To wonder how the heck schools expect working parents to cope with this?

[Worriedaboutdog]

Apologies this may be a rant. DS1 is due to start school in September. We have therefore put childcare plans in place based on him starting school on the first day of term in September. School have just announced that:

a) reception start a week later
And
b) as a summer birthday, DS actually will do half days for another week after that, and ‘must be picked up at 1.30pm’.

No mention of either of these things was made when we looked round the school. We have already juggled the time off we have available to look after him over the summer. As it happens it’s probably easier for us than most parents as DH is a shift worker so can cover some days, but we were relying on him going to school at the beginning of September, and being in after-school club on days DH isn’t at home until I can get there to pick him up. Wtf are parents who both work Monday-Friday meant to do about two extra weeks?! This was all announced today in a meeting (I couldn’t go, because it was at 3.30pm, but DH did), and when he asked the class teacher if they had to go home at lunchtime or could stay and then go to after school club, she said they had to go home and we’d have to get ‘a grandparent or someone’ to pick them up. So we’ll just magic up a grandparent physically fit and willing enough to do a whole week of half days childcare, who is actually able to drive to the school, then.

He can possibly go back to his current nursery for the week he isn’t in school at all, but the half days are stumping me. I think I probably am being unreasonable to be cross - I realise school is not designed to be childcare, and therefore not run for the convenience of the parents, BUT they must know that parents make assumptions (based on the information on their website!) about the dates of terms and the length of the school day, and make arrangements accordingly. And that this just isn’t feasible for everyone, and if they don’t bloody tell you about it until June then plans (and budgets) for September childcare are already in place! Argh.

I just think if part time isn't available in your career do something else that fits round your children until such time as you can get back into your chosen field.

Are you just naive? Do you really not want parents (probably mostly women) to not be able to access and progress in some careers?

I want my DDs to be able to see me being successful in my career and for them to spend time with experienced and capable childcare workers. If I had to stop my career to take a role that fitted round school hours I definitely wouldn’t be doing the best I can as a parent. I’d be bored and depressed. That really isn’t in their best interests.

You have the child, you sort the childcare - that’s the way it works. They do the education bit.

🙄

Only 2 weeks you're lucky!. Start a week late then at least 3 weeks of 1/2 days round here. Some it goes on up to half term. Also when they are on their afternoon weeks they're only actually in for 2 hours!

Logistics. Dd1 we sent back to preschool for the 1/2 days til she was full time. You can't use the 15hrs childcare though. Also although a few of her friends were there she kept saying it was babyish.

Logistics with her dad & understanding bosses helped so worked from home a lot.

Also if they are already registered for a breakfast or afterschool club place you could start using that as you'll prob be already paying for it anyway!

Totally agree PandaPieForTea. It takes a lot of time to qualify, build a reputation and then progress your career. As I said previously, trying to get into something on a part time basis that you are over qualified for is practically impossible and if your career depends upon CPD, it can be difficult to get back into after a short break, let alone 4 or 5 years until the kids go to school. I get really fed up of being judged for being a working mum, especially when monthly childcare is equivalent to a second mortgage and wouldn't exist without working parents.

Kokeshi - 'what if you don't have money for braces and tutoring'!? I thought braces were free up to a certain age but may be wrong, but possibly not a priority and as for tutoring- well that's just a lifestyle choice that is definitely not a priority for many people.

I giggled at that too @lethaldrizzle, two of my daughters have had braces on the NHS and so have I.

The preschool down the round from our school was only open in the mornings so most kids had not experienced full days in nursery around here. Our children were not full time until after October half term. It's an OFSTED outstanding school and they just said that there had been research that suggested this was the best way to start. It never really bothered me as I have always been able to work around school. I understand it must be a pain for other parents though, particular if you weren't aware. Around here staggered starts are done in every school as far as I know.

Braces are only free if you meet the NHS criteria on diagnosis which in the case of one of our children we did and in the other case we didn't . Also they're only able to treat a limited number each year so lists fill up fast.

the nhs criteria is there to filter out the low priority ones I guess

sugarisamazing
My child was in full time childcare when I did my PGCE, part time childcare from the age of 7 months. I was always, always the last one to pick up. And you know what? I didn't give a shit. He was happy and healthy and looked after. Judge away.
I think it's appalling of you to come on here and tell hard working parents (well let's be honest - mothers) trying to do the best for their family that you're judging them. Shame on you.
I am a teacher. I'm not judging.
For those of you questioning the thinking behind staggered starts I'll add my experience when I had a school Nursery (6 years).
We would do home visits to meet the child and parents - I know some of you don't like these - I'm neutral - but they are held to be good practice so staff have no choice.
Some parents would tell you that yes their child is fine when left with grandparents, friends etc, they enjoy mealtimes, are definitely not in nappies, behave well at all times, follow instructions etc.
September arrives and the child arrives at nursery in nappies and screaming and continues to scream until picked up. For some children this phase would continue to scream for weeks. These are the children that phased entry is for.
I always admitted children FT when they showed me they were able to come in, say goodbye, choose an activity and play.
Granted this is Nursery but with Reception parents have a legal basis to demand full time should they wish to and there shouldn't be the same issues around separation and toileting (but it does happen).

