Starting school 2019 age 4 too much to still go preschool??

[bigbrighteyes]

Hi guys

So my daughter was born August 2014 and so she will be the youngest to start school next year September. As she is still 4 still is still entitled to attend the preschool she currently goes to until she is obviously 5.

So my question is, as I am a working mum I believe her settling takes about 3 weeks, a couple hours first week, and then half days here and there, Would it be too much to still have her going to preschool on her settling days? Would it confuse her? What do you working parents do? Has any one had summer babies and done this?

Thank you :D

[Kidssendingmenuts]

My daughter was born in August 2014 too and I have put her Down to start sept 2018 (this year) so she will be one of the youngest in class.
I think switching between pre school and her current placement will be really confusing and knackering for her. Maybe stick to one? I personally can't wait for her to start school as she is so our going and has been going at drop off for my son so she knows the school and the teachers, she is our going and feisty and I know she will settle well.

[Kidssendingmenuts]

Also you'll find they will do a few settles before the school term starts. They won't do a few hours here and there in reception it's basically all in full time first week.
I'm not sure on other schools but my son started in September 2017, was there full time from day one on the Monday and finished half day on the Friday for the first week only.
You may find as she is youngest she may be one of the first to start in a small group and gradually the numbers will increase over the week with the elder ones. X

[user789653241]

Are you happy for her to miss all the settling time? It's the time children get used to the routine, facility, teachers and everything about school, so when full days start, they are more confident being in school.

[bigbrighteyes]

Thanks for your replies

@kidssendingmenuts when we went to the opening day they said the first week will be for a couple of hours for the first week and increase it by the week and so they don't actually start full time till the 3rd week. I do see what you mean it will be confusing.

@irvineoneohone I probably didn't word it right. I don't want her to miss the settling days/times I do want her to go to them but because of work I was thinking I could drop her back to her preschool after/before.

@varifocalview Oh right thank you for that info. Yes I think that is what we will have to do just take holidays to cover it

Thank you for help guys :D Appreciated

[bigbrighteyes]

And just realised I put 2019 when it is this year omg - scary

[user789653241]

Think about it in positive way. You may have to take time off work, but you will be able to share all the excitement of your child starting big school, which only happens once! Don't you feel excited already?

[Starlight2345]

I think the 2 issues are been confused .
The preschool if full may well not have a place for your child for 3 weeks . This is normal settling in . I believe you can insist they start full time but as summer born is a concern I am not sure this is what you want

[bigbrighteyes]

@irvineoneohone I'm nervous and feel scared for her but I know she is ready as she is so clever and forward for her age and I couldn't be prouder. Biggest fear is bullying but I guess I have to be prepared no matter what age she is. Yh you are right it does only happen once.

@starlight2345 She is currently in full time at preschool so I wouldn't mind if school did start full time straightaway. If it was just a week of settling it wouldn't be too bad just the fact it's three weeks.

I hope I'm not coming across as if I don't want to take my daughter to her settling days and seeing it as a big issue its just knowing how others have found it and dealt with it

[reluctantbrit]

DD had this. I saved my annual leave so could take the first two school weeks off. Then the childminder we already booked for before/after school stepped in and collected her whenever they finished and she was with her until DH collected her late afternoon.

It worked quite well.

Be prepared to save annual leave for school things anyway. I use at least 5 days for various school events like end of term assemblies, harvest festival, Christmas play, parent evening (they start at 4pm) etc.

[mindutopia]

Mine was 4 and a few months when she started, but honestly, I found it worked well just to have her start full-time. It was a lovely experience for her and she was so excited. I think she would have felt a bit held back if she hadn't just gone right into it. I know some schools do like weeks of settling in, but I don't think it works for all kids (and it's a pain for working parents as well). She was so ready to go to 'big school' and loved jumping right in.

If that isn't an option, yes, I'd have her go to preschool the other hours/days when you need it. Mine has gone back to her nursery for half term and also the week before Christmas and has loved seeing her old teachers and been fine. So if jumping right in isn't an option, she'll be fine doing both too. They're much more flexible and resilient than we realise.

[mindutopia]

Our school did settling in days in the summer term (about 6 half days) and yes, I dropped her back at nursery after or picked her up from nursery in the morning to go and it was also perfectly fine. She loved telling everyone about what she did at school.

[wendz86]

At my daughters school when she was in reception during the settleing days (half days) they allowed those whose parents can't pick them up earlier to go to the pre school attached to the school for the afternoon.

[bigbrighteyes]

@reluctantbrit thank you, yes defo have to use my holidays wisely now :) Might look into childminding actually and see.

@mindutopia it's good to hear someone who has actually gone through it. I could see my daughter being excited and telling them about big school too :D. I too feel like she will feel held back just doing the odd hours and then half days.

You never know hopefully the school might change it :D

Thanks for everyone for replying, your advice and help.