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

That would be breaking the admissions code. Admissions authorities must make parents aware of all the legal options.

From reading this thread it sounds like schools aren’t letting parents know that there is a legal right to full time from day one

This was the first thing we asked at open days for choosing schools. Any that did something stupid like this were ruled out instantly. Like you my DD goes to nursery and had been there since 9 months, we picked a school that did 9 days of induction then in full time from the 10th day.

Most nurseries will carry on taking primary aged kids, can you ask of ahe can do afternoons/mornibgs whichever it is for those 3 weeks after her time at school?

I don’t think most nurseries have spaces for reception age children? Who gets the funding? Our only offered full time nursery places and there was a huge waiting list so no staggered hours.
How would the nursery facilitate taking the children too and from school - many different schools and still manage staffing levels?

The thing is, there seems to be vanishingly little evidence that half days or staggered starts are actually better for the children or help them to settle in. Its just an assertion. Particularly given how the time children apparently 'need' varies so much between a few days (which I think most people would probably be ok with), or is it two or three weeks, or up to half term? I even think someone said until Easter, which is insanity!

Anyway, if schools really and truly believe this, they should have it front and centre on all their admissions information. Let parents make an actually informed decision.

I think it's a good thing although I agree it's HARD!
Your child might be ready but others won't be and that means your child will have to listen to crying kids and mayhem all day! I certainly wouldn't want that and it could lead to your child becoming unsettled in the second week.

A slow start means they all get a few hours of madness but a welcome break after a few hours. Until they all transition and settled in I think this is a far nicer way.

Starting school is mentally draining for children they will come home exhausted!!! A full day with clubs on top is a lot from the start!
I also wouldn't what to be the parent who asks for different from everyone else.

This is normal, one child's family objected and was full time from day 1 though

That's the first thing you asked!?!

I appreciate the frustration but it's a one off thing so using up leave or parental leave (you are allowed to use this unpaid leave for things exactly like this).
I think the main benefit of the half days is only having half the class in at a time as its easier to settle them in with only 15 pupils. Also way less overwhelming for the children.
I sympathise though as it hits the pocket having to take the unpaid parental leave.

I think it's a good way to understand what a school is going to be like for working parents. Some primaries are definitely better than others for this

You can tell right away if a primary understands the concept of working parents by if it has Saturday open days or not...no need to wait for admissions.

No, most nurseries don't take school-aged children. What makes you think that they do?

I don't agree - I want to see the school in its normal mode and plenty of headteachers want you to see it that way. That's a good reason to go for weekday open days

Yes they do, i think child still has to be 4. Parents have to take the child to the nursery, but they'll still provide childcare. No idea if 30hrs funding still works or not but if not you just pay as usual.

May be nurseries with a pre school room, not actual pre schools maybe, wouldn't know as never used a seperate pre school.

The nursery we used offered whatever sessions you wanted, mixture of full/part time/morning/afternoon/all day...pretty standard round here

Yep! Both me and her dad work full time, we couldn't facilitate auch a lengthly induction process

DS did a staggered start - so 20 kids started day one, 20 day two and 20 day three.

They all got the extra attention and thrown in the deep end but with less children there.

Then that was it. All systems go.

Much better than messing the kids (and parents about).

Plenty do, the nursery my daughter was at did, thats how i know.they offerit to help working parents with the transition if schoola do long indictions. Most of the nurseries i know offer it for at least the 1st term

Most private nurseries will take children up to the age of 5. So (in England) if your child is 4 in March, starts school in Sept aged 4 1/2 they would still be able to go to the nursery until the following March, thus cover the staggered start. It might be unusual, but it certainly happens.

I think it's both normal and sensible, even if it doesn't necessarily suit the parents' plans.

BTW, talking about your child's school journey to mean anything other than 'their journey to school' is absolutely 🤮

That's a good reason to go for weekday open days

Well yes but I'm a teacher so I can't have time off for other schools' open days! At least give people the option.

When my eldest started school, no children went FT until after half term and mine being one of the youngest was not FT until after the Christmas break. The local nursery helped out but with no funding it was expensive.

My son's school does a couple of virtual open days - one at 8am, one at lunchtime, one I think at 4/5- I am sure it's still difficult if you're a teacher but I think it suits more people than weekends overall and shows they make an effort

3 weeks is excessive. 1 week of half days would work better.

And this is what I fed back in the survey for my DC’s school. We had the staggered start of random morning, morning plus lunch, afternoon, full day, day off (wtf) for 2 weeks. An absolute nightmare to arrange childcare for as there’s no consistency and really confusing for the children as there’s no routine. I only coped because I’d just come back from mat leave and had loads of annual leave built up.

Tough really. Parents have had plenty of time to prepare kids for starting school. No excuse.

Hmm my son ( Nov birthday) had this palaver when starting school. Ended up having to use lunch hour to take him from school to nursery ( they happy to keep him as he was still 4) Was 6 weeks of it which is impossible when you work. BTW he was no more tired doing both school and nursery than he had been doing just nursery 9-5