3 weeks of half days for reception children.

[Tohaveandtohold]

So my child is starting reception in sept and we got an email on Friday of their plans for
their transition and the new term. My main issue is they expect them to do 3 weeks of half day so half of the class will do 9-12 the first 2 weeks and then at week 3 they’ll be there for lunch so 9-12:45. The other half of the class will do half day in the afternoon.
I just feel this is out of touch. My child currently goes to nursery 4 days a week doing 8-6 though she’s picked up around 5 anyway and has never been clingy, so I can’t see how 3 weeks of half day will benefit her. Also we both work, luckily I’ll only go to the office 2 days a week so dh will pick up those days and we’re not using up all our annual leave unnecessarily. Can I request she only does half day for a week and that they have to provide her with full time education.
Like I don’t want to be ‘that’ parent at the beginning of her school journey but I feel 3 weeks is just ridiculous and out of touch

A screenshot isn’t a source. A source is when you state where it’s from, that to me looks like it’s referring to starting school and parents rights in relation to CSA.

I am absolutely not trawling through 15 pages of comments.

My son’s school did either half a term or a term of half days! It was usually depending on whether they child was a older or younger one in the year. Also parents could discuss before half term if they thought the child was ready to go full time the next half term. However, this was 18 years ago, most of the kids hadn’t gone to full day nursery (I guess because back then the feee child care once they were 3 was only about 10 hours a week).

Exactly – in our case it’ll be a bit of school followed by mummy or daddy visit taking them back to nursery for a much shorter session than usual, so between drop-off and pick-up and the transportation it’s more time with parents than she’d actually get. And school days are short anyway, is a half day long enough to start feeling settled?

Do you want to source it? Last person just shared a random unsourced screen shot.

Yes they do
Ofsted also ask about delayed starts quite frequently and tend to discourage them (phonics from the start). And with the reception baseline most schools want to get them in

Shouldn't this say when you become a mum or a dad, or is it just women you believe should only be 'a mom' and not any other part of themselves?

I can source it- it was in the annual report of the schools adjudicator
https://dera.ioe.ac.uk/id/eprint/21835/1/OSA_Annual_Report_2014.pdf
paragraph 57
This led to most LAs issuing updated guidance

Not in my experience.

Which is of course your experience but I can bet that I go through more ofsted inspections than you do.

Three weeks?! That would infuriate me. My son is at nursery until 5.30 everyday and when he starts reception his school are doing the first week half day and tbh I was pissed off with that never mind 3 weeks. It’s like they think everyone’s a stay at home parent

That’s not legislation.

You absolutely can request full time from the start!

When my (now adult) DC started school they started 10 minutes after the rest of the school and finished 10 minutes earlier for the first day only then it was into full days.

I work in another sensible school - the new intake start 15 minutes after the rest of the school on the first day but that is it. It’s never caused us any problems and the children settle really well.

I see someone above jas beaten me to it although it's been posted about 5 times already on the thread.

What exactly is your point of standing because it doesn't sound like you actually work in education let alone in reception?

Yes it is. The report is saying that schools must do that or otherwise they are breaking the law. Paragraph 58 couldnt be clearer
The School Adjudicator is the regulator

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1001050/School_admissions_code_2021.pdf

2.17. The DfE Guidance

What they sourced is not legislation.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1001050/School_admissions_code_2021.pdf

paragraph 2.17

@JenWillsiam paragraph 58 in the linked document is absolutely crystal clear. I don't understand why you refuse to believe it. Code, legislation - it doesn't matter. According to the DfE children absolutely do have the right to access full time education from day 1.

Do you understand what legislation means?

What do you think that section of the document means?

Don’t feed it…

@JenWillsiam page 25 of the other linked document (since you seem so reluctant to do a bit of research I thought I'd signpost it).

Just to confirm

• The school admission codes are underpinned by Part 3 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 as amended, and related regulations.

I should resist really but it seriously winds me up that parents are fed this misconception that their child can't just start school on day one. It shouldn't be a closely guarded secret or fobbed off by uninformed people as some incorrect misinformation.

And

1. Maintained schools are under direct statutory duties in relation to school admissions; academies and free schools are held to the codes through their funding agreements with the Secretary of State for Education.

Yet it seems to massively vary school to school. Some are in full time from day 1.

At the very least, half time should be optional for the first week or so. It shouldn't be forced.