What age is the right age to start school?

I agree with you...I am in the UK and HATE that my daughter had to start so young...she is 4 now and adjusted..but I think they are best with their parents till 6 or 7 like most of the rest of the world! I arranged with the nursery to start her a term later than government recomendations....I could have kept her out and homeschooled her but was worried about her not adjusting at the later age...she would be so different to her schoolmates...wish I was braver really. EDIT...YUMMY MUMMY is wrong..it is NOT law to send them to school...it is law to "PROVIDE AN EDUCATION" and you don't have to be a teacher to do it either....home education is growing massively in the UK because of overstuffed schools, bad teachers and crime....there is evidence that home educated kids do better and get higher exam results too...and as for socialization ...take them to meet other home educated kids and to dance, drama or sports clubs....of all my school friends that I made I have no kept one of them. My true friends were made at Uni and work.

All children are different, so the legal age to start school here reflects an average. I personally went to school aged 3, I went to a private school. My Mum wasn't pushy - I asked to go!! And I did just fine academically.

Although most schools accept children as young as 3, its not law until the September following the 5th birthday. My son started in the Sept following his 4th birthday.

It all depends on the child. If you have a child that thrives with social activity and has hit all of the milestones that a child of their age should have, then starting school younger makes sense. If your child is a little behind, delayed, still napping or shy then you might want to take an extra year and during this time get them used to the idea of school and try to get them involved with some social activities. I agree though. 3 is too young. They're still babies. I think personally, that 4 is right for some and 6 for others. Just assess your childs abilities. If you don't think they can handle it then wait. There is no harm in waiting.

I think 3 is way too young for school. I would rather the UK follow other countries where the age is 6. However, it isn't the case, so I think no earlier than 5. I know that it depends on the child's birthday - those who are 4 1/2 by the September can go then or wait another year. If I had to make that choice, I would send my child at the older age. However, it can depend on the child in question. I knew one child who went at 4 1/2 and he seemed ready for it. However, I was sent at this age, and I feel it did me no good at all. I was always aware of being the youngest in my class, I never had much luck at school. That may not necessarily have been due to going so young, but I'm sure it didn't help. My son will be 5 when he goes to school, but in the meantime, I chose not to send him to pre-school, for the simple reason I feel he will be in a school environment long enough without adding an extra year.

Each country has there own system of education that states when a child must start formal education. I don't think there is right or wrong age to start school. each child is different. I agree with you though at 3.5 years is a too young to go to full time school. In Australia most children start school between the ages of 3 and 4 depending on when they are born and then it is up to each school as to how many hours they offer some offer 4 half days or 2 full days. I have three children and by the age of 3 both of mine were ready for more interaction with other children than I could offer at home even with taking them to playgroup and swimming and story time during the week. my 4 year old still comes home tired from school and she plays for while after school and then we have dinner around 5.30pm every night and she is normally asleep by 6.30pm. my eight year old is in year 3 but has had 5 years of early childhood education and if she was still at home full time I would go stir crazy trying to keep her entertained or trying to make her learn anything as she doesn't normally listen to me when I try to sit her down and teach her things, I only have a limited knowledge about things like math health and history. there are other children how ever who at 4 should still be at home and not start school till later and my brother is one of these people my mum kept him at home for an extra year and he turned out to be ok. but one must also remember that children (like adults) are constantly learning so parents can teach the alphabet how to write letters numbers and alot of other things before the child starts school. like I said before 5 days full time schooling at 3 is is too young but there are arguments for against both children that start school early and children who start school later as in 9 years old. one thing I do know is that all children need an education and as long as they are enrolled at a school or they are home schooled by the time the government of your country states that they should be then there shouldnt be any problem.

Where I am, school is still half day for 4 and 5 year olds. Full day starts grade 1 which is when the child turns 6. By 2010 however, they want to start full day for 4 and 5 year olds which I don't think is right. And the way they want to go about that is not a full week on, it's every other day. They claim they want the children to learn early on about school and routine, I don't see how a 4 year old can learn school routine when it's not consistent, but every other day. It just bugs me because 2010 is when my daughter would be starting school.

I agree, it should be later rather than sooner. Its obvious that they're only getting them in at a younger age because its what suits the parents more, which really makes me angry, why do these people bother having kids if they don't have the time to look after them? Theres more important things in life than money and careers

im also in the UK and my daughter is 3 on sat. Shes starting nursery in jan and cant wait! All children are different however i think it does them no harm at all to socialise with other children their own age in fact i think it helps them develop.