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Original poster

Bloody bloody half days for reception kids

400 replies

Icylightning · 28/07/2019 11:08

Why?!! WHY?!!

Don’t the school realise what a nightmare this is for working parents, I’m a single working parent so it’s even worse. TWO weeks of half days. To ease the children into full days apparently. DD has been doing 5 full days at nursery for 18 mths. Longer hours than she will be doing in school.

I’m using most of my annual leave in the holidays but now need to ask for two weeks of leaving at lunch time ffs. I thought they couldn’t do this anymore?!

Her nursery won’t take her back for those two weeks and is nowhere near her school either. Bloody nightmare

OP posts:
FamilyOfAliens · 28/07/2019 12:13

I’m not suggesting it’s easy to choose another school. But it’s probably easier than trying to convince the school to change the way they do things for reception children just for you.

I understand it’s hard for working parents (it was hard for us - I used all my annual leave in one go when DS started reception), but I don’t really understand what you want the school to do about it.

haveuheard · 28/07/2019 12:14

This is an introduction to the concept that schools make choices on the basis of what is good for the majority of children, not you or your child. Thats the nature of a large group setting. You won't always agree with everything and not everything will suit your child. If you don't like if there is the option of private school - where at least theoretically you get smaller classes and as a 'customer' have more say, or home education. If you want to stay in the state sector you just have to get over it. There will be lots of school activities you can't get to, last minute messages to bring in XYZ, assumption that you can collect at 10mins notice. Thats just how works.

simplekindoflife · 28/07/2019 12:14

Two weeks is ridiculous! My dc's school is 2 DAYS of half days then a full day on the third day.

Much better and I say this as a mother of two summer babies!

They'll just get used to half days and then they'll change it again?! Very disruptive and unnecessary.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Childcare & nursery Families General education Primary education
gotmychocolateimgood · 28/07/2019 12:14

It's not that I believe that teachers and schools can do no wrong, I never said that. But they are the educators who have the training and experience to know what's best for children as they settle into their school. Parents like to argue against everything that schools do, with very little understanding of what happens in the classroom on a day to day basis.

Original poster
Icylightning · 28/07/2019 12:15

“OP could have chosen one of them”

You CANNOT just choose which school your DC go to from a list of ones who have settling in sessions you like. Why do people keep saying that.

You’d think people would realise that after all the appeal/waiting list/catchment area posts on here every year.

Stop with the “choose another school” bullshit

OP posts:
FamilyOfAliens · 28/07/2019 12:16

Nobody has actually said how this benefits the kids. Just some vague “it’s better for them”. Seriously, how?!

Unless anyone on here is on the the senior leadership team at your school, no-one can answer that question. That’s why i said you need to ask the Head.

I’ve worked in education for 18 years but I don’t know (not a teacher).

LatteLove · 28/07/2019 12:17

Maybe some schools have caved to pressure from parents who want full-time from day one. Doesn’t mean they’ve done it because it’s better for the children.

Or maybe given the number of other councils/schools who did full days from day one they finally realised it doesn’t make that much difference after all?

Tbh I actually felt the half days were quite beneficial for my two and we were fortunate it wasn’t much of a headache for us but I can see how it can be for other people. And my youngest used to fall asleep in class once he was in for the full days, even after the 3 weeks’ settling in!

gotmychocolateimgood · 28/07/2019 12:17

If the school has suddenly told you now, OK, you might have an issue with childcare. But I expect the settling in arrangements were given to you in writing when you looked around the school or at the latest, secured your place in April. 5 months is surely long enough to get something sorted out?

Yogagirl123 · 28/07/2019 12:17

Have you spoken to the school and explained the predicament? Whilst I don’t want to disappoint you unfortunately in my own experience schools attitude seems to be, childcare is your problem.

Have you thought about how you will manage the holidays OP?

Good luck I hope you find a solution and your DD settles well at school.

Lilyannarose · 28/07/2019 12:18

I agree. It is a nightmare.
When my child started in Reception it was just one hour for the first week!.
Then they gradually increased to staying for lunch.
It was almost October half term before they did full days!

