Choosing reception children to start full time after half-term - anyone else's school do this?

[enid]

All dd1's reception year (all 11 of them) have been going mornings only until half-term. 4 of them have been chosen to do full days after half term. Dd1 isn't one of them, which is fine but...it seems a strange situation. Unfortunately her friend is going full days and has told dd1 it's because she is 'more clever' - - but also for dd1. Anyone else's primary have this policy?

As a teacher, I've been told that a child starts full time education at the beginning of the term they are 5.

So, if ur dd's birthday is btw Sep and Dec, she should be full time in the Autumn Term.

If it is btw Jan and April, she'll be full time in the Spring Term.

and if her birthday is btw May and August, then she starts school full time in the SUmmer Term.

My understanding - from talking with teachers down in Reception - is that it is only a legal requirement for full time schooling at that point!

HTH - even a tiny bit!

Also, have you asked the head about it? Sorry , I will go now

This certainly sounds unusual enid, though like Coddy I do approve of part-time schooling for tinies, and wish that had been an option for ds2's reception year.

A school near here does insist that all children go home for lunch, and they are not allowed to stay for school dinners/packed lunches until 'approved' by school to do so, and for some this will not be until the end of reception apparently!

Strange situation. My ds started full time september ( school policy, only one intake) At parents evening last nite they told me he should have a few pm off per week as is getting tired! Well im sorry but if they insist on full time then why change their mind! I cant change work for their sake! Also surely it would draw attention to my son! He was 4 at end of July! schools just make up rules as they go along!

heyeheyeyehyee roisin a grees with the fish

no schools don't just do as they plaese CMS. the suthority sets the rules, the schools just have to do as they're told. the school have now recognised that full-time is unfair to your DS. they are suggesting it for his sake not theirs, nor yours.

I haven't heard of it - but I woulds guess it is to do with how tired they think they are and how likely they are to cope with a full say. Nothing to do with clever - they pretty much play rather than anything academic any way.

feel a bit better about it now - dd does love it there so I don't want to get stroppy about it. Just think it would have been nice to have the reasons more clearly stated so that mums don't worry that their child is having difficulty adjusting - cod, agree about the sitting still/thumbs bit - dd looks tiny in her uniform (less so since the peanut butter/choc spread treatment ) and will do her good to go half days till Jan.

MRSHUGS777, i was really pleased to hear that as my dd is in nursery but will only be 4.6 when she starts reception.
If i understand your post, my dd wil have two terms before she starts full time. Good stuff

enid, glad you're feeling a bit better!

sorry Angeliz, but not necessarily; depends on your local authority

angeliz - totally depends on your LEA - and not just that, our primary is a voluntary endowed (so I believe has its 'own rules' - friends kids go to a school 2 miles away that has a completely different policy. Contact the school if you need to know. x E

Angeliz,

I'm afraid there is no standardised timing for starting full or part time Reception although they are normally full time by the time they turn 5.

To give you an example dd turns 4 next August, and is due to start Reception at beginning of September 2005. In the private school we hope to get both her and ds into she would go full time from the beginning. In the LEA schools she would go part time (most schools say mornings but one we have included 2nd in our priority list has either am or pm sessions) until probably Easter ie. the beginning of the term/holiday in which her 5th birthday falls. She doesn't legally have to be in school until Sept 2006 but would therefore miss Reception altogether and start in Year 1.

Oh right!!
Thanks everyone, that was definately a case of counting my chickens!!+