger granddaughter is a bit more outgoing, so she will probably cope better.

Love

Daff xxx

I think overall there is too much pressure with all the tests nowadays as some will worry about it, but I think it is so difficult to generalise because children are so different and parents also pile pressure on with too many after school activities.

I started school at just age 5, but could write my name, count to twenty, knew the alphabet etc.before I started school as could most children then. I did the 11 plus when I was 7, but because no-one even told me what it was, I rushed through it as I resented being made to stay in and do it when my friends were outside playing. I then wasted a few years doing the same work as the 11 year olds till I took and passed my 11 plus at the normal time, all because no-one told me that it was an exam and important. No pressure meant not important and resulted in me being held back!!

As for the grammar school I attended in the 50s and 60s, there was plenty of pressure there and the school 'honour' was very much alive. We were constantly told we were priviliged to have a place and that there were plenty of others who would be glad to have our opportunity. I still have some old homework charts that show the class numbers to be 35 then as well. As for results reflecting on the school, the school was paid an extra amount for each child that stayed on after 0 levels so they were keen for good results even then.

I think full time school before 5 is too young and that reading at home should be encouraged at that age, but not as homework. Children need time to learn to play and invent games themselves as and not be fed things to do all the time.

If I were at school nowadays the biggest stress and pressure would be trying to learn with all the shouting and disruption and bullying that goes on. I would have been quite scared by it all. Thank goodness I've done it all!!!! lol

Daff, sorry to hear your grand daughter is not coping well. It just goes to show that there needs to be some flexibility and that one size does NOT fit all. Having said that I don't know what the answer is. I don't even know if there is an answer.

Hi again Daff

The first half of the academic year in Reception class was quite easy going with regular play sessions, but from about January onwards it became far more structured with the emphasis on proper lessons and learning reading writing maths etc.

Dianne xx