[howdo]

OP needs to decide now because they will be sending out the Transition letters within the next 3-4 weeks to start Transition at some point in weeks 5-6.

My experience is that a child who does 6 terms of Reception is just fine. Absolutely peachy keen, ridiculously superbly fine. A 4 term Reception is spot on the money. 3 term Receptions are sometimes a little underdone. That said, I'm a 2 term Reception (crazy weird decision that I still don't fully understand!!!) and while I'm absolutely fanbloodytastic and sailed through Primary School I crashed and burned at about Year 11. Boom Crash!

Okay so in all deadly seriousness, DD1 was forced to do 6 terms of Reception because she missed starting Term 2 by 2 weeks. While it has not harmed her in the slightest it's been a mixed blessing. She would have missed out on staying with her kindy bestie if she'd been able to do 3 terms of Reception and they have such a firm friendship now I hate to think if that hadn't happened. At the same time she's behind her church peers who are all starting High School this year. Her cousins who are 3 months and 6 weeks older are heading to Year 8 as well. The friends she makes in Orchestra, Dance and Wind Ensemble are usually the year level above while being 'her age' as well. For us her peer group has not been confined to her school only and this has made it quite tricky actually.

On the upside she's very mature, shows outstanding leadership qualities and has a very good chance of really becoming a significant student leader this year which will be a brilliant opportunity. In her Year Level she shines due to her "elderliness" (she's *the* oldest in her year). If she'd been a Year 7 last year she would have been a bit more lost in the shuffle.

So at the end of the day, coming from the other end of Primary School where this has irritated the CRAP out of me for almost 9 years it has a significant amount of positives - despite the fact that yet again, tonight someone assumed she'd be off to High School next week. Which makes the FOURTH person today!!!! She gets that a lot ...

My other two were born in November and December and had no other option than 4 terms of Reception and they are just right. Most kids are. If I had to choose again, knowing what I know now (and not what I thought I knew when DD1 was 4) I would choose 6 terms of Reception. It can get a bit sticky but at the end of the day I don't think you can go wrong with 6 terms and I think you can with 3.

[littlepoppet]

We 'meet' again, Chockybits! Always nice to see you around from time to time.

Sorry I'm in Vic so wont be of much help, as things are done differently here, but I've been losing sleep over my decision with DS (as you know mid Feb baby also). He is starting FYOS this year but I've considered holding him back. Really hope I haven't made the wrong decision...He will attend for the full 4 terms though.

Anyway, good luck with your decision - it's a tough one.

[busymum01]

I would go for 6 if you're not sure. Our DS only did three terms of kindy, then three terms or reception and then was pushed up (against my gut feeling) into year one last year (turning six half way through the year) he was the youngest in a year 1/2 class (some kids are turning eight!) and it was a nightmare academically and socially. This year, we're keeping him back to continue with year one with kids his own age.

[Chockybits]

Thanks everyone for your replies. It's interesting reading about other people's situations.

I will wait and see what the kindy teachers recommend, but at this stage I think I am leaning towards doing the 6 terms. Emotionally, at home anyway, he does cry for the silliest of things and his social skills need more development. Obviously school will help with that too, but he's the kind of kid who prefers talking with the adults rather than the children. He does play with the other children, but hasn't made any close friends and there's not many children from his kindy going to his school so that won't make a difference when he does start. Academically he's not overly interested in learning to read or write, but is a bright child in other areas.

Heather11, you are right, you can't plan on doing any more than 4 terms of kindy however if the director feels that it is necessary then the child can do more. That's what his driector told me anyway. He does have speech therapy so maybe that's got something to do with it, but we go privately.

Hey Littlepoppet . Nice to hear from you again . I take it your DS is starting this term then? In hindsight I probably could have pushed the school for him to start this term, but didn't think of it at the time. That would have given him a full year of reception, even though he may not be as ready as he could be.

So, do they ever hold kids back in the early years of school? I guess it probably depends on the school, but I imagine that would be quite hard on the child then because of friendships they would have formed.

[Heather11]

So, do they ever hold kids back in the early years of school? I guess it probably depends on the school, but I imagine that would be quite hard on the child then because of friendships they would have formed.

I believe three students who have only done three terms from DS's class will be remaining in Reception next year.

At my children's school they mix the class when they go to a new level anyway. DS said there is only one other boy from his class last year in this year's class.

If your child does 6 terms he may very well become friends with a child who only has to do 4 and therefore they get spilt up the following year anyway. This happened to DD. Her best friend in Reception ended up being a girl who started the term after her. The following year DD had to go up while her friend stayed in Reception. They were still able to play together in the playground and remained friends.

[littlepoppet]

Hey Littlepoppet . Nice to hear from you again . I take it your DS is starting this term then? In hindsight I probably could have pushed the school for him to start this term, but didn't think of it at the time. That would have given him a full year of reception, even though he may not be as ready as he could be.

Yes, he is starting next Fri. I am quite emotional about it all to be honest. I hate that he is going to be one of the youngest (April cut off) but kinder teacher said he was ready and I'm not sure that another year at home (with kinder) would have been enough for him. Unfortunately, he wont know anyone at the school which makes things harder, plus he's a pretty sensitive soul. Anyway, I'm trying to be positive but still sooooooo anxious.

Good luck

This post has been edited by littlepoppet: 21/01/2013, 09:12 PM

[Chockybits]

Hope it all goes well Littlepoppet and he settles in nicely. At least you can have some comfort knowing that his kindy teachers think he's ready. My DS is a bit of a sensitive soul too. When he does start he probably won't know anyone either because he's not going to the kindy attached to the school. It's all a bit emotional isn't it, reaching all these milestones! Our babies are growing up!

[littlepoppet]

It's all a bit emotional isn't it, reaching all these milestones! Our babies are growing up!

I swear, I only just brought him home from the hospital