School At Four!

While there is a part of me that is glad the long summer holidays are over, and Mia is back at playgroup. It makes me pretty sad and really nervous. Even though Mia has only just turned three, this time, next year she will be a month into her first year at infant school. As Mia is a summer baby, born the end of August, in the UK, She is expected to start infant school at the age of four where as a lot of her school friends will be almost a whole year older than her. I know there are a lot of other children in the same boat as her, but all that I can continue to think is that they are far too little.

You are now able to hold them back until they are five years old but no one ever can give you a straight forward answer about doing this. I've been told all sorts including, that if she is held back when she goes to primary or secondary school she would have to skip a year and go into her original year group! I have done so much research into this and discovered that to move a child into another year group or anything else it has to be in the child best interest so the likely hood of this is really really slim unless of course your child is actually really excelling at school. To actually apply for your child to start school in year r at the school age of five years old, it is not as simple as just deciding you want them to begin school when they turn five years old either. You have to have not only the head teacher on board but also have permission from governing bodies and admission boards, often even needing to supply evidence as to why this would benefit your child, other than you just feel they are too little.

Mia is a clever little girl for her age and she is very independent but even then I feel like the idea of her heading into a school environment after turning four for just a week and a half, is an absurd idea. I've heard so many stories of children going to school and being behind with learning and even not socialising fully all because we are forcing them to head to school at such a young age. Don't get me wrong I know every child is different and that some children are well and truly ready to start school, but five days a week, 9 am - 3.15pm is a long day for some of the older children let alone a child that has just turned four years old.

I would really love to know how you feel or felt about your child starting school. I just feel that kids should be kids for as long as possible!


This is all based on my own opinions and I do understand all children are different.

Thank you for reading.

Lots of Love
Chrissy