Supporting parents: School Readiness
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.
Comments
What do you do with a very
What do you do with a very bright child who would stagnate in a current repeat 4 year old kindergarten program? I refer to a child who started school turning 5 in early March, confident, reading and completely at ease and with an intellectual equality [ and even superior to ]with boys 12 months his senior.
Maybe a seamless developmental program for kindergarten to school as recommended by EYLDF!!!!!
Hi Kathy I owe you alot as I
Hi Kathy
I owe you alot as I attended one of your school readiness seminars in Bendigo 3 years ago and afterwards I felt I was able to make an educated decision regarding my child. I gave him a bonus year and have not looked back!! BUT now in South Australia I have an app. tonight with the class teacher in reception(Prep) and am awaiting a call from the local PS regarding their ideas on starting school.
Here in SA, children go to school as soon as they turn 5. There are 3 intakes a year so the reception year is receiving new students each term causing many disruptions...also a child starting in Term 2 only gets 3 terms then is up to Grade 1. Remembering that the child may be just 5 and is in reception with my child who is doing 6 terms as he started in Term 3 last year when he was 5 1/2. So he will be starting Grade one as a 7 year old with this new reception child being 5 1/2. This is crazy and the many first time parents have no idea (as I didn't before the seminar that there was another choice) Am I goin crazy?
Cathy
Hi, I wished they started
Hi,
I wished they started children in prep at 5yrs turning 6yrs when I was going to school. Im nearly 40years old and started school when I was 4 turning 5 in April. I can still remember feeling intimidated and unconfident being the youngest and being pulled out of class alot to go to special english (we called it). I seemed to always be behind with english and reading than everyone else. My memories of school were not very great. Made me quite selfconscious. I have two boys now 5 and nearly 4. I have delayed my oldest this year so he starts school next year 5 turning 6 in March. He has been slightly behind in speech. I have great confidence with my decision and have watched him mature greatly this year. He is very excited to go to school next year.
I feel parents who delay there children in school should feel confident with there decision as 1 year can make all the difference for there child to create a more successful life for them.
I would totally agree with
I would totally agree with this. I was not 100% sure whether to send my son (1st child) to school at 5 (mid Jan birthday). He seemed ready, so I sent him, but I do now however regret my decision.
He is now in grade 2 and seems a lot younger and smaller than most the grade 2 s and is mixing more with the grade 1's - I am even considering whether it would be better for him to do 2 years in grade 2. In my area it seems that Jan to April kids are held back in most cases and it is even creeping into larger numbers of November and December kids too.
I wish in my heart that I had kept him at home with me for another year. I guess what I am saying is if in doubt don't send your precious child early - they are only young for so a short period of time.
I agree that it is a very
I agree that it is a very hard decision to make - i.e. holding them back a year. I have a son who turned 5 early Dec last year and had him all set to go to prep. He is in an ELC program at a Private School in Melbourne which has been fantastic. However when I had parent teacher meeting last Sept they suggested I think about holding him back - which surprised me as I had not contemplated this at all.
In saying that although it was a 4 year old program he was the youngest boy in the class when he started Feb 2009 and there were already 4 boys in the class that were 5.
I did a stack of research and my mother who was a prep teacher and lecturer in WA spent half a day with him last year. She agreed that he was so much younger than the other children. I also spoke to all the ELC mums and found not one regretted holding their boys back and a number wished they had.
Looking at him this year he has gone from the youngest in the class last year to the oldest and he is thriving in all aspects. More confident about trying to write his name .. and when he walks in all the kids come running up to him each morning - rather than him quietly playing by himself last year.
One of the best decisions I have made.
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I too am facing a difficult
I too am facing a difficult decision on whether to send my daughter, who turns 5 in mid Dec to school.
I was set to send her to Grade Prep next year with her 4 yr kinder teacher saying she is ready to go.
Only the school interview did not go so well and the school suggested she may benefit from having another year at home before attending school. My daughter is rather shy and lacks confidence. I am so confused. On one hand I have people saying send her she is ready, she is naturally a quiet child and it will help her step up. Yet on the other hand I have other people saying they have had no regrets holding their children back.
I am very confused as what is the right thing to do?