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

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

Primary education

Reception settling

21 replies

Redteapot67 · 16/07/2018 12:37

What is your child’s primary doing as regards settling? I’m a bit worried about ours - there is a staggered start over three days but my child only starts on the last day (Friday) so will only get one ‘settling’ session with all 30 children there, and then has to do mornings the week after. There’s no other chance to meet the teacher and the parents aren’t allowed to stay on the first day.
I’m worried this won’t be enough for my child who can be quite unsure in new situations and with new people. He’ll know a few of the children already but went to a different nursery to the school one. I don’t understand why all the school nursery children start on the weds and Thursday - they are already settled in the school. Why do they need 3 days and my totally new child only 1? Plus I’ll have to take that week off so a pain for childcare.

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Mamamamamamamam · 16/07/2018 16:56

We have a staggered start with the school’s nursery kids starting first and I agree it does seem a bit unfair! But we had 2 settling in visits this term, and at the first one parents could stay. Also some of us have started a Facebook group and we’re having a few play dates at local parks over the summer so at least the kids can get to know each other in advance.

Mamamamamamamam · 16/07/2018 16:57

Also parents can go in with them to ‘settle’ them for the first few weeks but I don’t think we’re encouraged to stay long.

TeenTimesTwo · 16/07/2018 17:08

Maybe by starting the ones who 'know' the school first they think it helps the new ones. The new ones will be starting in a more orderly classroom where they already know about lining up, what to do at lunch etc.
When my DD2 started Reception it was very much helped by the school nursery having the same rules. So all the ones from school nursery just carried on as before and new kids could copy.

Mamamamamamamam · 16/07/2018 17:26

Ah that makes sense now! Also if our kids start and see other kids already calm and settled, hopefully they will copy that as well!

BeesBugsandButterflies · 16/07/2018 17:36

DS had two visits to his class before the summer holidays, but they didn't put the children in their actual class, just mixed them all up.

There was no settling in at all, full days from Day 1 and he was absolutely fine. I think the 'settling in' would have been more unsettling for him- I've read some terribly complicated procedures on here.

SoyDora · 16/07/2018 17:38

Ours start full time from day 1.

Redteapot67 · 16/07/2018 18:30

Thanks ladies - you’ve made me feel more relaxed our school is similar to others.
Yes I don’t understand this nursery child first rule - surely the ones who need the 1-10 ratio and a bit of individual attention are the new ones. When my dc starts it’ll be 1-30 and fear he’ll get lost in the crowd/not get the same welcome.
We aren’t allowed to stay on the start date so it’s 5 mins then go.
I would prefer all start on the same day for full days at once. At least they are all given the same chance and information then.
Would I be ‘that’ parent if I asked for him to start two days earlier?

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Mamamamamamamam · 16/07/2018 18:55

I’ve read on other threads that legally the school would have to agree to it and some people do ask for childcare reasons. So if it’s really bothering you then ask.

Redteapot67 · 16/07/2018 19:00

Thanks. I’m really stressing that it wouldn’t be the ideal start. I’d much rather he be first in with a smaller class size. I know it’s only a few days but we already feel ‘out of the loop’ because we didn’t do school nursery

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bobstersmum · 16/07/2018 19:06

Our school they start full time hours.

holycityzoo · 16/07/2018 19:24

Ours just start, no settling in.
We are discouraged from going in with them unless the are really inconsolable.

catherinedevalois · 16/07/2018 20:30

They will only be 'settling' your intake on the third day. The previous days' intakes will be deemed to have 'settled'. If that makes sense.

Redteapot67 · 16/07/2018 20:32

Thanks Catherine - but how can they do that - the other 20 kids will be there and need looking after?

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SoyDora · 16/07/2018 20:42

At my child’s school they settle all 30 together. There is no school nursery, so all the children are completely new to the school.
I’m sure they know what they’re doing.

PurplePotatoes · 16/07/2018 20:44

We had 2 x 2 hour stay and play sessions last week and then its full time from Sept. Children are encouraged to go in on their own.

Redteapot67 · 16/07/2018 21:18

They used to do home visits for each child until this year so this is the first year of the new procedure

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Maryann1975 · 16/07/2018 21:31

There will be 30 children in the class, but 20 of them will know the drill and what to do and hopefully, the rest will follow and everything will run smoothly. Our 2 reception classes have a teacher and a full time ta each and normally a couple of the dinner ladies/admin staff/head teacher come in early to help get the children in to class. Honestly, for an experienced teacher this doesn’t phase them. They do it each year and have learnt various stragagies over the years on how to cope.
I realise that the thought of being in charge of 30 4 year olds fills the majority of the country with horror, but it’s what reception teachers do best!

wtftodo · 16/07/2018 21:46

Our school starts all the reception children (half who attended nursery and the other half who haven’t) together, till 1130 the first two days, 130 the next two, then full time from day 5

thismeansnothing · 16/07/2018 21:51

My DD started reception last year

Monday - half the class did morning the other half the afternoon
Tuesday - the opposite of what you did on the Monday
Wednesday - whole class together for morning and dinner/break time
Thursday was strait strait into full days.

Parents didn't stop for the first session you went in to help them find their coat hook but was a swift exit

There were a couple of optional activity sessions before the summer holidays (maths trail, teddy bears picnic) but I couldn't get DD to them as I couldn't get time off work. She still settled in no probs.

Redteapot67 · 16/07/2018 22:34

Thanks all
I think the general consensus is that I’m worrying too much!

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MrsPreston11 · 17/07/2018 09:10

My girls school had a settling hour in July.

Then we had a week of mornings, a week of monrings and lunch, and then full time.

So they all started together on the Monday and did 9-12 basically.

My oldest was a bit wary, and we had a few tears in the second week, but they all coped fine and settled well.

Parents weren't allowed in the classroom at any point and to be honest (although I wished I was allowed at the time) I think it really helped.

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