Page 6 | Reception start

Blueysmum2026 · 2026-09-06T11:00:02+00:00

Little one starts primary this year. They don’t start full days until 14th September! This week of 7th consists of: Monday - 10 minute meeting with teacher, Tuesday - only 2 hour session in the morning wednesday - not in Thursday - half day Friday - half day They also have 2 weeks for October half term. They don’t seem to make up these dates throughout the rest of the academic year? Can they get away with this? I thought they had a minimum number of days they had to be in school? I have a relative who is in SLT at a different school and even she has said they are taking advantage and teachers are being a bit lazy!

Fupoffyagrasshole · 06/09/2026 13:13

Meh I didn’t care - we requested late as start as possible and didn’t start til 18th last year

we took advantage of a cheaper holiday to France and went to Disneyland when everyone else was back at school

she’ll be in school now for years so missing out at the very beginning a few weeks so what - makes no difference overall

Phineyj · 06/09/2026 13:13

I don't think it's tremendously settling to take kids, many of whom will have been at nursery 8-6 for years, and subject them to a hotchpotch of arrangements probably including desperate childcare favours.

ShitFacedShakespeare · 06/09/2026 13:05

Blueysmum2026 · 06/09/2026 12:56

she actually said, it’s an easy way for it to count as a weeks worth of schooling days whilst having very little actual work…

Show quote history

And again, does she think these 'lazy teachers' get a say?

Do they make the rules in her school?

Sirzy · 06/09/2026 13:02

Blueysmum2026 · 06/09/2026 12:56

she actually said, it’s an easy way for it to count as a weeks worth of schooling days whilst having very little actual work…

Show quote history

Spoken by someone who has never tried to settle a class of new 4 year olds!

Phineyj · 06/09/2026 12:58

This is one of those things that is well known but only to those in the know.

The admissions code is clear: parents can override it. But you're not in a strong position if you don't find out until your child's already started. Was there really no confirmation of dates and times at all before September?

Original poster

Blueysmum2026 · 06/09/2026 12:56

ShitFacedShakespeare · 06/09/2026 12:54

I don't see how the 'teachers are being a bit lazy'?

If your friend is in SLT, they should probably know the teachers don't make the rules.

she actually said, it’s an easy way for it to count as a weeks worth of schooling days whilst having very little actual work…

OP posts:

ShitFacedShakespeare · 06/09/2026 12:54

I don't see how the 'teachers are being a bit lazy'?

If your friend is in SLT, they should probably know the teachers don't make the rules.

Loulou4022 · 06/09/2026 12:54

God we haven’t done this since the late 90’s My school reception in full time first day unless parents felt they need more staggered start (non did) even nursery only had 2 days of 1 hour then Friday full morning then all day ones can start full time Monday!!!

Original poster

Blueysmum2026 · 06/09/2026 12:52

cloudtreecarpet · 06/09/2026 12:47

It's always been like that and is actually in the interests of your child. Even if they have been at nursery or pre school, Reception is a step up so a graduated start is good for them and will cause fewer problems with settling in.

And presumably you knew all this before you chose this school and decided to send your child there? Particularly the two week half term.

No actually, it’s a new thing from this year!

the frustrating thing is the holiday clubs don’t seem to adopt this, so holiday club only runs for the usual week, not the week before!

OP posts:

cloudtreecarpet · 06/09/2026 12:47

It's always been like that and is actually in the interests of your child. Even if they have been at nursery or pre school, Reception is a step up so a graduated start is good for them and will cause fewer problems with settling in.

And presumably you knew all this before you chose this school and decided to send your child there? Particularly the two week half term.

LarryForPrimeMinister · 06/09/2026 12:28

This is something primary schools have always done, you kicking up a fuss wont change that you'll just become "that" parent they try and avoid.

PopcornKitten · 06/09/2026 12:27

Blueysmum2026 · 06/09/2026 12:20

I have counted all the days, they have another 2 inset days throughout the year.

Show quote history

The important thing is the amount of days that the school is open to children. It doesn’t matter how many inset days they have as they are taken from teacher holidays rather then pupil school days.

Original poster

Blueysmum2026 · 06/09/2026 12:20

PopcornKitten · 06/09/2026 12:12

These are fairly standard timings for reception. All sessions that your child doesn’t attend will be marked as code X. The rest of the school will be open.
a two week Half term in October usually means that the week is made up at another time in the year either as individual days or the whole week. As another poster said, schools are required to be open for 190 days.

I have counted all the days, they have another 2 inset days throughout the year.

OP posts:

Original poster

Blueysmum2026 · 06/09/2026 12:18

Weirdpig · 06/09/2026 12:08

Schools are required to have 190 days in the year, are you sure they are missing some?

The reception arrangements are actually optional, as your child has a right to full time education from the start of the autumn term. Schools tend not to mention this. But it is a bit late now to tell them you want your child in full time from day 1.

I wish I had known this before. It’s tricky as you don’t want to kick up a fuss and be ‘that parent’. I would prefer her to be at school though rather than sitting at home not doing much whilst I WFH!

OP posts:

ownedbymydogs · 06/09/2026 12:12

Reception teachers used to do home visits in the first couple of weeks of term before Covid. So your child wouldn’t have been going in at all during that time. Be grateful for small mercies 😂.

PopcornKitten · 06/09/2026 12:12

These are fairly standard timings for reception. All sessions that your child doesn’t attend will be marked as code X. The rest of the school will be open.
a two week Half term in October usually means that the week is made up at another time in the year either as individual days or the whole week. As another poster said, schools are required to be open for 190 days.

Chunkybabythighs · 06/09/2026 12:11

You can insist on full time.

hellospring26 · 06/09/2026 12:09

Two week half term has been the norm here for a few years now. It was great when it started as we got non holiday prices for holidays for the non half term week. Covers most of the country now.

the phased entry is a PITA but also pretty standard.

Weirdpig · 06/09/2026 12:08

Schools are required to have 190 days in the year, are you sure they are missing some?

The reception arrangements are actually optional, as your child has a right to full time education from the start of the autumn term. Schools tend not to mention this. But it is a bit late now to tell them you want your child in full time from day 1.

Original poster

Blueysmum2026 · 06/09/2026 12:04

Also to add it’s an academy trust school

OP posts: