Three separate meetings for reception admission?!

[MotherofPirates]

Just received letter for DC's reception admission in September which states we need to come to school for three separate meetings - one to enrol, another for an induction talk and a third for a stay and play. All are at really inconvenient times for working parents (10am, 2pm and the last a bit after school pick up time which is ok I guess). The meetings are spread out over about three weeks and the first one is in under two weeks time! Is that unusually demanding? Oh and also insinuates you can't bring children with you!

[sunnydayinmay]

Sounds fairly standard, tbh. Assume you can take your cjild to the stay and play one?

If you really can't make it, just phone the school. We missed two because we were on holiday.

This is your life for the next decade or so. I have missed a school thing today due to work. We are missing a wedding (hope to get to the reception) due to a compulsory school thing on a saturday in a couple of weeks.

[GloriaPritchett]

Yep, get used to it!

They do uniform sales and give out quite useful information most of the time. The stay and play will probably involve the children meeting their teacher and going to see their classroom too.

[PerspicaciaTick]

It won't be the end of the world (from the school's PoV) if you miss any of these, they are running the sessions to help you and your DC feel settled and to aid the transition to school.

But sunny is right - this is pretty typical and will continue for the next 7 years until your DC starts secondary school.

[Mopmay]

It's typical. Get used to short notice for things in school time. We are a huge school where 75% of parents work. We rarely get more than 2 weeks notice for anything. Reception at ours have welcome eve (late afternoon ) mtg with teacher (day) and settle in day (day).
Then they have staggered entry ...,

[IKnowRight]

It's really annoying but it is normal. I've used a lot of annual leave over the years to attend school stuff. This term - afternoons off for 2 x sports days, 1 afternoon to collect from school trip that CM couldn't collect from, one day to attend school open day that I haven't been to in the whole of my y6 child's school career, also the last day of term booked off as it's dd1's last day at the school so she wants to take part in the traditional wailing and gnashing of teeth that goes on in the playground after school rather than being whisked straight off by our CM. This is a bit more than usual but most terms there's something, especially if you have more than one child at school.

Of the lot, I'd say the stay and play is the most important, you and your dc will meet the teacher and your dc will be able to get their bearing in the classroom. The rest could probably be done by phone / post if need be. Do you have someone you can split the attendance with? DH and I tend to manage them between us rather than both of us going to everything. Tonight I'm going to a talk from Y6 teacher on the "growing up" lessons they're having in class next week - we're going to be shown the videos that the kids will be shown. It will either be excruciating or hilarious dependent on the quality of the video and how stuffy the teacher is

[noramum]

Normal. I think it is better to have certain meetings without children as you will be given lots of information and small children disturb it. Hard but reality.

We had one evening meeting and three stay and play afternoons. Then 3 weeks of 1/2 days in September for them. DD didn't start until the Thursday of the first week (all other year groups started Tuesday).

Keep at least 1 week of annual leave per year unplanned until you get a grip how the school organises events. We had at least 3 assemblies, 2 school trips, 3 end of term services, school fair on a weekday and one Christmas play per year Plus additional meetings for various things plus parent evenings late afternoon and

[MotherofPirates]

Groan. It just seems so inefficient!

[IKnowRight]

I know!!

But you'll find that the school runs for the convenience of the staff and children (as it should be) rather than the convenience of the parents. We just have to lump it (and feel free to moan about it, I do frequently )

[Heels99]

Yes, normal. Are they doing part time start in September, that is the real headache for working people

[MotherofPirates]

Hmm they haven't said anything about September yet so maybe I have that to look forward to!

[Mopmay]

We have parent teacher mtgs, reception show, nativity play, stay and see what we are learning afternoons, Easter parade, school summer event, sports days and optional trips for parents to help at. My mates school have several phonics sessions for parents and other such things.... Both schools are outstanding and really great.
Juggling act for working parents

[Lonecatwithkitten]

It is hugely inefficient! Year 6 play 2.5 weeks time two shows each class stars in one is ensemble in the other. We have several parents who like me work nights and a lot of flight crew too. School haven't yet decided which class will star in which night!
All very frustrating.

[Heels99]

I would definitely ask about part time start in September then, some schools don't do it at all some do it right till half term and childcare can be a challenge.

[meglet]

normal for the start of school.

However with luck your school may be very organised with school events. For example; by the end of this term we will have all the 2015/16 dates for insets, school plays, parents evening and next summers sports day etc. Some schools are pretty good at planning ahead once you're there.

[AChickenCalledKorma]

Relatively normal, although our school holds the induction talk in the early evening. You still need to get your child to the school during normal school hours for 2-3 settling in sessions, though.

To be honest, I didn't mind making special arrangements when they were first starting school. I did resent getting a telling off for not turning up to an internet safety session at 9:30 on a Wednesday ... which we had only heard about for the first time at 4pm on the previous day! I'm still not sure how I was supposed to make that one work!

[WheresMyCow]

noramum That sounds exactly like my DS's school. We've already had the evening meeting, and then have the 3 stay and play days plus sports day in the next couple of weeks. I wouldn't mind so much but the stay and play days are for 45 minutes!!.

He could start on the 1/2 days too, but I'm just going to put him straight in for the full days as he already does 2 full days at Nursery, so is used to that and I don't want him to think that you only have to go to school for half a day

[BertrandRussell]

Outrageous, isn't it? So much better to just drop them at the door on September 5th and let them get on with it. They have to learn sometime!