My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

Primary education

Primary Induction - does this sound OTT?

33 replies

GiraffesEatStingingNettles · 13/05/2014 20:07

I received a letter today detailing the induction process for my DS at the Primary where his sister already attends.

DD's induction was pretty painless, as she attended the attached nursery and it was all (bar one hour long meeting for the parents) dealt with by the nursery during her normal nursery hours.

For various reasons DS is at a seperate nursery, so the process is a bit different. We have a parents' induction evening at 6pm on Monday 9th June (unspecified length), five induction sessions for the children - every Thursday 1:30-2:30 beginiing 12th June and running until 10th July, and then an induction morning on Monday 14th July 9:15-10:30.

Am I being a bit crappy to think this is a lot? I know I should be grateful that they take it seriously and want to put in the time to settle the children, but I am really going to struggle with it. I work, and DS is at nursery on the Thursdays. Because the sessions are in the middle of the day, it is going to be alomst impossible to get him there without writing off a day's pay and losing a day at nursery, even though they are only for an hour.

I want the best for him, and I don't want to be in the situation where he is the only one who hasn't had this introduction to the class, but I have to be realistic - surely anyone who works is going to find this hard?

What are other people's experiences? Is this a typical approach by schools, or is it a bit OTT?

I think I may be able to get him to the last two of the Thursday sessions, and will definitey try and get a babysitter so that I can make the evening session. I will also approach the school and see if there is any flexibility in the programme at all.

Any thoughts very welcome Smile

OP posts:
Report
Picturesinthefirelight · 13/05/2014 20:13

That would not have been possible for us

Children new to my ds's school ( he attended nursery) were invited to one New Parents Evening (as we're we) wherever were given info in uniform, which class they would be in, lunch arrangements etc

Then they were invited to spend the day(or was it afternoon) in their new class on 'Moving Up Day'. Parents invited in for a chat/meet the teacher session at the end of the day.

Because ds was in nursery there he got to go to story time with the recepti

Report
Picturesinthefirelight · 13/05/2014 20:14

Story time once a week on a a friday afternoon plus they went into lunch in the main school One day a week during the summer term

Then straight into full time in September (optional half days for the first week)

Report
Smartiepants79 · 13/05/2014 20:21

It is a lot.
We have story time once a week that children can come to if they choose and then 1 afternoon in school with their teacher and no parents.
Not sure what DD will get for her induction at her new school yet.
Just do your bets to get him to as much as possible.
I doubt there will flexibility in when they can go. They'll either have to go at the same time as all the others or not at all.
They can't insist he goes but he will be missing out a bit.

Report
GiraffesEatStingingNettles · 13/05/2014 20:25

see, that is more what I expected - one or two sessions (either a morning or an afternoon) plus the parents' induction thing.

They do also say that on the Thursdays we can come early and have lunch at the school (£2 for DS, plus £3 for me as I would have to come with him to supervise as staff ratios won't cover extras).

I think what they have done this year is combine the storytime on a Thursday with the (attached) nursery children being brought through for the hour, and anyone not at the school nursery is sort of expected to turn up and join them. Fine if your DC is at the nursery - not so easy if they are at a nursery 4 miles down the road and you are at work Confused

It is only an 'invitation', but the sort of invitation that makes you look bad if you don't RSVP positively, IYSWIM.

OP posts:
Report
GiraffesEatStingingNettles · 13/05/2014 20:27

Smartie - it is the missing out that I worry about. It is so important to feel a part of things at that age.

Schools seem to disadvantage working parents (and their children) more than is necessary - despite most of the staff having children themselves. Sad

OP posts:
Report
redskyatnight · 13/05/2014 20:37

Maybe they are trying to include the children not at the attached nursery more?

I also had one child going to school from attached nursery and one not - it always seemed to me deeply unfair that the attached nursery child got so much more settling in and the other child was expected to just get on with it.

I can see how it is a nightmare for working parents though. Remember you don't have to go to all the sessions if it's a big problem!

Report
pyrrah · 13/05/2014 20:39

Blimey... that's a heck of a lot and very unfair on children of working parents. I wonder what teachers in the school think they would be able to manage with their own child if they were given a similar schedule.

We had a 30 minute meeting with the class teacher and while I was talking to her, DD spent 20 minutes in the current Reception class.

She started on the first day of term with no problems. Three weeks later she started at a new primary (waiting list place came up) and I had to drop her at Breakfast Club and pick her up from After-school club - no problems whatsoever.

Fortunately neither school had any of the half-days for x number of weeks nonsense (I would have exercised my DD's right to full days from the start if they had) so she integrated very fast at both schools.

I would do what you are able to do and not worry too much.

