The Deputy, who is also chairwoman of the Education and Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel, believes that children should start school only when they are developmentally ready.
She also claims that parents in Jersey may be unaware that they can delay the start of their children’s education if they are summer-born babies.
Jersey law states that compulsory school age starts on the first day of a term in which a child turns five. Although the majority will start in September, Deputy Doublet believes that many parents are unaware that children who are born later in the year do not have to start school until the spring or summer term.
Her comments come as parents in Jersey have reacted to a move in the UK which allows summer-born children to be held back a year. About 50 mums and dads of summer-born children discussed this on the JEP Parenting Facebook page recently, with some offering reassurance to worried parents and others admitting that they are going to hold back their children.
Deputy Doublet is now calling on the Education Minister to look at the age at which children start school, and assess whether it is in the best interests of
Jersey children. The Deputy said: ‘A child’s age in the early years is certainly not a precise guide as to what developmental stage he or she is at.
‘Young children develop at such different rates at this age that there can be huge variations within one reception class. Teachers are excellent at catering for this, but I do believe our system could be improved.
‘Guidance from the UK’s Department of Education allows parents to delay their child’s schooling until the September after their fifth birthday. This policy, updated last spring, is designed to help children with birthdays between 1 April and 31 August – experts believe they are more likely to struggle academically if they start school after just turning four.’
But Jersey Education said that the UK ruling does not apply here and there are currently no plans to change the policy in Jersey.
Deputy Doublet added: ‘We need to stop following only what the UK does and look further afield for inspiration. Finland, for example, has high-quality play-based early-years education with highly qualified staff. By the time children go through this they are keen to start formal learning, such as reading and writing, when they are six or seven and take to it very quickly as they are ready for it.
‘They are not switched off from school, but are allowed to learn in an appropriate way. We have one of the earliest school starting ages in the world. The evidence points to a later school start age contributing to significantly greater academic achievement later in the school career.’
In Jersey compulsory school age starts on the first day of the term when a child turns five. It ends on 30 June in the school year when a student turns 16.
Deputy Doublet said: ‘In practice, most children will start in the September. I’m not sure parents are even aware that their children don’t have to start until the spring or summer term if they are born later in the year.
‘I believe that if a parent wanted to hold their child back they could say they are being home-schooled. I don’t think the States can actually force a parent to send a child to school.
‘I say this because I met Guernsey Deputy Yvonne Burford last month and she did exactly that with her son. She told me there is a growing home-school movement in Guernsey. I know there are a few families who school their children at home, and they have moderation visits from Education staff.’
But the department of Education, Sport and Culture warned parents to look at the consequences of delaying their child starting school. A spokesman said: ‘If children start school late or behind their year group, they can legally leave school in Year 10 – before they have taken any GCSEs. This could be detrimental to their prospects, so the aim is to ensure that all children leave school with qualifications.
‘In general, all children are expected to be in their age group, except in particular cases, which are usually due to the development of special educational needs as a result of trauma or when a pupil is new to education in Jersey and does not have previous experience of education at an appropriate level.
‘The number of children being educated out of their age group in Jersey is fewer then ten, and these are as a result of serious medical conditions that have affected their learning.’
The department added that if parents of summer-born children were worried about this issue, they should contact the school.
‘It’s not unusual for parents to be anxious when their child starts school, but they should discuss any concerns with the teacher as soon as possible. A summer birthday, however, is not automatically a problem.
‘School staff are trained to work with children of different ages and are experienced in taking into account the effect of summer birthdays, if necessary, in the way they teach.
‘All children are provided with a flexible curriculum that fits their age and developmental stage. As part of these arrangements, additional support can be put in place as required.’
‘My son started school in September. He was born on 13 August. He is doing really well and actually helping other children with their reading. Why hold your child back a year? They may surprise you with their skills they develop.’
Nicci Le Beuvant
‘My daughter was born in July and wasn’t ready for school at four. She is now in Year 2 and it is a struggle. I would have loved to keep her in nursery for an extra year. Where I come from we don’t start school until we are 6 or 7.’
Britta
‘There has to be cut-off point.
If not, where does this argument stop? Would holding back children have a knock-on effect for children in the next year? Are children born in May/June then at a disadvantage?’
Emilie Langlands
‘My boy was born on 31 August. If he was born seven hours later he would have started a year later. We were worried at first but his progress has been immense. Push a child and they will surprise you.’
Marekandlinda Milowicki
‘Wish I’d kept my son back a year – Reception teacher told me she didn’t believe in this kind of rubbish yet almost every other teacher does agree. It is very apparent that there is a huge age gap when some of his friends are already a year older than him a week after returning to school. If he had been born 13 days later he would be in the year below.’
Kayleigh Dunning
‘My son is a June baby and I will be delaying his entry until he is five.’
Rachel du Feu
‘I asked for my son to be held back. He was born on 26 July but they said no. He is so far behind and struggles with reading and writing. A year could have made all the difference.’
Gemma
‘My son is only nine months old – born in May. He will be going to school when he is five and three months rather than four and three months! Very much my choice and have always said if I had a baby in summer that I would delay and while I don’t agree with kids being sent when they just turned four I respect and support my friends, who are the parents and their choice to do so!’
Paula English
‘My son was late August and is four. He’s in Reception class. I feel he is at the stage he should be and speaks well at home and loves to play and learn. But at school it’s a different story. He is struggling to keep up with those in his class and now I’m meetings to discuss what next! I think age gaps between children can make a difference. If you put a new born and a one year old in the same room they are not going to be expected to be at the same level but put a four year old with five year olds and they are treated like they need extra support because he’s at a different level. Yet if he was born a week later and still in nursery I would be told he’s doing great and progressing at the level expected for his age. If I was allowed this option I would definitely have held him back a year.’
Lisa
