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.

Just ask them. There is zero need to be aggressive when they don't even know you have an issue with the schedule. You're going to be dealing with this school for the next X-number of years, don't get off to a bad start.

Oh, another little ray of sunshine 🙃

I didn't actually comment at all on the content of that PP's comment and don't need to do any research thank you. I commented only on the fact that they were so rude. Which they were, repeatedly and to several different people.

No... That makes no sense. I would request a manged move to Winchester (fully funded obvs).

Of course you’re being unreasonable, your know you are. What a ridiculous approach to even consider taking. Just act like a sane person and have a conversation with them about how you can both make it work. The school isn’t even close to an illegal exclusion 😂

we had some difficulties with the staggered start, had a conversation and the school worked with us to find a resolution that worked for everyone.

or, you could march in like a crazy person waving documents and shouting how illegal exclusions, up to you.

If the OP is a teacher... People do realise she wouldn't be able to pick up her child at random times from Primary school?

Staggered starts make sense when a child first starts at school... but now many schools have nursery classes, its surely less disruptive if the children have already been in 9-3.30 in the nursery class they continue that pattern as they start in the Reception class. In some schools, it is even the same class!

😂 they weren’t rude, you were

Well, yes... I've said several times that it was an inflammatory post to attract attention. I'm not denying that at all.

Agree

Ooh are you putting someone else in the naughty corner. You actually acknowledge that you don’t even bother to comment on the content of people’s posts, you just show up to police people’s tone😂. Ironically when you did actually respond to the content of one post you came across as somewhat aggressive, which I am sure want your intention.

Save you energy and just accept that you aren't the boss on this one.

Sometimes there are events which require righteous anger. This isn't one.

Nice back pedalling 😂😂

If you say so 👍🏼🤣

“First week commonly has at least 20% of the new intake howling the place down, getting very distressed and having an impact on the rest of class. Do you know anything about children?!”

@PTSDBarbiegirl Um… no it doesn’t. Is this a joke? Genuinely can’t tell. Kids will likely be a little nervous but not “very distressed”. If a school had that level of unhappiness I wouldn’t be sending my kids there.

😂

Your child may not need a home visit but the other children joining the school for the first time might. When do you suggest the teachers do those?

Staggered starts are a pain but they happen once per child. It may seem shit to have to use up 2 weeks leave for them but why would you want your child in school potentially with their teacher every morning and then sat alone with a TA every afternoon while the teachers are out doing home visits. You're going to find a lot of your annual leave is 'wasted' on 1 hours assemblies, 2 hour sports days and very short coffee mornings.

If you really can't do it talk to the school about what they can offer, don't even mention the word illegal

It’s annoying.
But
a) the kids who haven’t been at school nursery will benefit from being first in and finding their feet in a quieter space,
and
b) this year’s cohort are those who were tiny babies during the first lockdown - so likely to be another year who’ve missed out on early interventions. See a).

If you’re lucky enough to have a child ready for FT school from the off, then ask by all means if yours can join the first wave…but the whole class will likely benefit from this staggered start.

Do you think it's detrimental to your child or just an inconvenience to you... schools aren't a baby sitting service.

Well said

Like we do in secondary, visits during the summer term before they start.

I don't get annual leave of my choosing. That's kinda the problem.

Staggered starts are there for the child’s benefit, you know the child you chose to give birth to. Because children that young find full time anywhere (other then at home with mum) hard work (despite often being dumped in crèches) and so therefore it’s in THEIR best interests that they start gradually.

I've worked in many schools in my career. Some children get really upset by starting school. It's down to individual personalities and not necessarily a comment on the school setting.

Well said

Lord help you if your child gets a chronic illness, or starts school refusing if you can't deal with a few weeks of staggered starts.
Yes it's annoying but so is a room full of overwhelmed kids. It's not like the nursery they came from suddenly had 30 of them all on the same day to settle in.

Except the children who have already been in a school nursery full time and have started lessons (phonics phase 2 and early maths) during carpet sessions, will find the change in routine much more distressing then a staggered start. It is most definitely not in those children's best interest.