I’m not convinced there is research (evidence-based) to show that a staggered start is best for children. Could you provide it please, PP?

For us, there is a correlation between children who are above average, academically, at the end of KS1 and the ones who started full-time early. Correlation is not causation, however, and although I think the weeks of afternoon sessions in phonics and reading that dc3 and other early starters had, put them at a relative advantage, it’s more likely that the children who went full-time earlier are performing at a higher level at end of KS1 as they tended to be children with two working parents. After dc3 went full-time, she was joined the next day by a couple of children whose parents were doctors, then a whole bunch of others with two working parents. I can’t think of any child in the top ability group who was there at the start of reception who didn’t start full-time early.

Ours start 2 weeks later then do 3 frigging weeks of shitty staggered start think few hrs then half day then staying for lunch, starting later means continuing at nursery not great when older one but fine then the shitty stupid oddness of staggered starts means not having much annual leave over summer so eldest will go to holiday club much more than he would like and as I always have some TOIL using bit of that thankfully my youngest doesn't start til next yr but it's nightmare. (I am hoping the after school child minder we use will do few early pick ups too.)

Sugarisamazing what is your problem with Christmas Eve and the 27th. Those are normal working days for most people. Not everyone can be off over school holidays but they will have holidays at other times of the year to make up Fox if. I hope you don’t just the nurse or dr that might have to look after you on Christmas Eve one day. Or Christmas Day for that matter.

I think if you can show your child has attended full time nursery or least 4 days for at least a yr then they should just go full time.

I remember a time where Sept to dec bday started full time all others half days then jan-apr bday went full time after Xmas and summer born went full time after Easter my mum was up and down to school all day was hardly worth her going home. 9am drop off school 9.30 pre school 11.30 pre school collect 12 school collect 3 school collect. I now know why my mum didn't work.

The3
Lots of studies mentioned here.
respectedfrombirth.wordpress.com/2013/11/05/starting-school-school-induction-and-the-needs-of-the-young/
I do not necessarily agree with them.

sugarisamazing you’d definitely judge me. My children are in childcare from 7:15am to 5:15pm. Everyday inc school holidays if I can’t get time off. I would rather this than expect the state to pick up the tab for my children. My husband and I work bloody hard and bloody long hours to pay our bills, inc. childcare. My children are growing up knowing if you want a house, a family, a car and food you’d best earn the means to pay for it. I am trying to teach and show them that no one should coast through life and hard work is it’s own reward.

It makes my blood boil but it's pretty normal to assume parents are available at the drop of a hat and probably don't work. My dd is Y6 and we had this every single year in one form or another.

bellinisurge
Are schools 'assuming' though or are they simply asking for volunteers?
Should schools never ask for volunteers in case people who can't offer any time get offended?

Happy for them to continue to ask away but there is only so much short notice leave you can take.

When I ever help out in school, I find the staff improvise constantly. They roughly plan an activity but not until it's happening does it get fine tuned. I think coz teachers are used to working that way, the school culture is like that, very "Just in time" with regard to many activities. Means they can adapt to circumstances like better or worse weather, for instance.

I just think if part time isn't available in your career do something else that fits round your children until such time as you can get back into your chosen field.

why would I want to do that?! I use some childcare for my dc so that I can work. My kids also have amazing holidays abroad, go to excellent schools and do activities which far outweigh a few hours at breakfast/ after school club. I can work flexibly sometimes and do have school holidays off, but work full time in term time. We genuinely have a great balance and I couldn’t give a shit if anyone judged the fact that I didn’t choose to go part time as the money I earn gives us a significantly better lifestyle.

(Although I confess I am lucky that I normally break up earlier than dc so can attend sports days and end of term services etc)

I used to work in a nursery and the parents who dropped off 8-6 every single day were judged, obviously we were nice as pie to the parents, but they were still judged.

How nice of you. Were still happy to take their money I bet

This is exactly the reason why I am going self employed. Mines only been at the preschool attached for the last year but I've already noticed its common for schools to tell you important dates at short notice and in the middle of the day. I also expected mine to go on the first day of term but like pp have said its standard to do half days, like you as a first timer I didn't know this.

I’d love to know where all these part time careers are which you can pick up again when DC’s start school? When I had DT’s I’d just finished my three post grad training contract and was starting my first role - part time was not an option if I wanted to keep my job, DH was still qualifying as a junior doctor - not exactly something you can put on hold for a few years.

We made it work by using a good nursery for full time hours; one where we weren’t judged for working full time as the majority of the children attending were also there full time.

Those working in a nursery negatively judging full time working parents, please remember they are paying your salary!