powercow

Could be way off the mark, but I wonder whether it had something to do with it being your mum? My son and my mother (she lives "up norffff") used to vie for my attention; since I don't see my mum that often there's always a lot to catch up on and my son didn't like it. In fact, both seemed to feel they were entitled to my undivided attention and did not want to share it with the other. Also, if your mum's not nearby, he may not be that confident about his relationship with her. We may assume our children know our close relatives because we talk about them, but it must be daunting for a little one when a comparitive stranger bears down on them demanding hugs and kisses. My son and mum are fine now (he's 7) and it has never been a problem with my daughter...Ishe's always had to share me.

Tiddles, We let them out in the garden only when we're around with them - I once left them out and went into the kitchen for 10 minutes. When I came back outside there was a fox staring at them from the opposite end of the garden. Rather worrying, particularly as it was a weekday afternoon and I could hear people working in a nearby garden. Since then they get a lot less free range time but cope OK - I give them extra greens (but do seem to get fewer eggs). We tried moving them round the lawn, but in the end have left them in once place (and sacrificed that patch of grass). They are a great pet for kids and after 18 months the novelty hasn't worn off. If you'd like to come and see them, PM me.

[i've been offline for 5 days...thanks, Virgin Media...] Interesting to see the strength of feeling about this subject. The recent Rose review suggests that the summer-born children would actually do better to start the September they turn 4 (but with the option of part-time and lots of teacher support) rather than waiting until the following January. The recommendations are to be put into place but I don't know how they will work in practice. I suspect, ultimately, we're stuck in a "Computer says No" situation, where everyone agrees that younger children lose out but it messes up the beaurocracy if they are out of their "allocated" year group. I'm not going down without a fight - I've written to Tessa Jowell MP and she in turn has contacted Ms Romi Bowen, the Stategic Director at the Southwark Children's Services and The Rt Hon Ed Balls at the Department for Children Schools and Families. I'll update this when I get a response.

I just wondered how many East Dulwich-ites have gone for a modicum of rurality (?!) and got chickens... To start the count, we have 2 (Barbara and Margot)...they don't get much time out of their Eglu because of the pesky foxes but are much loved members of the family.

No, it doesn't level out until 16 or above. If you're interested in reading more, check out the following for starters: The Independent Review of Primary Curriculum by Sir Jim Rose which was published in April and the recommendations of which are to be fully implemented (announcement this week from Vincent Coaker, Schools Minister) - see Chapter 4 particularly on summer-born children : http://publications.teachernet.gov.uk/default.aspx?PageFunction=productdetails&PageMode=publications&ProductId=DCSF-00499-2009& Institute for Fiscal Studies report (2007) "When You Are Born Matters: The Impact of Date of Birth on Child Cognitive Outcomes in England": http://www.ifs.org.uk/docs/born_matters_report.pdf National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) (2009). "The influence of relative age on learner attainment and development": http://www.inca.org.uk/Relative_Age_Review_February_2009.pdf

Has anyone tried/succeeded in getting permission from Southwark for their summer born child to defer entry at primary school until after their fifth birthday, so they're the oldest in the class rather than the youngest? There's loads of research out there about the disadvantages of being summer born (if you're interested I can point you to it) and the recent review commissioned by the government includes almost a whole chapter on it, but comes out suggesting that the youngest children should actually start earlier (in the September term they turn 4, rather than in the January when they are 4 and a bit). My daughter's birthday is 30th August and since the cut off date is 1st September she'll be the youngest in the class by anything up to 363 days. Legally she doesn't have to start until she's five...but then she would go straight into Year 1 and be doubly disadvantaged by missing reception and still being the youngest. My birthday's 31st July and I have 4 A levels and a degree so when people say to me ?She?ll be OK; she?ll do fine? my response is that this isn?t about her being ?OK? or ?fine?; I want to even up the odds which are so heavily stacked against her and give her a chance to achieve her full potential whatever that may be. I want her to have a smooth transition into full time education when she is ready and to be confident and happy from the start, not struggling to keep up. (I've seen it also from the other end: her seven-year old brother's birthday is mid September, so he had an extra six months at nursery prior to starting school just before his fifth birthday. He was socially and academically ready for school, with a maturity which was clear to see and continues to stand him in good stead.) I'd love to hear from anyone else who is in the same boat...

Best of luck to you guys. Mine's a double skinny latte.;-)