Report
Galena · 13/05/2014 20:39

This is pretty similar to the induction at DDs school except the parent meeting was in the afternoon (on the first day of their OFSTED!). There were some (like DD) who were able to attend all the sessions, and others who got to one or two. I wouldn't worry too much if you can't get to all.

Report
DefiniteMaybe · 13/05/2014 20:42

It seems excessive to me. Dd will go to the attached nursery at her primary school full time in September. She will have only just turned 3. They have one parents evening and a stay and play type session in July then they will start settling in September with the intention of being full time the week before half term.

Report
nonicknameseemsavailable · 13/05/2014 20:44

we had 2x1hr sessions in July, then started in september on half days for a week and a half then they could go full time (advised) or part time until half term.

the second of the 1hr sessions the parents had a meeting about it all. at the first one it was just a PTA coffee session for the parents.

Report
YoHoHoandabottleofWine · 13/05/2014 20:45

We've had an invite to 4 separate sessions, I was surprised. Had been saving up extra holiday for the half days I expect in first few weeks, but essentially 4 half days I will have to take now.

Report
hixchix · 13/05/2014 20:52

Before september DD will have been 9 times, i work nights but i dont find this excessive. The transition period is so important to get right imo, but each to their own Smile

Report
PatriciaHolm · 13/05/2014 21:04

That does seem like an awful lot. Ours get 2 induction sessions, one a bit longer than the other, and that seems to work fine. There will always be some that don't attend because parents work and can't get them there, and they will all settle come Sept and I don't think a couple of visits several months before this makes a huge difference really!

in fact our reception parents for the last few years have said that the picnic (organised by PTA) in the first week of Sept just before they start was better at integrating them with their new peers.

Report
GiraffesEatStingingNettles · 13/05/2014 21:07

Hixchix - wow. 9 seems loads. I suppose a lot depends on the school and the cohort, particularly the size of each. The transition is important, I agree. I wish I was in a position to just sign up to all that was offered and not feel like I am shortchanging DS by cutting out some of the opportunities.

On the plus side, his sister is only two years above, and he already knows a fair few of her friends siblings, who will start when he does. He is also pretty easygoing and friendly.

OP posts:
Report
GiraffesEatStingingNettles · 13/05/2014 21:08

Patricia - Picnic sounds lovely Smile

OP posts:
Report
hixchix · 13/05/2014 21:22

Our first meet was today, i was so nervous but it was brilliant! I got my second choice of school but Im so pleased! Good luck everyone!Grin

Report
PolterGoose · 13/05/2014 21:39

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

mummy1973 · 13/05/2014 21:47

You don't have to go. Just tell the school the ones you can make. Doubt they will see it as a big deal.

Report
GiraffesEatStingingNettles · 13/05/2014 21:51

PolterGoose - I don't think so, but I will double check. I think most of them will be staying on - it is attached to a private prep school which is lovely, though ££££s. Most of the other families are in a rather higher income bracket than us. We have been masquerading as prep school material by making use of the nursery provision the government provide. Seeing how the other half live Wink

Come September we are very much back in our place Grin

OP posts:
Report
ICantFindAFreeNickName · 13/05/2014 21:55

I'm sure the school will not mind, as long as you tell them which sessions he will be able to attend. I think the first one might be a good one to attend.
It might be worth asking nursery if they can help with transporting your child to some of the sessions. Or could you share the sessions with parents of your DD's friends who have siblings starting.

Report
PolterGoose · 13/05/2014 22:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

AmberTheCat · 13/05/2014 22:08

Our school does (or at least did when my two started) four afternoon sessions. They were very much presented as 'come to as many as you like', though, so some kids did all of them, others just some, others none at all.

I think if you're able to get your DS there for one or two of them, that would be fine.

Report

Don’t want to miss threads like this?

Weekly

Sign up to our weekly round up and get all the best threads sent straight to your inbox!

Log in to update your newsletter preferences.

You've subscribed!

littleducks · 13/05/2014 22:21

Does your ds not drop off/pick up Dd? I would have thought between that and your DD telling him everything about school he would know more about school than most new starters.

Dd started reception late so didn't do induction and was fine. When Ds started he did the induction which was one one session in the classroom with the class and no parents (*we were in the hall) and one meeting with the teacher and TA alone. But he had all the inside info from Dd and had made friends in the playground with other younger siblings.

Report
tiggytape · 13/05/2014 22:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ISpyPlumPie · 13/05/2014 22:38

Sounds a lot to me too. We've got a parents' meeting during the afternoon. There are then three afternoon sessions, two of which parents attend and one just for the children. There's also a teddy bears picnic, but that is child and teddy only Smile.

I am very fortunate that I've got an incredibly accommodating employer so will be able to attend all the parent stuff, but can see how it could be really difficult for lots of people. I do think that schools generally need to look at accessibility for working parents a bit more.

Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.