School day

Comparing school to nursery or after school activities isn't equitable.School generally is sit in your chair and pay attention. Nursery and activities are usually active engagement.

A lot of children struggle with the change and it is completely developmentally appropriate. Look across the world many countries don't start formal schooling until age 7.

In Ireland for the first three years they did 08:30-13:20, with two decent breaks and yoga morning start.

I think you do need to consider bed times, and not later at weekends, also reduce any screen time.

@Sunshineandpool I used to see it all the time especially on Mondays when children have been allowed to stay up late Friday and Saturday, some children are so tired and it does affect their schooling.

Ds2 is now 18, it is the summer holidays and guess what time he rolls out of bed? Yes, 5am, by choice, he loves mornings. So your children may never grow out of it. The good news is you don't have to get up with them when they get a bit older.

Why is he so shattered, that isn't normal at his age to be shattered by a school day. He should well be able to handle it, plus more. Our girls school day is 7.30 to 4, then straight to homework club and still have more energy, they all do.

Why is it unfair? All the schools are doing this, so all the kids will be in the same boat.
My DS is starting reception this year and their school day is increasing this year too. He's a summer baby and will no doubt be exhausted but I don't see it's unfair.

As a single parent who works I am jealous of all your longer school days. In Scotland my 6 year old does 9-2.50 M-T and 9-12.20 on Fridays!!

It is literally the opposite of unfair.
This has been brought in to precisely to make it fair so that children everywhere get the same amount of schooling.
2.5hours a week, every week adds up to a LOT of schooling over the 7 years of Primary school.
As others have said, if a child in Year One isn't coping with a normal length school day, without any known medical needs, then perhaps that is something you should look at.

He really shouldn’t be?

Our school did this from last September, one of my DC was starting year 1 and it has been absolutely fine, haven’t noticed the difference at all. The alternative is cutting back on their down time during the school day which I would think likely to have a bigger impact on the children than a small amount of time added on to the start/finish - and by the sounds of it hiss school was very short, ours only needed to extend by 10mins

Our school did this last year when my son was in year 1. We still managed to do normal things after school.

So you're not onboard with it....what's your plan? Home educate? Private school?

Meanwhile our council area wants to cut Friday afternoons with no extension to school day (primary and secondary) M-W 🤨 🙄

Awake in the mornings? You don't know my DC! 😂

Also when I first read the OP I read DofE as Duke of Edinburgh

Does he not do any extra curricular activities? Why is he so tired after school?

DS' school have a soft start 8:30-8:50 register at 8:50 , finish at 3:15, juniors is 8:45-9 finish at 3:25 (on the same site)

We had the school day increased slightly in 2022 when my DD was still at Primary. They took 10 minutes off lunch and added 10 minutes onto the school day.

It's an extra 15 to 30 minutes a day, you're sounding like hard work.

It wasn't the school's decision to make your life so unfair, it was the DofE.

The rest of us are getting on board with it so why can't you?

If your kid is that tired, look at bed times, diet and maybe chuck in a vitamin supplement.

So did I! I was wondering if it was to go one up on his father - he just got kids to do pointless hikes down some country paths imitating a snail with your house on your back.

The first few weeks, he may find it a little harder, but he will get used to it. Children are far more resilient, than adults give them credit for. If he's more tired, then put him to bed a little earlier. Your son isn't on his own in this, every child in the school is in the same boat. I work at a First school (Foundation - Year 4) and they start at 8.40am and finish at 3.20pm, with 1 hour for lunch.

My poor children did 8am til 6pm at nursery before they even started school. Give your head a wobble, school days are relatively short!

This is what they're doing, but it's unfortunate that the schools are quite far apart for an infant-junior model. I've worked in a junior school where it wouldn't have been an issue at all. It will be doable, with not a moment to spare, at an adult walking pace if schools open their doors exactly on time. With 4 year olds walking and knowing how schools can run late with things, I anticipate a lot of late marks.

Our school started this last September when my child was going into year 1. He was fine. They were all fine. No one noticed. There’s literally nothing you can do about it. It was a ridiculous system that schools all had different hours anyway. Let this one go

My kids went to private schools - 0820 to 1615 daily at primary age

Then 0800 to 1700 at secondary age! Some children were there by 0730 for breakfast.

They all coped!

I didn't realise they were bringing in this rule but turns out my children's school is already compliant and has been since my eldest started who has just finished year 6. They've always done 8.45-3.15. As others have said they extra time on the day won't have much impact and he'll soon get used to it.

There are advantages to extra break time too, not all kids get that at home. Of course it’s not the biggest issue but it’s not ‘unfair’ on OPs child to bring in a minimum amount of hours per week, her child will adjust.