Staggered start to Reception

[sharizard]

My son is starting Reception in September. He’s already at school nursery and breakfast club and after school club for a full 0745-1800 day.

In September when they move up to reception they are doing a week of 0900-1200 days then a second week of 0900-1300 days until the third week of term when they will start doing 0900-1530.

I have no idea what I will do for childcare for the afternoons of this first two weeks. They can go to after school club I’ve been told, if I can collect them for a couple of hours and bring them back at 1530 but that will be very disruptive for them and me.

My husband is away those two weeks delivering a final project. My job can’t be done from home/remotely and is an hour away and I don’t have two weeks’ leave spare. I don’t know what to do!

My older children are in Y1 and Y3 same school and I’m sure it wasn’t like this when they moved from nursery to reception.

Is anyone else in the same situation?

Oh FFS I’ve said ‘they’ all the way through because it actually about my twins but forgot I’d tried to change a detail and wrote it was just a singleton. I’m not gender neutralising my child 😂

Your child is entitled to a full time place from day 1, and the school are claiming full time funding.

Speak to the school and explain you can't facilitate the staggered start and you wish to use your full time place.

Exactly what @cyncope says. They can't do staggered starts if you don't agree to them.

Tell the school you can’t accommodate a staggered start and are exercising your child’s right to a full time education from 5th September.

Yes same here but thankfully just 3 days as the first 2 days of term are training days (yay!).

It was the same for my son but a full week. Also annoying as they were used to full days albeit at a different setting. This time my you gest does full days at the nursery and can't then do a full day in the class next door 🙄

And I say this as a teacher. I get the reason why but also, I'm a teacher and can't take the first week of term off! His dad will have to do it.

My son is starting Primary One this year (we’re in Scotland) and we also have a staggered start. First week he is in 2 mornings and the second week it’s 5 days but 9am-12.30pm. I’ve had to take holidays to cover this as don’t have childcare to cover this. It’s a total pain in the arse so I totally understand how you’re feeling. Especially when they are already used to full days at nursery. Hope you manage to get something sorted 😊

I feel your pain, my son was part time until Easter. I was a sahm but school was an hour away so I was doing a 2 hour school run 3 times a day.

My children's school did a couple of days staggered start and that was enough. As above pp says, they are legally obliged to provide you with full time education from day 1 so just say you can't do it and they'll have to take your DC.

My daughter was in full-time nursery, but was knackered when she started reception. She’s an autumn baby so was nearly 5, but crashed out asleep at least 2 afternoons of the first week of staggered starts. Don’t underestimate how tiring school can be.

In terms of practical care, check with the school afterschool club. Our school offered wraparound care during the first 2 weeks of staggered starts.

In terms of practical care, check with the school afterschool club.

She has, she said so in her OP. The after-school club can't have the children until 3.30z