should you have a say in when your child starts school

8 Comments

hi im a mum of 3 i live in qld and im being forced to send my son to school next year all because he will be 5 in feb i dont wish to do this so i contact the education dept,schools etc and to my suprise i have to send him and if i dont and i sent him the following year he has to go in yr 1 and miss prep but all the other kids were in prep the yr before so they would be ahead of him that dosnt matter they said,because it goes on how social the child is thats all they need to know they dont need to be able to count or anything just be kind and sociable i was shocked so i contacted other states and schools and they said i have the option to send him early or the following year and thats when they want them to start when they are 5 turning 6 not four,but i printed of and article in january from the sun herald i think a d it showed that 2800 kids were repeated in kinder and 60%were boys so why make us send him early if your going to repeat them anyway this is in qld due to this im looking at relocating to another i shouldnt be forced to sent my child to school early considering the other states like them to start later all this because my son was born in feb but if he was born in july and up he could start the following yr i have been told my alot of people not to send him early for many reasons and alot of people i have spoken to who sent their kids to school early they were repeated so if anyone has any thoughts i would like to here them thanks

Posted by emma-jade, 21st June 2013

8 Comments

- - mom81879 said
  - 06 Sep 2015
    7:28 pm
Unfortunately, that’s the law. Once he’s at school, the professionals will decide what he can cope with, whether he should be in that grad or below or above. Sometimes as parents, we are too involved personally to make the right choices for our kids. Sometimes we need to go outside the box for what’s best

- - mom57522 said
  - 04 Jan 2015
    8:38 pm
The school system is all over the place, I hear so many conflicting stories,

- - Michelle said
  - 29 Jul 2014
    9:33 am
Yes we should, however the law is the law and there are those that think they know our children better than we do.

- - jodie80 said
  - 23 Mar 2014
    6:11 pm
i was worried about my son starting school and wanted to keep him at kindy but he was fine

- - musicmum said
  - 22 Jun 2013
    1:23 am
Why not try homeschooling,my son’s birthday is in January and he was too young at 5 to go to school he actually went to kinder that year. We are still homeschooling and is doing great.

- - dilemmalina said
  - 21 Jun 2013
    10:14 pm
Even though we as mums know best, he may just surprise you and excel beyond your wildest dreams. And if he does end up repeating Kindy, at his age it’s not going to affect him.
I’m on the opposite scale to you….my daughter was born in August and can’t start Kindy until she’s five turning six and i would prefer her to be starting school when she’s four turning five as I believe she’s ready.
There are regulations for a reason….unfortunately we have to play along

- - sarahjanedreamer said
  - 21 Jun 2013
    6:42 pm
I begged my Mum to go to school. I was in pre-school at age 3, because I wanted to. He will only really be playing and learning very basic things, perhaps you could just put him in for 3 or 4 days to see how he handles it. My son is born in early Jan so he will be probably expected to attend for his full year of being 5, and will turn 6 the year after. I agree that sometimes kids are certainly not ready for being away from home all day sitting in a classroom, even of older kids, 5 days a week is just too much for kids ages 5 to 9 in my opinion. In the end, it is all about how he feels, without any influence from how you feel. He may really love it and make lots of friends. It’s good you are thinking outside the square though. I met my two best friends in Kindy, so he may make a lifetime friend which would be wonderful. I wish him all the best in his future.

- - torien said
  - 21 Jun 2013
    6:26 pm
It’s tricky but I think prep is more of a get ready for school year. Your son will learn in a more nurturing environment what ‘big school’ is all about as opposed to being thrust into year one with out a cushion. I sent my daughter early. I sent my boys on time, all have coped quite well….however you are the Mum and your gut feeling will tell you whats right.