[Peter T]

We will be moving into Westport soon and will be looking for suggestions as to schools. The little I was able to learn on-line and over the phone suggested that most preschools run from 9-12 o'clock, 2, 3, or 5 days, but none have the longer school day that we've been used to - 9-2:45.

Also the programs seem to stop with what is called 'the fours'. Do all kids go to public kindergarten when they are 5, even if they are 'young' fives?

Are public kindergartens full or half day programs? I did not find public schools to be welcoming regarding allowing parents to visit/ observe the class or program. Does anyone have experience with this?

Is the public school amenable to letting children have 2 years of kindergarten if the parent feels the child isn't quite ready for grade one?

Thank you for any advice you can offer.

[KH02]

There are schools that have a full day nursery school program, but most are also daycares. However, many religious private schools that offer K-8 programs offer full day nursery school in my experience, you may want to check that out.

Most kids who are 5 go onto Kindergarten as long as they are 5 by December of that school year. Some children are "redshirted" and held back in preschool another year. For those children many preschools offer a Pre-K program for children who are not ready for Kindergarten but have had some nursery school before.

Public Kindergarten being Full or Half day depends on the town you are looking in. Some have full day and others only have half day. Check with your towns school district or website on which they have.

I do not think most schools hold back children into Kindergarten for a second year willingly. If they are not ready for kindergarten then they shouldn't start until the following year.

[CLTrunner]

We are moving next to you in Wilton. Almost every preschool I've looked at for my daughter offers an "extended day option". She is going from 9-1 but I could add 1-3:30 for an additional fee if needed. I was asking about young 5s too and many Wilton preschools over a 5s/Kindergarten program.

[Mike 75]

Westport (and Wilton) will be going to full day kindergarten in 2013.

[toddb]

From our experience, preschools typically run the # of days per week that match the kids age - 2's go 2 days, 3's go 3 days, 4's go 4 days. There is an in-between tier typically called PreK for those kids that are too old for the 4's class but not ready for kindergarten. If your child is socially far behind the other 4's, or is born at the end of the calendar year, then that is more than good enough reason to hold them in a PreK. A lot of the preschools are recommending that any kids born after mid-September (to turn 5 just after the start of the school year) are held in a PreK class. There are exceptions, but because of what has come before them if you put them into kindergarten they could easily be 12-16 months younger than their peers in the same class. People call it "redshirting" and associate it with bad parenting or are very judgmental about it... but only you and your kids preschool teachers really know your kid. And don't feel pressured because one neighbor is sending their kid, or another one isn't.

My 4 yr old was born at the end of October, and we decided to put him in PreK instead of pushing him ahead to K simply because socially he is extremely shy and has a lot of trouble keeping up with his peers. Academically I am not concerned at all, but the social aspect of growing up is just as important. And for us, it wasn't about his issues in kindergarten... it was more the issues that we can foresee when he's in 6th or 8th grade, or high school.... it's tough enough figuring yourself out.

It is a very rare case that they allow a kid to repeat kindergarten. We asked the same question to the local elementary school principal, and he said that they really try not to do that, but it has happened once or twice.

I don't know about the kindergarten in Westport. Fairfield (where I am) just moved to 5 full days.

Feel free to ping me privately if you have any other questions.

[RogerAnthony]

The repeating kindergarten must be by district. I know in my district about 25% of kindergartners repeat the grade each year.

[andthentherewere3]

Originally Posted by toddb

From our experience, preschools typically run the # of days per week that match the kids age - 2's go 2 days, 3's go 3 days, 4's go 4 days. There is an in-between tier typically called PreK for those kids that are too old for the 4's class but not ready for kindergarten. If your child is socially far behind the other 4's, or is born at the end of the calendar year, then that is more than good enough reason to hold them in a PreK. A lot of the preschools are recommending that any kids born after mid-September (to turn 5 just after the start of the school year) are held in a PreK class. There are exceptions, but because of what has come before them if you put them into kindergarten they could easily be 12-16 months younger than their peers in the same class. People call it "redshirting" and associate it with bad parenting or are very judgmental about it... but only you and your kids preschool teachers really know your kid. And don't feel pressured because one neighbor is sending their kid, or another one isn't.

My 4 yr old was born at the end of October, and we decided to put him in PreK instead of pushing him ahead to K simply because socially he is extremely shy and has a lot of trouble keeping up with his peers. Academically I am not concerned at all, but the social aspect of growing up is just as important. And for us, it wasn't about his issues in kindergarten... it was more the issues that we can foresee when he's in 6th or 8th grade, or high school.... it's tough enough figuring yourself out.

It is a very rare case that they allow a kid to repeat kindergarten. We asked the same question to the local elementary school principal, and he said that they really try not to do that, but it has happened once or twice.

I don't know about the kindergarten in Westport. Fairfield (where I am) just moved to 5 full days.

Feel free to ping me privately if you have any other questions.

That's how it is where I am, and repeating kindergarten is extremely rare, allowed due to to maturity/behavior issues.

[groove]

Earthplace in Westport offers a Transitional 5s Pre-K program.

We are moving in-district and my son will be 6 a few weeks after he starts K. We are moving from a state with an earlier age-cutoff, so "red-shirting" him is due to different circumstances, but I'm glad it has worked out this way.

Good luck with your move!

[AMSS]

Originally Posted by groove

Earthplace in Westport offers a Transitional 5s Pre-K program.

We are moving in-district and my son will be 6 a few weeks after he starts K. We are moving from a state with an earlier age-cutoff, so "red-shirting" him is due to different circumstances, but I'm glad it has worked out this way.

Good luck with your move!

The area you are moving into will have primarily "red-shirted" kindergarteners. This is common in wealthier towns as more parents are educated themselves and know putting a kid in too early can be detrimental. I had to make this decision and not one teacher (pre-k all the way to high school) supported kindergarteners starting at age four. As good as CT is with education, we are behind on the cut off date rules.

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by AMSS

The area you are moving into will have primarily "red-shirted" kindergarteners. This is common in wealthier towns as more parents are educated themselves and know putting a kid in too early can be detrimental. I had to make this decision and not one teacher (pre-k all the way to high school) supported kindergarteners starting at age four. As good as CT is with education, we are behind on the cut off date rules.

Why do you assume we are behind? Our schools are among the top performing in the country. we must be doing something right. Jay