Should I refuse reception settling in days if I can?

[Jiski]

Hi,

Has anyone ever gotten their child to stay full time when it’s supposed to be a settling in day. Can you do it? How did you do it?

I’ve read on an old post that it was possible, but the link to government guidance doesn’t work and I don’t know if I just can’t find it or if it’s outdated advice now.

My son already goes to nursery full time and does lots of other activities like Squirrels and swimming so he’s used to long days. Also, I don’t think he needs to settle in as he’s been to playgroup at the school a number of times and should be in a class with 3 of his nursery friends.

FYI I don’t have any annual leave left as my annual leave year resets in November.

Thanks

I have a similar dilemma. Our school has a 3 week settling in period of shorter days (a complete mix of timings - some mornings, some afternoons, some lunchtimes)

That's ridiculous. I would get in touch with the school and explain your child will be attending full time from the start, as is their legal right. I doubt you'll be the only one.

As@ZipZapZoom has said, 3 weeks of disruption and confusion isn't a benefit to the child, and I would love to see the school try and justify such a long and drawn out start to school.

I have no skin in this game, but I find it upsetting that it seems as though starting school is becoming a battle between schools and parents.

Hopefully as more parents realise that they can say no it will become less common. I can see the point in 2 days but 3 weeks is a piss take.

It's not a battle.

Unfortunately this thread has shown that a lot of schools don't tell parents that there are other options. I think it's important to point out that just because a school wants a child to do 3 weeks of half days, it doesn't mean the parent / carer has to agree.

It’s not a battle. It’s worrying so many parents don’t seem aware of their rights to send their DC’s full time straight away and many schools are publishing staggered starts as fact regardless of whether it’s in the best interests of the children.

Many parents both work full time and don’t have spare annual leave to waste.

Indeed. The only way situations like this turn into a battle is because some schools think parents should blindly accept what they are told and when the parents rightly point out that their child is entitled to something else the school gets grumpy about it.

A school that puts the children first is not doing 3 weeks of random half days. Honestly the fact any schools still think this is reasonable is madness.

Once upon a time, when children started school in the term of their birthday, the September to end of December children started in the autumn term, the January to March ones in January and the summer birthdays after Easter.

As a teacher, it was great having a small class (full time) for a term, then increasing for the next two, but difficult to plan a curriculum in many ways. The summer birthday children missed out by having only one term in Reception.

I didn’t have any TA support, no one did.

Its a good thing that all children of that academic year can start in September, unless their parents want to defer until statutory age, but I can see how disruptive those first few weeks must be for parents trying to juggle a number of commitments.

As a teacher does your school advise parents that their DC’s can start full time from the start?

@Parker231 it was a long time ago and things will have changed considerably in the intervening years. After a short spell in primary, I taught secondary and SEND.

I don’t know what schools advise currently. My next door neighbours grandchild had a staggered start a couple of years ago, so I imagine it must vary in different authorities.

However, if parents can legally send their children to school full time from the start of term and they wish to do so, I assume they should advise the school of their intention.