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Saturday 1 February 2014

Star of the Week

 
Emma is her class Star of the Week this week and she couldn't be more thrilled! She has been having trouble settling into school and has been upset and often in tears most mornings going in to school. She seems to have turned a corner this week and has been going into school happily and without her comforter (she still takes a pink muslin around with her wherever we go and had also been taking it to school with her since she started). Her teachers recognised what a big step this is for Emma and awarded her the Star of the Week for "coming into school with a big smile and ready to learn".
 
We get to look after the class teddy for a week and have to take lots of photos and write about his adventures with us in the Star of the Week diary. Emma is over the moon! Walking home from school she turned to me and said excitedly, "This is the best day of my life!". I am so pleased the teachers chose to recognise what a big step Emma has taken this week. She is one of the youngest in her class and starting school has been a huge change for her. She wasn't really ready for school and it has been a hard adjustment for her. I am so pleased that she seems to finally be settling in. It has been breaking my heart leaving her at school each morning!
 
 
Well done on being the Star of the Week Emma.
Mummy and Daddy are so proud of you!
 

 
My gorgeous little Star of the Week. Love her so much!
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5 comments:

Ruth said...

I keep commenting all the time, sorry, haha! But I have to - Emma looks adorable and what a fun idea, that star of the week! Our schools don't have anything like that. But is she really only 4? I understood you go to school when you've turned 5 in England? Guess what - kids in Finland don't go to school until the year they turn SEVEN. I think we're the only country where school starts that late. I think it's good, though. Anyway - most children (like 99%, I'd say!) are in day care (nursery) and pre-school before that. Although I'm not planning on putting Noah to day care, he can stay home with me :)

Paula said...

Feel free to comment as often as you like. I really love to get comments!

In England, a child has to start school the term they turn five, which for Emma means she doesn't legally have to be in school until the Easter term of this year. However, the reality is that most schools will only have one intake at the start of the school year in September, which means that for some children (like Emma), they are only just four when they start school. It is much, much too young. Both of my daughters (with May and July birthdays) really struggled with being away from me and were not ready to start school.

My son has an October birthday, which means he was almost five when he started school, but it still took him a while to settle in. Seven is a much better age for children to start school and you are very lucky you won't have to part with Noah when he is too young to be away from you. I am a great believer in keeping young children with their mothers as long as possible. I wish our government would see sense and not make us send our children to school so young. It can't do them any good.

I'll get off my soap box now :-)

Ruth said...

Very informative! Here, of course, some kids start at the age of six (like me as I was born in December) because school year starts in October. But four is too young. And of course they're trying to lower the starting age here too.. Unnecessary in my opinion. Homeschooling is always an option too, but at least here, it is practically never used. Us stay-at-home moms are a rarity here.

Lainey said...

Well done Emma!

I agree 4 is too young for school. However, Rowan loves going to nursery, which he's attended 3 days a week from 9 months (before any separation anxiety formed) I'm hoping this helps him settle when he eventually has to go school full time - at least that's what I tell myself to allay my guilt!

Paula said...

I think the important thing is choice. You can choose to send or not send a child to nursery and can tailor your child care choices to your child and your circumstances. Once you get to school age, that choice is taken away. Emma would probably have settled in better had she been allowed to start on half days, or a few days a week, but that option wasn't there. You get the 'one size fits all' mentality as soon as you enter the school system.