Well, I suppose first you all would have to know what it is all about...anyhow, here goes...
my ds3 is going to start school in September and he will possibly be one of the youngest, as he only turns 4 in a few weeks time (hence me being possibly a bit worrired about it more then I was, say with my ds2)...!
Because the nursery that is directly attached to the school is, imo, not a particular good one and also because ds3 is a very sensitive child and he was used to his Nursery, which he visited once he had turned 2 I kept him at the Nursery which he was used too. It was a more suitable environment in my opinion. Well, he always went in the mornings and no one at school asked ask us or anything (but they did ask in the Nursery itself, which told them). However, after the Holidays he is for the first 2 weeks, when they are having their part time period in reception placed into the afternoon session, because they already have to many Kids in the morning session. Because, the children that visited the schools own nursery are basically prioritized to stay in the session time which they already did whilst in nursery(this means the afternoon group only consist of something like 7 children and about 18 are int he morning session).
And I believe that is discriminating against all the Kids that, for whatever reason, did not go to that schools nursery. These parents actually were asked if maybe they would consider to change into afternoons for that period, I was never consulted about this. And, yes, I do take issue with that.
Now, I went yesterday and spoke to the Headmistress( is that what you call a female headmaster?) about this and came out more fuming then I went in, tbh...but I hope I hid it well enough, but it gave me a sleepness night, as I was mulling over our conversation, which was NOT to succesful.
Basically I told her, that in the light of my childs young age I think it would be a bit confusing if he suddenly goes afternoons, especially as we obviously take ms in the mornings to school....she said: oh he won't even notice as he is to little, and also, that I was just going to have to tell him why he can't go in the mornings....(o.k. I thought....not a particular satisfactory answer....). She thinks it's not confusing and also really NOT that important at all.
SO, I said, but if it isn't so important, why is such great care taken to keep the children that attendet your own nursery in the same session time? She didn't really answer this question, it was more a because it's how it is...(not very satisfactory neither, imo)....So, I said, that I believe that that is discriminating against children that have not visited the schools own nursery....she denied it was discrimination and just said that, those children of course are prioritized because they are already part of the school by being in that Nursery and that all schools do that. (It's still discrimination all teh same, imo!). She then went on that, as my child is sensitive anyway, he would be better off at the smaller afternoon group as it would settle him more easily, and the teacher will have more time (and said child was at that moment hanging on me, because he was bored and wanted attention and also he picks up on my emotions and I felt very angry at that moment and she then said, I can see he needs a lot of attention....that pissed me off that little bit more) to which I said, indeed in that respect it will be nicer....however, the larger group, that already has bonded in nursery anyway , will have already have their own classgrouping and the smaller group will then have to join this larger cluster aswell as starting fulltime at the same time, so, might make that first full day more difficult....?
She went on to reassure me, how it wasn't important, and how it was only 2 weeks to which I said, possibly again, but if it isn't that important why is it so important to keep the schoolnurseries children in their timings, etc? I mean, surely it either matters or it doesn't....and if it matters then it should be respected for all children or if it doesn't matter, why not just make 2 equal sized groups anyway....and anyway, why can't they just do that and let each group experience mornings for 1 week and afternoons the other and vice versa?
I have no idea if this all made sense...but well, it really pisses me off....on many levels, probably more so, because the head of primary has a real problem with that private nursery on their grounds (she believes they are taking money from the school, by keeping children away from their nursery after they turned 3).
Not sure what I can do about it, as obviously she is turning everything around anyway, whichever way it suits her argument....should I get in touch wiht the governers, and would it make a difference at all? Is it discriminating or is it just the way it is, i.e. this happens at all schools with attached nurseries?
Well, any thoughts on this?