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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

in thinking that most children will not need 11 weeks of half days when they start school?

197 replies

OrmIrian · 31/08/2007 11:30

Because 6 weeks of half days with DD and DS#1 was hard enough to deal with whilst trying to hold down a job. But now I've just noticed that DS#2 will have to do 11 weeks of half days before finally being allowed to go full time - serves me right for not reading all the stuff we were given last term. It used to go on until half term - now it's half way though the second half as well. Why? Really, why? If any child isn't settled after 6 weeks surely that child can be handled differently - not the whole class... And DS is doing afternoons the whole time. They used to alternate the kids between mornings and afternoon.

Oh sh*t!!! I think my company's "family friendliness" may be tested to the limit by this one..

S'OK. I know I ABU. But I am so fed up....

OP posts:

Shoshable · 31/08/2007 11:34

Our schools here do the WHOLW first term just mornings, it is a nightmare as a CM, I cant take on another child cos the reception child is not doing ten sessions a week, so is still taking up my under 5 space, but i dont get paid for the mornings cos child is at school!

GreebosWhiskers · 31/08/2007 11:35

What?

When dd1 started it was half days 'til the October hols; when dd2 started 2 years later it was 2 weeks of half days then straight on to full day. What the hell do they need 11 weeks of half days for?

islandofsodor · 31/08/2007 11:35

YANBU

Luckily my dd's school had none of this nonsence or I would have either sent her elsewhere or kept her at nursery until she could go full time.

She went full time from the word go.

nailpolish · 31/08/2007 11:38

we only have 4 weeks of half days

Anchovy · 31/08/2007 11:38

I'm always a bit gobsmacked about this. DS also did full time right from the first day.

fortunecookie · 31/08/2007 11:38

No, OrmIrain, you're not being unreasonable. The school we send our dc to has the same policy but it's private and in Switzerland. If we pay extra, we can opt for leaving the dc all day. I would be very frustrated in your position. I think it's a scandle that working mums (it's usually us, isn't it?) should have to risk their jobs because of lack of adequate childcare.

Original poster

OrmIrian · 31/08/2007 11:39

The reason given is that there's a big intake (60 children) - 3o in each class. But I still think it's too much.

If the child settles well he/she can go full-time earlier apparently. So I'll be bribing DS to act 'settled' asap

OP posts:

TigerFeet · 31/08/2007 11:40

YANBU at all

I will have this problem when dd starts school next year... I had no idea that some schools have so many weeks at half days

I have no concerns about dd settling in, if she gets into the school we want for her then she will be with children she knows and she's been at nursery full time since 6 mo so I don't think it'll be too much of a shock for her at all.

I am really going to struggle if I end up in the same position... you have my sympathy.

nailpolish · 31/08/2007 11:40

i think you should take it up with the school
its ridiculous!

island - you dont really ge t the choice though do you..? when its time to start school you cant hold them back at nursery!

frogs · 31/08/2007 11:41

Yes, 'tis bollocking bollocks. I had my older two in a school where the nursery teacher's approach was to remove the shrieking child on the first morning and propel the parent firmly out of the door with instructions to return at 3.15. No lasting ill-effects as far as I can see. Now because of our house move, dd2 is about to start a much more touchy-feely school where, according to the info sheet, "The teacher will decide when your child is ready to stay the full day". B*gger that, I say.

DaisyMOO · 31/08/2007 11:41

Our local school allows parents to make their own decision about how much their children do at first. Up until the term after their fifth birthday they can do as much or as little as they want, as long as we stick to the same routine for half a term. So some children will go full time from the start, others will just do mornings, others a mix. It's marvellous.

nailpolish · 31/08/2007 11:41

tigerfeet - school is completely different from nursery - it can be a big shock to the system - very structured and unlike nursery

Original poster

OrmIrian · 31/08/2007 11:42

Thanks everyone. I'm do glad it's not just me that thinks it stinks.

I'm lucky in that I can work from home - so I'm doing that everymorning and going into the office after I've dropped him off. Which is fine in principle but a very broken up day and I'll end up working in the evenings to make up for it. Not to mention all the enlightened 'part-timer' comments I'll be getting...

OP posts:

Doodledootoo · 31/08/2007 11:42

Message withdrawn

nailpolish · 31/08/2007 11:43

are you lot talking about school or PRE school

nailpolish · 31/08/2007 11:43

or reception or whatever it is you ahve down there

Original poster

OrmIrian · 31/08/2007 11:44

Why thankyou doodle I'm not very good at being mad about things so I appreciate your input....

OP posts:

themoon66 · 31/08/2007 11:45

Agree with Frogs.

chocolateteapot · 31/08/2007 11:45

You're not being unreasonable. We have the whole of the first term half days.

And they make the younger ones in the year do the afternoon sessions in some of the schools, which seems madness as I would have thought they were the ones more likely to need the afternoons to relax.

islandofsodor · 31/08/2007 11:46

NP. Dd went to a daycare nursery who would have kept her until she turned 5.

CountessDracula · 31/08/2007 11:46

Yes dd's school is the same. The first term of reception is 9 til 12
Bloody ridiculous

all the kids have been in nursery, some much longer hours than 9-3! Also, she doesn't even start til 17th as they have to do "home visits" argh

Theclosetpagan · 31/08/2007 11:46

My DS starts next week and will do half days until the first half term. Personally although it's a pain for me work wise I am quite pleased that he's not going straight into full days. School is a big adjustment and he'll be attending for a long time - I'd rather he had a gentle introduction than a straight in all day every day approach.

However, YANBU in that every school seems to differ in how they do this settling in process - for my DS it will be the first 7 weeks but another school nearby does only the first 4 weeks. The fact that there's no consensus makes it infuriating. I mean - why the jump from 6 weeks with your first tow - to 11 weeks now? That's the infuriating bit.

fortunecookie · 31/08/2007 11:47

I'd love to go back to work now that dd & ds are both at school full time (as of yesterday). But the school they go to has so many holidays that no-one would ever hire me: 2 months in the summer, 2 weeks in October, 3 weeks at Christmas, 1 week in Feb and 2 weeks at Easter! And this being Switzerland, to pay for childcare would cost me almost everything I would earn. So there's not much point. Very frustrating.

Original poster

OrmIrian · 31/08/2007 11:47

pagan - I am happy that he does some half days to prepare him. I would have no problem with 2 or 3 weeks maybe.

OP posts:

nailpolish · 31/08/2007 11:48

island

aha i see
we dont start school here til age 5

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