Phased start for reception class....what to do when you work full time?

[MumOfTwoMiniMes]

Hi,
My daughter is starting reception in September, in the paper work from the school I've discovered that she will be doing a phased start in the first month.
First week is a home visit only, second is 930-1130, third week is 930-230 then only in the 4th week is it normal school hours.

I work full time and am a single mum. I just don't know how I'm going to make it work. All options aren't really feasible...I don't have annual leave so it would be unpaid, I don't have family nearby, I don't know of any wrap around clubs that support that type of thing, and a nanny/childminder would cost a fortune!

What would you do?

[Mindchilder]

Childminder is probably your best bet.

You do have a legal right to request full time from the start though so I would discuss that with the school first.

[Bigpizzalover]

Do you have any ‘mum friends’ if she’s been in the school nursery that you could maybe ask if the could have your dc after school if you could get a bit of an early finish? Could reciprocate with you offering to help them out on weekends/babysitting on occasion to repay the favour?

Is your work flexible to allow you to work from home? So you could be in the office in school hours then WFH in the afternoon?

My son attends private nursery after school until I finish work and they do the pick ups - it’s not worked out as expensive as I thought.

[Mindchilder]

Can you manage the first two weeks? I would probably insist on full time from week 3.

[shoelaces]

Where is she currently? DS was in FT nursery and they offered transition weeks to bridge the gap.

I also made it my business to get very friendly with other mums. I know it sounds cynical, and too late now, but when you have other mum friends in the same predicament it's easier to ask for help (but you must also be willing to offer help too).

Finding the balance between mum friends you can rely on and being a CF is going to be essential if you don't have any other family support.

[ivykaty44]

Many years ago I had this, I left dd in nursery until this had finished - I didn’t have any choice.

Tbh school didn’t like it, but I explained I have to work. I wasn’t the only parent to do this so there was a few that started with dd

Dd started 3 weeks later and fitted in fine

[ScarlettDarling]

In our reception class the children do half days for two weeks. One mum has requested that her child does full days from day one as both parents work full time and they don't have family around who can help them out. We're going to accommodate this even though it means her child will be repeating the things every afternoon that they've already done in the morning! Ask the school. That's a very long induction period. They may be able to help you.

[Mindchilder]

Yes, my 4 year olds preschool said they can have him back during September but you can't use 15/30 hours funding for it so would be more expensive than a childminder.

[grasspigeons]

if you can make this work I would try and do the first week as annual leave as although you can insist your child is in school, if all the reception teachers are on home visits, you child will spend their first week in a Y1 class with a different teacher and of course will be treated well but some children could find it confusing.

I'd then do with FT straight away or 2-3 days at 9:30-11:30 and then FT from then on. I believe schools cant say no.

I know will be really hard to make my suggestion work anyway but your employer might be a bit more sympathetic than trying to mess up 3 weeks.

I still remember the shock of realising school didn't start FT for my son until after the October break! I was so relieved the school Ds1 went to started on Thursday of week 1 FT and crammed home visits in to 3 days.

[GrumbleBumble]

What are you plans for the holidays? There will be 14 weeks each year that school is closed and you will need to get a robust plan in place. The first few weeks of reception is a good opportunity to test solutions.

[MumOfTwoMiniMes]

Hi @GrumbleBumble
I already have holidays covered, kids staying with grandparents, annual leave and holiday clubs as I an older child in the same school (she started reception in a different school that didn't do this..hence the shock!!)
None of those are options when term starts and grandparents are hours away, no clubs support the transition hours, and I've exhausted all my annual leave already for the 14 weeks you talk about 😩
I think I'll try to work from home first week, and either befriend some other mums and offer weekend cover/evening babysitting in return for help in week 2 and ask for full time from week 3.

[grasspigeons]

working from home would be good!

I do realistically think FT from week 2 could be an option as the teachers are there.

[Mindchilder]

Watch out for holiday clubs - most changed rules recently so will only take Year 1 children.

[IJustDontTan]

Just tell the school she will be full time from day 1- and don't put up with any sort of 'well, she'll have to go to Y1' tactics.

The more parents who do this, the quicker this sort of nonsense will stop.

[IStillDrinkCava]

School should take her if you insist. Is she at nursery/CM currently?

