I spoke at another school readiness presentation last night. Myself and colleagues are out almost every evening working through issues related to when is the best time to send a child to school, to start preschool etc. I am always struck by the anxiety and the anger that some in the community have when it is suggested by a professional ( preschool teacher or psychologist) that a child may benefit from an additional year of living, maturing and childhood before going to school.
I am even more shocked that some researchers spend their professional lives trying to prove that all children should just go to school regardless because academic scores are much the same once they get to their final year in secondary school. If life was only about a score, then why not just send everyone, babies included!! School and learning and life is also about the quality of the journey, the pace, the experiences and developing attitudes and beliefs about oneself along the way.
Whilst schools are much better these days at being ready for children, it is important that parents are provided with choices either way and not pressured into sending them just because they legally can.