Special Delivery Spring 2018 | Page 57

Get outside. For hundreds of years research has proven the benefits of children

developing a relationship with the outside world. As there are fewer safe and open spaces accessible to children, and risk aversion is increasing, children are becoming more distant from organic play with natural objects and are increasingly attracted to technology. It is essential children have access to uninterrupted, informal outdoor play to develop a number of areas such as positive relationships with their environment, problem solving skills, considered risk and most importantly fun

Many teachers and parents find Pinterest to be an excellent starting point for implementing many of the above ideas. However, it is crucial to be mindful of avoiding the trap of adult-led beautiful creations which allow no creativity, child participation or change from the end product.

We are yet to see any research on how holding child back may change their summer-birth status. However, there are two major

considerations for parents.

Firstly, they should ensure that their child is stimulated and challenged through the

year they turn five. Secondly, they need to consider where their

child will go to at the end of his/her primary years. Currently, the leading suggestion is that secondary schools will want to

move summer born children back into their birthday-determined year group, meaning

that a child might end up having to skip a year between Year One and Year Six.

Finding a quality Early Years setting can feel difficult, especially due to the postcode lottery both on school places and the possibility of deferring Reception entry for your child. However, there are many schools which have realised how fundamental the Early Years are and are therefore expanding into nursery aged children. Key findings from EPPE Project (The Effective Provision of Pre-school Education Project, DfES Publications, 2004) show a child who has been exposed to a continuous setting is likely to transition most effectively into Key Stage One. When these schools get it right and offer a play-based and child-led setting, it can allow children to follow seamlessly through from their pre-Reception setting, through Reception and into Key Stage One without any periods of uncertainty at this key time in a child’s development.

In my opinion, in their Reception year in the right setting, children will be exposed to a huge amount of learning & experiences which will strongly support them through Key Stage 1 & 2. By preventing them from having these Early Years experiences, they will continue to fall behind their cohort. Therefore, as a parent with a summer born child, the most important thing you can do to support your child through these fundamental years is to ensure they attend an Early Years setting where the focus is based on practical, meaningful and enjoyable play-based experiences. The time for learning to read, write & work out sums will come all too soon.

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