The first week is probably a short one anyway. Mine stayed in nursery apart from the day we had our home visit. Once they were in school, we muddled through with WFH and using lunch hour to transfer her from school to nursery, a couple of early finishes, swaps with friends.

It is a pain but it's easier with an only child or eldest than with younger children, when you are trying to cover it straight after the eldest's had a 6 week holiday! My work were very understanding as it's a one off and DC is still very little.

[BubblesBuddy]

So if the teachers are there full time and the children are part time, this must be a very rich school! I think the weeks and weeks of part time is not acceptable. If DC are used to nursery then surely this isn’t needed? I would try and negotiate for full time if the teachers are there. Is there any indication some children are coming in for the afternoon part time session? Is this how they are doing it? Then another teacher starts after half term when they are all full time? If they have the afternoon with a TA it won’t really matter in the circumstances.

[SellFridges]

We were lucky that our school didn’t do this, but it annoys me every time I hear about it. Still, it gets everyone ready for all the meetings/events that take place in the middle of the working day.

[user789653241]

Can you ask one of gran to come to stay at your place for the period of phased schooling?

[Essexgirlupnorth]

I would speak to the school mine starts reception in September and they start on the Thursday of the first week when the rest of the school starts on Tuesday but full days. Just sounds a complete nightmare for working parents.

[OverTheHedgeHammy]

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachmentdata/file/296261/ada2479stmarksprimarybournemouth16aug13.pdf school adjudicator]] view on phased start time.

[PumpkinPie2016]

A month does seem a long time! The school my son is going to just does 6 days of either mornings/afternoons and then fill time.

They start on a Tuesday so it's just Tue-Fri and then Mon/Tue.

I teach full time myself so understand how difficult it must be with no leave options. I am very lucky that DH is self employed and does his work part time anyway to fit with DS but I do think primary schools should consider that not everyone has people around.

Can the grandparents come to stay for the first two weeks and then perhaps your employer might consider flexible working for the 3rd week?

I hope you get sorted

[ButterChickenwithyellowrice]

You tell them that it is illegal and insist on a full time place from day 1. If they refuse then escalate to the LA (or admissions authority).

There is no research to suggest that this kind of staggered start has any positive benefits.

[admission]

Got to agree with previous post, you tell them their version of starting is illegal and insist on full time. Having a full week for home visits is frankly just cheeky when they are supposed to be teaching.

[OverTheHedgeHammy]

My DSs' school wanted the summer born children to be part time all term.

DS2, summer born, started after the ruling I linked to earlier. I made it clear to them that after the first 2 half days he would be attending full time when they first made contact with me. First group did the first 2 days as half days, day 3 they went full time and the second group did 2 days as half days, then they went full time and group 3 (summer borns) did 2 days as half days -12 o'clock finish so before lunch)

At the end of day second half day I was bailed up by the teacher and asked 'so tomorrow will you be collecting DS2 at 12, before lunch, or at 1, after lunch?'

I looked her in the eye and said 'I will collect him at the end of the day, thank you.'

She looked really annoyed, but agreed without another word. She knew she had no right to insist. All the other parents who had already chosen a time but had really wanted their child to go full time were thoroughly annoyed that they had fallen for the ploy, and the next day all insisted on their child doing full days from then on in. The school had no choice but to accept it.

They can't insist anymore. However they CAN present it as fait accompli and act as though you have to accept it, and they do. You have to push back and insist on your child going full time.

The 2 summer borns that did do half days for several weeks didn't settle in until they went full time. Because they aren't there after lunch time their friends play with other children for the afternoon, and then continue playing with those other children the next day. A lot of parents have found that their child only settles in properly with friendships when they go full time.

[IStillDrinkCava]

It's one thing to push if other YRs will be there too. However if the rest all go home at 11am, no one wants their child to be the only one left there without a parent.

It's very much emotional blackmail, and I know we mustn't give in to blackmailers but if it's your 4 year old who's paying the price, it's harsh on them. Whereas if others are doing the same hours as them, whether because they're older in the year or their parents have insisted, then fine.

[Owlettele]

You don't have to accept it op. Your child is entitled to full time education from September. You can challenge with the school and tell them to cover cost of childcare for you. I can appreciate a gentle phased start is good for teachers and some of the students. However, it can clearly cause a childcare nightmare for many. A month is a long time to cover. Definitely tell them you don't accept this OP.