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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
Doodledootoo · 31/08/2007 12:57

Message withdrawn

ernest · 31/08/2007 12:58

if it maks you feel any better they have half day for several years her in Switzerland. At age 5 2 years of kindergarten , mornings only (maybe 1 pm), at age 7 start school, 5 mornings & 2 pms. Ds1 now in 2nd class, still only does 2 pms. Kids I know in 5th class, so aged 10 ish still don't do 5 pms, not sure how many. But even then, they come home for lunch every day. Never do a full day. So think yerselves luck.

I actualy think, that yes, it makes working as a prenet difficult, but it's an absolutely idilic childhood for the kids, so much free time to play outside and collect spiders, makes dens, etc etc etc

nailpolish · 31/08/2007 13:00

hana, im usre you realised i was joking

eleusis · 31/08/2007 13:01

CD, you might check the curriculum. Play is all they do in nursery and reception at our school. I, personally, think DD could do with a bit more structure and encouragement. But, that's their approach and at age 4 I'm not really bothered. Although I do remember getting a stroppy letter home when I took her to Italy for one day... took her to Italy to go to a baptism and run around and play with Italian kids and learned a few words of Italian by the end of the day. Not to mention the unforgettable joy of getting on a plane and staying in a hotel! And instead she could have been playing with shoping trollies making pictures. Somehow I think the trip to Italy was more educational. And it was one day! She missed a grand total of one and a half hours of play.

However, I have just noticed they finally have a website with some useful information posted on it, so I am happy camper to see that. Now, if they would just tell me what's in the school meals... God, I must the pushy parent from Hell.

TigerFeet · 31/08/2007 13:08

np, I'm not sure that dd's arrangement is usual in England, its just what we have fallen into with the nursery we chose - run by an ex Primary School teacher and good for gearing up to school iyswim, different nurseries have different philosophies I suppose (not much experience myself, just having the one dd )

Anchovy · 31/08/2007 13:08

CD - I think that is pretty much what happened at DS's reception class. They all went full time from the start, but they weren't actually doing very much in the first term - and particularly not in the afternoons.

Don't knock the 2 week half term in October, which seems to be a bit of a favourite in these parts: its a fantastic time for a cheap out of season holiday!

singersgirl · 31/08/2007 13:13

In our school the Reception teachers take the Y1 children in the afternoons for the first term, easing their transition into Y1. It allows the Y1 children to have some time in the Foundation Stage playground in the afternoons too.

nailpolish · 31/08/2007 13:14

that sounds really good tigerfeet
my dd went to preschool that was very structured - did jolly phonics etc and touched on p1 stuff - v good IMO

saltandvinegarcrisps · 31/08/2007 13:17

Its not really about what suits the parents though is it. Its what suits the Teacher and the child that is important.

My Daughter will do 3 weeks of half days (I do agree 11 weeks is a bit OTT though) and then full days.

Its just a gentle way of introducing a full school day to a child, although I appreciate that some children have been doing longer days since they were tiny at full time nursery places so maybe a 3pm finish is part time for them. Not all children have done that though and I know my daughter will benefit from the 3 weeks of half days and so will the Teachers as it will give them a better chance of getting to know the children when they are in smaller groups.

Its not designed to help parents.

Peachy · 31/08/2007 13:21

I dn't know how ormirians classa re doing it- but when ds1 started the same school, the 11 weeks weren't even regular; it was mornings, then afternoons, then maybe afternoons again- totally non predictable. At least one parent had to hand in their job over it (and Dh and I had a few pretty big rows over how we'd manage it!). Was a bloody nightmare.

eleusis · 31/08/2007 13:22

"Its not really about what suits the parents though is it. "

That attitude is disturbingly shor sighted. What kind of school community are you developing if you don't care whether the parents like what you do with their children.

I appreciate that scholls have limited resources and are doing what they think is best. But, surely, it is in everyone's interest to put forth some effort to please the parents.

The parents needs and the child's needs are not that easily separated.

hana · 31/08/2007 13:22

yes I did......just in case people nodded their heads out there in agreement......... (to nailpolish)

nailpolish · 31/08/2007 13:23

saltandvin
i agree with you there
dd1's headteacher stressed this on open day "primary school isnt childcare"

nailpolish · 31/08/2007 13:24

eleusis - but its not going to be full time to suit the parents if the teachers dont think its right for the hcildren

11 weeks is too long tho, we all agree

MrsSpoon · 31/08/2007 13:24

My DS2 is only having two weeks of half days, it doesn't seem enough, he goes full-time on Monday, my friend's little girl went full days from day one. Although I do agree that 11 weeks seems too far in the other direction.

FlameBatfink · 31/08/2007 13:25

11 weeks does seem excessive - we have until half term.

What irks me more is that where DD is one of the youngest, she doesn't start until Friday (staggered intake)... so she has one morning, and then the weekend. She needs routine and will be a mess

BUT that is a purely selfish note, I know that DD is different to most when it comes to routine needs and that it is better for the majority this way.

eleusis · 31/08/2007 13:27

I don't the parents who are arguing for full time school are necessarily doing so for a childcare place. In fact childcare makes no difference to me at this point in time because I'm paying for a full time nanny whether DD sits at home or at school. So it wouldn't save me a penny. I think it's better for her educationally.

Original poster
OrmIrian · 31/08/2007 13:30

peachy - it used to be alternated ams and pms. School recognised it was too confusing for parents (so they can take us into consideration) so now you either get ams and pms - we drew the short straw with all afternoons because DS is near the end of the alphabet. So .....3 hours of over-excited DS and then into school by the time he's finally settled to some activity at home and won't want to go

OP posts:
Peachy · 31/08/2007 13:31

You have to look at individual schools though- very few parents at this school work, and those that do have fairly low paid jobs- supermarkets workers, cleaners etc- ormirian is very much an exception!. The school provides no childcare or nursery at all, whcih is why i repsume they want to work like this. They also serve a surestart designated area, so do have a higher than normal intake of kids either with SN, or just with higher needs than other schools.

I didn't, and don't get the 11 weeks- and its not as if th teachers haven't met the kids, certainbly my son's Nursery ahd a visit as did the local playgroups (very few kids there attend mroe than playgroup), but I can see that its often a more challenging intake than most schools, iyswim.

FlameBatfink · 31/08/2007 13:32

Mine could happily go full time straight away, but pychomum's DS2 was hell even with the half term of afternoons.

We were lucky - got to choose am or pm and they did their utmost to give what we had chosen.

Peachy · 31/08/2007 13:32

Well thats a start Ormirian LOL_ used to be a bloody nightmare! And I remember whenit was merged calsses pm (ie all 60 kids in the year), all the aprents etc being queued up on the road outside waiting.... seemed really odd.

CountessDraculaPI · 31/08/2007 13:47

I have just thought
if htey get funding f/t for the first term should we not get a rebate to cover childcare costs in the afternoon when they should be in school?

3monkeys · 31/08/2007 13:51

Our school is mad - they do 1 half day in the 2nd week of term, then nothing until 1 full day the week after, and then they start full time! So both DS1 and DD who are September babies, started after they were 5. And while school isn't childcare, I need my children to go somewhere while I work, and my family are 4 hours drive away

Also, on the subject of reception, both of mine would have preferred more work and less play - they had both had 2 full years of playing at pre school and nursery

DS2 however is an August baby and it will break my heart when he starts school!

Peachy · 31/08/2007 14:03

The LEA tells me (may just be wales) that this year the new routine is ALL paly in Reception. Course, they were trying to badger me into not applying for a statement at the time ...

Doodledootoo · 31/08/2007 14:06

Message withdrawn