AIBU reception class start date

[Fortybingowings]

Our council website gives the start of term as Monday 4th September. DD starts reception this autumn having been in the school's nursery for afternoons since Sept 2016. Approx 3/4 of her reception year have also been in the nursery so they're familiar with the school.
We're told today that reception doesn't start until Wed 6th Sept, and even then, a third of the class start on Wed 6th, another third on Thurs 7th and the final third on Friday 8th. DD is one of the Friday starters. So now we need to sort child care for Monday- Thursday that week as both me and DH are working.
AIBU to be irritated (a lot) or is this sort of phased start the norm?

Normal, our school started reception in a phased manner - the summer born (younger) children had a day or two in the classroom by themselves before the older members of the class joined. And then it was part-time for a few weeks.

Pretty standard our school does 3 weeks of half days...

I've got a month of half days to get through. Madness.

Our school starts everyone on the first day of term and doesn't faff about with half days either - straight into a full time school day. So much easier (for the parents!! )

Pretty standard. They only start school once its worth letting then settle in gently.

I have read before on Mumsnet of some schools having staggered starts right up to the October half term.

It's normal. Ds school does a short transition period for new reception but gets the other children in for a day or two before the receptions start.

As a warning to council websites will never be exact and there will be some variation from school to school.

My dd starts half days on 13th!!
It's totally normal and as a teacher, i know it is vital to ensuring a positive transition.
As a parent I know it's a total pita!

Ours is doing first week half days, second week just over half days, third week all but an hour and fourth week normal hours. Impossible for working parents.
Good for the kids though I hear

My eldest had half days until end of Oct. it's a pain in the arse but it's better that way to help the kids settle IMHO.

We had half days for half a term and the summer borns had them until Christmas. That was after a week of home visits after the start of term. I liked it but then we were lucky with childcare.

No reason you can't ask if she can start on the Wednesday instead though

Yep, ours start on the Thursday and do a week and a half of half days (more like 2 hours). The fact I have an older child already there means I will be back and forward to the school 4 times a day!

Normal. In theory, DS's school opens on the 6th, but he does not attend a full school day until the 20th September. I am thankful to be a SAHM - no idea how households with both parents working outside of the home manage.

I believe you can insist that your child is in school full time from the first day of term. The question is what you think is best for your child.
2 days is probably pretty light - I've heard this part time stuff go on for a full half term!

Ours is staggering with some starting the Monday then some Tuesday and Wednesday. Straight into full days thankfully so no faffing on that part.

Dd starts at 10am on her first day so it should be nice and calm for her and the others starting at the same time.

The 4th and 5th could well be INSET days. Most schools I know officially start on the 4th but have INSET for the first two. Then the staggered start is normal. My DD isn't even starting until mid-September as it's home visits before that, then another week of staggered starts. It's a PITA....l

The 4th and 5th will be training days. Normal to start with staggered days - often for longer than three days too

I'm afraid I am also going to say it is normal. Massive PITA though.

It's stupid I agree. This is why parents are encouraged to send their children to pre school. So many kids have both parents full time working from a young age so are used to being in nursery or child care all day! I think children should just start as normal.

Surely you have childcare arranged to drop her off and collect her if she had been starting the Monday if you are both working? Can't that person just keep her the few hours she would have been in school too?

My DD started a week later than everyone else then we had 5 weeks of staggered starts/finishes. We are both teachers and so unable to take time off. It was quite honestly a nightmare. I nearly had a nervous breakdown. Apparently it's better for the kids....
Not sure if YABU or not but I think it's pretty standard.

My first daughter started on 27 Sept. Longest summer holiday of our lives, and she was so confused about why most of her friends had started and she hadn't!

My DD starts 2nd week sept for half days. Week after that until after lunch and week after that full days. Bloody mare for childcare. Some children in her year will start end sept and early Oct

Perfectly normal.
And many schools phase full time over the whole first half term.