melpaul2002

My babe was 3 yesterday what age will she have to start school by law ?

JoanUK300

The year of her 5th birthday.
Count your blessings while she is so young as she will be up to all sorts when she starts school, you`ll be VERY surprised how quick she picks things up.....language as well!

Joan.

Tracey

September 2003. Make the most of it coz once they start school it flies by.

Little Miss WRX

I went when I was 4

Neil Smalley

My sons 3 and a half and has started school already. He'll be able to read anything by the age of 5. The program he's on, he should hopefully have the equivilent of 3 A levels and 10 GCSE's by time he's 16.


[Edited by Neil Smalley - 1/12/2002 9:34:01 PM]

Steve Williams

Playgroup= 3

Nursary= 4

School= 5


For good or bad get them started at home with the "basics" (you know it makes sense......)



In other countries the ages are VERY DIFFERENT.....

I have relatives in Finland and they do not start school until 7.... but they have one of the highest literary rates in europe (and probably the world...) go figure....

melpaul2002

Thanks for replys, I think I will leave it until she is five then, My wife is with her all day long and I beleive she can learn more at home for now.

UFO

Neil just out of interest (as I don't have kids) but is your son in Private or Public education? Either way it seems like you have found a great program!

Bin Laden

Never mind the age - its another number that bother's me - the fees.

They're all on drugs.

Neil

I'm not sure if you are over confident or your post is tongue in cheek.

taod

UFO

Did you say that because the names might change or because they will be Vocational etc?

I would expect, as it is private that they will be full qualifications?

Only asking in the interests of the future.

Cheers

Dave

mbc

all well and good starting the basics at home etc etc totally agree, but kids even at the age of 2-4 should goto playgroup/pre-school to learn to mix with other kiddies, even if you have other kids in the household,my 3 1/2 year old learnt loads thru the wife at home but she cant learn social skills and make friends there.

mike

fast bloke

Neil - Re contraversial statement - What if the parents are layabouts with a knack for business. Does that mean my kids will always be stoopid? (Doesn't matter really. I've just bought 2 Elises and had them shrink wrapped ubtil 2016 )

Neil Smalley

FB Define Stoopid? If they learn enough to run a successful buisness and yet don't have any bits of paper to prove it, are they thick? No, not at all they just did'nt sit the exams.

[sweeping statement on]
Interesting comments re the social side. I've noticed that kids at school only mix within their own age groups/classes, they generally regard adults(i.e Teachers) with suspicion.

Do adults live in herds segregated by narrow age groupings?
No, then why do we teach our kids to live as though they do?
IMHO It's much better to let your child mix with kids and adults equally.

[sweeping statement off]

As I said before it's not down to me to tell you how to school your kids, nor do I want to slate the education system. I'm just pointing out a few key issues I see with them at the moment.

maisy

Neil,
I have two children, one at school other at nursery. If I could they would both have a private education. Being taught in a small group or 1:1 must have advantages. My eldest has 31 pupils in her class and although there are "helpers" you do wonder how much individual attention they get. You can also only do so much at home. Good luck I hope it pays off.
M

JoanUK300

Neil, don`t build your hopes up, your child might not want to learn so much at an early age. This might sound a bit harsh but PLEASE let your child have a childhood, he`ll thank you for it in the end.
Joan.

Dave P

To the original question, in the UK it's the term in which they have their 5th birthday.

Re teaching at home I would also have concerns about social skills, mixing etc. Kids tend to stick to their own age groups coz they have more in common. I have two kids just 14 months apart, 7 and 8, one is still interseted in dolls but the 8 year old is well into Harry Potter having read all the books!!!!

Dave

melpaul2002

I am sure she will learn more at home during the first 4 - 5 years i really dont like the idea of someone looking after my babe at 3 years old, might be over protective but i dont care.

I would love to send her to a private school but they have a reputation of being so expensive ( not that i have checked)

I think i could just about afford to send her but with number 2 on the way you couldnt possibly send 1 and not the other.

Basically i really do not want her being taught in a class with disruptive oafs like i was. ( meaning i was one )

At the moment i consider us to be in a privaliged posistion with my wife not having to work, If £ was so tight then needs must and she would have to go to a playgroup or start school early.

I dont really care what exam results she were to get so long as she does her best but I would love to enhance her chances of doing her best.

Neil Smalley

Joan, thanks for the concern.
But the pre school program he's on only takes 2 hours a day and even then it's non stress no pressure. He just loves to do it, and gets upset when we don't teach him at weekends.

camk

Not sure about Scotland/England differences but my daughter who was born in Feb could go to school in August when she's 4.5 and obviously will not be 5 in the year she can start school.
Just out of interest its 6 in Germany for starting primary school so she's likely to have an extra year in Kindergarten, we discussed it here with teachers and that last year in Kindergarten is a preparation for School. We'll of course need to do the English side of things as she'll be taught German !!

Cheers
Cammy

Neil Smalley

UFO. Private.
Wife has started teaching him at home. By Jan 03 he should be reading and can then start private school with 1-1 tutition.

Mepaul2002 kids do learn more from people they know, trust and who can tailor their learning to their individual gifts.


/controversial statement alert!!
I also believe that a childs education is the primary responsiblity of the parent, rather than the state.
/end controversial statement alert!!

Some friends of ours kids did the same thing, the eldest now 16 has done her qualifications and is now running her own buisness until she goes to cambridge at 18



[Edited by Neil Smalley - 1/12/2002 10:21:30 PM]

Neil Smalley

Guess we'll know in 13 years time What I do know is that I'd rather have my kid taught on a one to one basis, with things tailored to his abilities than shoe horning him into someone's idea of the average student.

Dead serious about the parents taking responsibility bit though. How many parents see school as a baby sitting service, as opposed to a place where their child is shaped and influenced.

As I said, we'll find out in 13 years time. But I know the results. My wife(especially) has researched this for 2 years, so it's not over confidence.

It's not for everyone and everyone has the right to choose what they believe is best for their kid.

[Edited by Neil Smalley - 1/12/2002 10:29:55 PM]