Children starting full time school

[TFU] Thegoon84 · 6 Oct 2011 at 13:00

I've google but nothing comfirmed.

When do children start full time school? I know my daughter starts half days the following September of her 3rd birthday.

Does she spend a year of half days and then goes up to full days?

BombayMix · 6 Oct 2011 at 13:07

Meant to be the year you turn five. Doesn't have to be at the start of a new school year but probably best to.

[TFU] Thegoon84 · 6 Oct 2011 at 13:13

BombayMix said:
Meant to be the year you turn five. Doesn't have to be at the start of a new school year but probably best to.

So if my daughter was 3 in April next year, when would she start full time?

JeffH · 6 Oct 2011 at 13:14

It varies from school to school. You need to ask the school you are planning on them going to.

phonemonkey · 6 Oct 2011 at 13:15

Prob the Sept after she's 5. Certainly up here, apart from play group kids don't attend school until they are 5. Best check with the school though as some kids start at 4 1/2 - it depends on their birthday.

Vonhelmet · 6 Oct 2011 at 13:16

BombayMix said:
Meant to be the year you turn five. Doesn't have to be at the start of a new school year but probably best to.

Yep.

My first daughter turned 4 in June 2010 and started school the following September. My second daughter will turn 4 in July 2013, and will start school the following September.

[TFU] Thegoon84 · 6 Oct 2011 at 13:17

Vonhelmet said:
Yep.

My first daughter turned 4 in June 2010 and started school the following September. My second daughter will turn 4 in July 2013, and will start school the following September.

So your first daughter started full time school at 4years and 3 months yes?

Vonhelmet · 6 Oct 2011 at 13:21

Thegoon84 said:
So your first daughter started full time school at 4years and 3 months yes?

She did a couple of weeks of half days and then it was full time, yeah.

She was tired as all hell, but she was smart enough and good enough at concentrating to hack it.

Xordium · 6 Oct 2011 at 13:33

Varies from area to area you need to check the local policy where I live they start the first term after their fourth birthday.

BombayMix · 6 Oct 2011 at 13:56

Thegoon84 said:
So your first daughter started full time school at 4years and 3 months yes?

Can happen to let the child get familiar with the school and being left by their parents. The first year generally just "learning through play" the 2nd year when the real teaching starts.

Vonhelmet · 6 Oct 2011 at 13:59

BombayMix said:
Can happen to let the child get familiar with the school and being left by their parents. The first year generally just "learning through play" the 2nd year when the real teaching starts.

Yes and no. My daughter was learning to read and write in her first year. There is playing, sure, but there's also proper sit down learning. It just has to be that bit more interactive than in later years.

Mind you, she goes to one of the best primary schools in the area, so YMMV.

Scrutinize · 6 Oct 2011 at 14:02

If their 5th birthday is within the school year they can start. Ours can start next September and she will be 5 that December. She has been at play school since she was 2 1/2 although we had to pay for the first 6 months as they only get their free allocation once they turn 3.

antijoke · 6 Oct 2011 at 14:03

My second child turns 4 in February 2012 and will go to school in September 2012.

shorttricky · 6 Oct 2011 at 14:54

Mine both started fulltime school the intake term before their 5th birthday. That meant January (5th birthday in August, no Easter intake) and September (5th birthday in October).

Moothead2 · 6 Oct 2011 at 16:10

It's usually the first September when they are 4 or 5 (Varies between schools).

JeffyB · 6 Oct 2011 at 16:13

My four and a half year old started full time school (reception) a few weeks ago.

RDM · 6 Oct 2011 at 16:14

PreSchool in the academic year* they turn 4 (usually 2.5 days). Reception in the academic year they turn 5, Year 1 in the academic year they turn 6.

*being from Sept to Aug.