part-time places when starting school - calling primary heads and/or teachers or parents

[marinda]

Can anyone help ? My DS is 4.8 and has started school this january (the lea operates a september or january start and due to his summer birthday he qualifies for January start). At the mo, i think 5 days full-time is too much for him and know that legally he could have started chool later in september this year - but to Year 1. Is there any system for a part-time places - say 3 days per week or morinings only does anyone know ? It just seems so much so soon. Also he does not really eat much at lunchtime so this affects any learning he does. Have any parents done this with their kids and do any heads or teacheres konw if parents can ask for part-timr places ?

Some schools break them in gently with am's then am + lunch, then all day but it is the school's choice whether to operate such a system especially with starters later in the year. You could always ask. tbh I think it is probably too early to judge if it is too much for your ds, I'd give it a few full weeks so he is in the routine and is more familiar with the other children and surroundings before you decide. Do address the eating issue in the meantime though as that will affect his concentration and energy.

A boy with special needs in DS2's class did part time last year all year (one afternoon a week), but then was held back to repeat Reception.

My DS is 4.4 and he only did mornings last term. He is shattered so far and we have nightly (and morningly) melt downs, but I think it just takes some getting used to.

I know that in our school, if you feel your little one is very tired, they don't mind if you occasionally pick them up at lunchtime, or bring them in at lunchtime.

Thanks folks for this advice - anyone else experienced half days later in the year ?

Marinda you are obviously worried about your little one settling in which is undrestandable. My ds2 has just started and is fine whilst he's there but very tired afterwards. Part time places have become less fashionable as they are impossible for working parents. You could defer his start but he will miss out on valuable foundation play and settling in. I have posted on your other thread about his lunch, I would suggest that you make sure he gets plenty of sleep, doesn't do much in the evenings after school for a while. He should be learning thorugh play so if he is happy at school which from the other thread it sounds as if he is it might be worth hanging on in there and letting him have this time to adapt and explore. It is hard without them though isn't it?

My dd2 has just started full days this week having been on mornings for a term (she's now 4.7) and she is finding it tough. In fact I brought her home at lunch time today (am part time TA in reception) as she had cried all morning. I think whenever they go full time it's hard for a few weeks then they adjust.
The Early Years Head is superb and very flexible -mine certainly isn't the first to "bunk off" the odd afternoon . In fact, dd1 had a few strategic illnesses in her first full time term because she was just too shattered and needed a day off. No one minded.

Know what you mean - but have baby at home to keep me busy anyway !!. DS has history of eating problems at times in his life bordering on eating disorder at timnes !!! though so is a bit of an exceptional case. Still find the lunch issue hard.

Yes-it is tough. I have dd3 (17 months) too so was finishing work at 12 and collecting dd3 from c/minder, going home and stuffing lunch down her,fetching dd2 at 1.20 (after lunch) then back at 3.20 for dd1. Couldn't do that for ever!
When dd3 was born dd1 was 4.9 and had a bit of a wobble with lunches. Teacher let her eat in the classroom with her for a bit so they could make sure she was eating before going out to play. Is that an option?

It's generally up to the school and their intake policy. However, there should be enough flexibility in the system to ensure that decisions are made in the best interest of the child. I've certainly had children start in Reception in January and do part time for as much as half a term, but would probably then suggest they start going full time (or be working towards full time) unless there is a Special Needs reason to do anything different.

Re. lunches. You may find that when your ds is with friends who are all eating lunches, that peer pressure comes in to play and things may improve.

Thanks littlefish - thanks helpful - do you work in a school ? Does anyone else ? 9who knows about this /) I am sooooo grateful for advice.

bump

Yes, I'm was a Reception teacher until last year (and Early years Co-ordinator).

Our intake policy is based upon the age of the children, but has the flexibility for children to either go full time earlier than the majority of their age group, or stay part time for longer than the majority of their age group. This is always based upon discussion between parents and teachers. It works most of the time, but there are, of course times when views differ!

At my school all children start in September, but children with birthdays 1st September to 31st April generally do 3 weeks of part time and then go full time. Children with birthdays 1st May - 31st August generally do half a term of part time and then go full time.

I think the best thing would be to make an appointment to talk to either the head teacher, or the Early Years Co-ordinator to talk through your concerns.

wow what a brilliant system Littlefish - what authority did you work for ?

I used to work for Worcestershire. However, each school develops their own intake policy so it isn't really down to the County.

This seems to be totally down to the school. In this area there is only one intake in September, and then the children go part-time until the term in which they turn five. For your child it would mean part-time until Summer term. Some schools will take all the children full-time earlier if the parents want it, some won't. Have you tried talking to the school about it?