FamilyOfAliens · 28/07/2019 12:18

Stop with the “choose another school” bullshit

If the school has spaces, you can go there. Just apply as normal through admissions (unless the school is an academy and does its own admission) and name that school on your application.

We have children from the next town at our school. If they’ve named our school and there’s a space, they come here.

gotmychocolateimgood · 28/07/2019 12:18

Yes, absolutely correct. Childcare is your problem because you are the parent.

TeenTimesTwo · 28/07/2019 12:19

The thing is, I can see how it might be better for those not used to nursery, with a SAHP all ready and waiting to collect them at lunch.

But for those who have been at a nursery, they now have to cope not only with starting school, but a jumble of other childcare arrangements of parents, family, friends, childminders for 2, or 4 or 6 weeks. The not being too tired at school benefit will be lost amongst the disadvantages of not being in a route for afternoons.

And I agree, saying 'pick another school' is ridiculous. Many people only have one school they can actually get into. Anyway, just because a school is overall better, doesn't mean to say that everything it does is perfect and can never be challenged.

TeenTimesTwo · 28/07/2019 12:20

route = routine

Sparrowlegs248 · 28/07/2019 12:20

You don't generally find out how the particular school starts term though do you, until you have a child starting. I had no idea , and when I asked, our school weren't sure as there was a new teacher who "might do it differently". Thankfully, she did!

LegionOfDoom · 28/07/2019 12:20

My twins are going into reception at older dd’s school. They all go back on Thursday, dd full days obviously. The twins have a parent play and stay on the thurs, half day fri and then from the following mon they’re full time. So only 2 days of half days and then normal hours

probstimeforanewname · 28/07/2019 12:20

Or just ask if your child can go full time from the start. They are legally obliged to offer this

Are they?

FamilyOfAliens · 28/07/2019 12:20

Just had a thought OP - two weeks of afternoons is five days annual leave.

Do you have capacity for this or can the children’s dad help?

Original poster
Icylightning · 28/07/2019 12:21

DD is my 4th DC. Childcare is not something new to me or something I don’t think about. I have a whole spreadsheet dedicated to it. I’m well aware of how schools work.

I swear some of your kids could come home with an after school sign up sheet for the nazi youth and you’d shrug your shoulders and say “school knows best lolz”

OP posts:
FamilyOfAliens · 28/07/2019 12:22

Anyway, just because a school is overall better, doesn't mean to say that everything it does is perfect and can never be challenged.

No, by all means challenge it if you think it would be better for your child. Just don’t hold your breath that they will be able to accommodate your request.

BathshebaKnickerStickers · 28/07/2019 12:23

I’m in Scotland so rules are different.

Our children do 2 weeks of half days.

Week 1 - classes are split in half - 1 set in the morning and 1 set in the afternoon so there are only about 12 children in the classroom at any one time - so it’s not too overwhelming for the children and they can get to know their teacher and vice versa.

Week 2 - all children in in the morning session, parents need to select a time slot in the afternoon at some point in the week to bring their child back to school for initial assessment/benchmarking.

A really big part of me would like to see the reaction from our head teacher if anyone tried “I have legal rights to full days from the start”...

FamilyOfAliens · 28/07/2019 12:23

I swear some of your kids could come home with an after school sign up sheet for the nazi youth and you’d shrug your shoulders and say “school knows best lolz”

Because that is exactly the same scenario as having a staggered start in Reception.

Original poster
Icylightning · 28/07/2019 12:23

All my annual leave is split between summer/Easter/Christmas holidays. Half terms they go to holiday clubs.

Realistically I’m going to have to go into work early for a lot of the summer holidays and accrue enough time owing to leave work early for two weeks. Which means more childcare to pay for and sort out for the summer holidays.

OP posts:
Bwekfusth · 28/07/2019 12:23

@IceRebel my kids have attended three nurseries between them. Only one of those nurseries ran during the summer holidays. Until it didn't anymore.

FamilyOfAliens · 28/07/2019 12:25

So you do have a plan, then, OP.

That’s good.