Staggered start is illegal exclusion

[HapptobeTHATparent]

DD turns 5 on 2nd September. Just received her school starter paperwork and it's a staggered start, so won't actually start full time until 16th September. No home visits so no need for staggered start. 26 children already attend the school nursery full time.

AIBU to accuse the school of illegal exclusion by not allowing DD and the 25 others already attending school (nursery) full time (plus any new starters who wish to start full time straight away), to return to school on the 1st September like the rest of the school.

State maintained school (not academy).

Slightly tounge in cheek, but also hoping for some links to documents I can quote at the school.

What's a tounge and why is it in your cheek?

But don't be ridiculous and create a name for yourself as a proper chump parent before your child has even started...

My DS's school has a staggered start. At the parents evening they said they did this because in their experience it benefitted the children, but that if any parent had an issue to speak to them. Why dont you just speak to them like a normal human being?

Staggered starts are annoying, I get it.
But a quiet word with the school explaining why this would be particularly challenging for you as a parent / family e.g. workwise, childcare wise, is surely better than "accusing the school of illegal exclusion".

Even if the kids know each other, the structure of the day and the expectations placed upon them are different. If you can't accept, at the very beginning of reception, that the school are doing this because they probably know best, then you will end up being THAT parent IMO.

I think you say 'oh sorry that's not going to work for me because of my work'. I'd be friendly. I think they have to take them.

My son started the last week of September so I feel your pain!

I know it's really hard to arrange work around staggered starts, but the school's priority is the children's welfare, not parental convenience.

School is different to nursery, it's a big adjustment and even with staggered starts they do get tired.

It was always my impression that you could refuse a staggered start if your child was 5 already. Or even if they're still 4.

A quick internet search reveals this relevant article by the guardian with links to the pertinent judgements made in the past on this issue.

amp.theguardian.com/education/2015/jun/29/infant-schools-settling-in-period-parents-work

You don't need to make any accusations. You could just ask them their reasoning behind the staggered start and why this is needed for children already in full-time nursery.

Why not just have a conversation with the school. Listen to them. Tell them why/if this will be difficult for your DC

Save the big battle approach for another time, not 10 weeks before the start of your child's first term.

We had this issue way back around 1996 and 98 when my kids started at primary.

Up to October half term half attended in the morning and half in the afternoon. The cherry on the top was that half way through morning and afternoon kids swapped over. Fortunately we had Granny, friends and employers who were flexible but it was still a PITA.

Both kids had been at nursery full time on work days far further back than they'd remember. The half days actually discombobulated them...

Do they just mean they do half a day for a bit?

Wasn’t this asked recently? I’m sure the answer was if you ask the school to take the child full time they can’t say no.

Lots of children will have been in full time nursery since they were a few months old, so I don't know why people think that is relevant to starting school. On these threads there are always people telling the OP to insist that school take their child all day from the start, but they obviously give no thought to what that would actually mean for the child to be the only one still there in the afternoon.

"2.17 Admission authorities must provide for the admission of all children in the September following their fourth birthday. The authority must make it clear in their arrangements that where they have offered a child a place at a school:
a) that child is entitled to a full-time place in the September following their fourth birthday;

b) the child’s parents can defer the date their child is admitted to the school until later in the school year but not beyond the point at which they reach compulsory school age and not beyond the beginning of the final term of the school year for which it was made;

c) and where the parents wish, children may attend part-time until later in the school year but not beyond the point at which they reach compulsory school age." Schools Admissions Code.

Crazy - who do they suggest takes care of them before they are allowed in FT - the flower fairies?

OMG THEY CANT SAY NO??

i didn’t know this! My son didn’t start until the 4th of October being a late summer baby.

It would have really helped me out! I had no idea you could request they bring it forward. They certainly don’t give that information freely

Lucky school! Bet they’re excited about years ahead with you! Have fun.

Christ, don't be so ridiculous!

They do it to help the little ones settle in & temporarily make the ratio of adults to children higher so that they can really get to know them. It's a common approach within most Primary Schools.

It’s not exactly hidden info. Maybe try doing some basic research.

Staggered starts are really disruptive for many children.

i would request full time from the off.

Just say that doesn’t work for you and your child will be full time from day 1

Bloody hell this place. Why are people like you so needlessly rude?

And their parents. It assumes that there's someone at home and school is close by.

When DSis youngest started she had one doing mornings and one all day. She didn't drive and the bus was hourly and at the wrong time. She walked most days and was often walking 8 or 9 miles a day just doing the school run.