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

And they are provided a full time place in the September. It doesn’t say they can’t have a part time start.

They may be able to have a part time place if a parent actively requests it
But it cant be imposed by the school. You cant have a blanket policy.

Legislation is something that is the law per act of Parliament.

An annual report by the schools adjudicator is not legalisation.

“ll. I think it's pretty standard practice”

One thing this thread shows is that there is not standard practice.

When DS1 went to school, they had a small group added to the class every couple of days. So on day 1 and 2, sept and Oct borns did half days, then they came in full days thereafter and days 3 and 4, Nov and Dec borns did half days etc.

although ds1 was summer born, he was in private daycare so we just kept him in that the first half of sept and then only had two half days to cover.

and to do school credit, this was before the 2013 ruling noted above, but they stated in the letter “we believe this is best for the children but you can request full time from the beginning if you choose”

A full time place doesn't mean we will send your child home at lunchtime. I used this to insist mine went full time from day 1 and the school were fine with it.

Again, source where it says they cannot do this. It’s quite remarkable. Everyone keeps saying you can’t but not one person has been able to source where it states they cannot.

and for clarity, the annual report by the school adjudicator where it references objections is not even close to legislation.

The adjudicator enforces the admsiiosn code- the admission code is published by the Dfe and school admission codes are underpinned by Part 3 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 as amended, and related regulations.

Again, source where it says they cannot do this. It’s quite remarkable. Everyone keeps saying you can’t but not one person has been able to source where it states they cannot.

It's already been shared with you, but no amount of sharing sources will help if you refuse to believe what you're reading. 🤷🏻‍♀️

So? It simply states that there were objections. If you want to source where it actually says schools cannot start with a part time time table go for it. Otherwise you really are wasting our time.

Actually it has not. I’ve had a report from the adjudicator that is irrelevant and a statement that they must provide full time education from September, which they do.

I think it’s manifestly clear who is the time waster here.

Here you go. It’s not their domain. It’s not legislated for. This is why you cannot source anything stating it isn’t permitted.

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/596433

I’ve had a report from the adjudicator that is irrelevant and a statement that they must provide full time education from September, which they do.

How is it a full time education if they're only doing two hours a day (or whatever part time arrangements the school has for however many weeks)?

Why? Because I was told I was wrong, asked them to prove this and now loads are chucking links that don’t say what they think it says.

schools are required to provide full time education from September, as long as they do this they are meeting that requirement. And they can include a staggered start as long as full time place is offered from September.

The 2012 code used vague language but it was in there.
The code was updated in 2014 to be more precise- Nick Gibb took it through the house.
It has been in the admissions code since 2014 with very clear wording.

I honestly cant work out what you dont understand?

What I don't understand is, over the years, I've read similar threads over and over. And it sounds like the children has rights to start full term from the start, but we get same posts every year.
If you disagree with school, just talk to school and send your child full term, sounds like they can't deny that request, if you are savvy enough to post on MN, you know you can check the past posts right?

Many posts are repeats. Think it would be very quiet here if something can only be posted and discussed once.

They cant have a blanket policy of staggered starts.
They can offer a staggered start or a part-time place (until statutory school age) if requested by a parent

They should make it clear that parents are entitled to a full time place from day 1.

Our school used to do this. Then in covid times they stopped it as it meant more parents in school more often. And they actually found the kids settled in just fine, most of them have gone to the school nursery anyway (which has the same wraparound care) with the same friends and the same uniform learning the same phonics etc. Reception at this school is very child centred play based. So now covid isnt a consideration any more, they've continued without the settling in period and it's fine

There is no research that has looked at the impact of staggered starts.

Thanks for the source. Appreciated. 🙄

Who do they suggest takes care of them in the afternoons then? The flower fairies? Getting a childminder for 3 weeks would be almost impossible, and what nursery would take them for that short time.

Reception is definitely more tiring and stressful (due to higher expectations etc) than nursery and that shouldn’t be underestimated. Many children, including those who have done full time nursery, have been reported to be extra shattered after starting school.

However….

My school doesn’t do staggered start. Not in the traditional sense anyway. We operate an optional part staggering so to speak. Children stay for lunch each day from the start, however two days a week (Inc Friday) are optional half days where children can be picked up after lunch and this goes right up to half term.

Generally, a handful take both half days off right up to half term. Several take the Friday half day while the can. I would say half just go straight to full time and within that there’s then the odd half day used (either due to tiredness as a one off or one off trips out, visiting grandparents etc)

It does work well to be fair. Some certainly struggle with the long days but we make sure the afternoons are more chilled and throw in lots of mindfulness etc and get the core work done in the morning. We changed due to demand and many are thrown straight into the full wrap around anyway.

The school I work at do phased starts but only across about a week and a half. 3 weeks is a bit much.

I think my DD school suggested doing nothing the first week then half days on the 2nd week (bearing in mind that they lose their nursery place that first week in sept so you have no childcare). Loads of parents kicked off and they changed the plan to be that FS2 / reception kids just went in half days wed/Thurs/Fri (alternating morning and afternoon so they had a go at eating lunch at school). Then full time from week 2.

My daughter was soooo tired in first half term, but also 2nd half term! I'm sure a 3 week staggered start would have helped her, but it's just unrealistic unless one of you is a stay at home parent....

I think if you speak up you might find that lots of other parents are grateful to you!