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Original poster

When does your reception child start school?- settling in overkill?

86 replies

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 08/07/2021 16:36

My nearly 4 year old is starting school in September and we have just received her start dates (“s”- plural)… 1 meet the teacher session one day- 20mins- 2 stay and play sessions the following wk (diff days each an hr), 2 staggered start days, she won’t start officially until the 19th. Whilst I appreciate some children might be apprehensive, this seems a tad overkill (what do working parents do- I’m on leave at present)….is this normal? Surely it’s more unsettling surely to stop and start.

OP posts:
FlatToppedTree · 08/07/2021 17:41

We have 3 x 2.5 hr stay and play sessions throughout July. Also a 1 hr parent only session to see the school, classroom and all the introduction stuff.

And bizarrely, 3 bloody weeks of mornings only before starting full days. It's a small class of 12, half of which already attend the attached preschool (preschool and Reception combined in one class)

Faranth · 08/07/2021 17:43

They want to 'observe her in her home envitonment' apparently! Hmm

SleepingStandingUp · 08/07/2021 17:44

My nephew seems to be doing alternate days for a week and a half, so full days at least but one in, one out.

When DS started it was just first day.... In. That was it. He's only 6 so I think our school still does this

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GoBrookeYourself · 08/07/2021 17:48

We’ve had so far:
Parents evening as a group for everyone starting (2 hours)
Individual meet with teacher (half an hour)
Teacher came to our house to meet ds (1 hour)
2 settling in sessions (hour each)
Have another 2 settling in sessions and then half days for the first week.

Seemed lovely because he’s our first and we had no idea what to expect but getting tired of it all now!

Original poster
OnlyFoolsnMothers · 08/07/2021 17:50

@GoBrookeYourself

We’ve had so far: Parents evening as a group for everyone starting (2 hours) Individual meet with teacher (half an hour) Teacher came to our house to meet ds (1 hour) 2 settling in sessions (hour each) Have another 2 settling in sessions and then half days for the first week.

Seemed lovely because he’s our first and we had no idea what to expect but getting tired of it all now!

Oh lord- you win! lol This is my first too and I’m already over it!
OP posts:
MiloAndEddie · 08/07/2021 17:51

Mine started last September and went straight in. School were of the opinion that most children attend some kind of childcare anyway so are used to it. I think they have a plan in place if it’s too much for a particular child though.
I actually asked what the deal was with staggered starts when visiting schools and the one they go to was the only one out of 4 that did go straight in.

Hardbackwriter · 08/07/2021 17:51

DS1 is starting school next year and one of the many reasons I'd rather he went to a particular one of our two local schools is that the reception children there just start on the first day of term, whereas the other one it takes them until October to build up to a full day. October! Unfortunately lots of other people prefer the school with the sensible policy - including Ofsted - so it'll be touch or go whether we get a place, and of course teacher DH won't be able to help if we do have to do the ridiculous October start because schools believe in flexibilty being expected for all parents except their staff!

EssentialHummus · 08/07/2021 18:01

Not me but a friend has three weeks of this nonsense, for a kid who has been in FT nursery since age 1. Will be more annual leave than she and her OH have. She also pointed out that even the PT nursery kids in that school will be doing 2.5 hours off the bat. Just madness.

EssentialHummus · 08/07/2021 18:02

(Ie while her child is in for 1 hour, then day off, then 1 hour in the afternoon, then day off…)

NakedAttraction · 08/07/2021 18:06

It’s honestly ridiculous. More settling in than a 1 year old starting nursery.

Last year we dropped DC1 off in the playground of a school they’d never been in with a teacher they’d never met (neither had we). Full time straight from day 1. No issues what so ever.

BettyOBarley · 08/07/2021 18:09

Yes same here, training day on the Monday and then mornings only Tues Wed and then afternoons Thurs Fri!
Strangest thing is my DD started there a couple of years ago and the (same) head said their experience was that just starting full time from day one was the best way, which is what she did. And she was fine!

Sprogonthetyne · 08/07/2021 18:10

We've already had a pointless visit, where we spent half an hour loitering around playground connected to the reception classes (not allowed inside due to covid). In September we have a week of just mornings, then a week of just afternoons, then start full time on the 20th.

DeadButDelicious · 08/07/2021 18:11

DD starts reception on the 6th of September. No staggered starts or anything like that, start as they mean to go on is what they said! She is doing 3 full days of nursery (she goes to the attached nursery) right at the end of term as transition days. She's very excited about that.

BettyOBarley · 08/07/2021 18:11

I've just remembered actually though that my DD did do two half day settling in sessions before she started which obviously can't happen this year, so I guess that's the answer to why they have changed things.

MadeForThis · 08/07/2021 18:12

Beat this....

Starts 26 Aug. 1 hour
Week 2- tues @ thurs 1 hour
Week 3- mon-fri 1hour
Week 4- mon-fri 2 hours
Week 5- mon-fri 3 hours
Week 6- mon-fri 3.5 hours
Week7- full days.

4th October before she stays a full day.

JackieWeaveristheboss · 08/07/2021 18:14

We’re doing 2 half day visits during the first week as our transition visits have been cancelled. We’re then in full time.
We understand that some children might be tired in the afternoons early days but also are aware that some children have been in nursery 8- 6pm so a school day is much shorter in comparison.

Original poster
OnlyFoolsnMothers · 08/07/2021 18:15

@MadeForThis

Beat this....

Starts 26 Aug. 1 hour
Week 2- tues @ thurs 1 hour
Week 3- mon-fri 1hour
Week 4- mon-fri 2 hours
Week 5- mon-fri 3 hours
Week 6- mon-fri 3.5 hours
Week7- full days.

4th October before she stays a full day.

A wk of 1hrs….seriously what do parents do, hang round the sweet shop until “home time”
OP posts:
Comedycook · 08/07/2021 18:16

@Faranth

They want to 'observe her in her home envitonment' apparently! Hmm
Is this code for make sure they don't live in a crack den?! Grin
Hercisback · 08/07/2021 18:18

You can request full time from the start. They'll discourage it but can't say no.

TuckMyWin · 08/07/2021 18:25

@Hercisback

You can request full time from the start. They'll discourage it but can't say no.
I’m pretty sure I can’t. There are no children in the first week, and the teacher isn’t there either, because she’s out visiting all the children’s homes…..
Hercisback · 08/07/2021 18:28

You can get sassy and ask, then follow up with governors. Probably not the start you'd want but some schools take the piss.

Original poster
OnlyFoolsnMothers · 08/07/2021 18:30

@Hercisback

You can get sassy and ask, then follow up with governors. Probably not the start you'd want but some schools take the piss.
I plan to hide my “sass” for as long as I can with the school
OP posts:
Tonkerbea · 08/07/2021 18:38

Jaw on the floor at all this 1hr at a time shenanigans. We're 2 half days, one full day on the first week, then straight in. We can request more half days if we feel our child needs it. Seems a sensible approach.

chocolatealldaylong · 08/07/2021 18:49

Mine started full time from day one with about 5 others as I had to work while everyone else did the ridiculous half days etc... it was perfect for my DD as she had extra time without the full class!

MySocalledLoaf · 08/07/2021 18:54

Our school says that they don’t find half days helpful because children are made more uncertain when the routine they are just getting used to changes again. So they start 15 minutes later the first week to have the entrance and playground free when they enter but that’s it. All the kids in my daughter’s class had been in nursery all day anyway.