DS starts school in Sept- just realised that I have been having it easy!

[cheekymonk]

Hi all,
I went to meeting at his school and was given dates for the staggered start. His 1st day is 10th Sept but afteroons only, then mornings only for a week, then mornings & lunches for a week then full-time last week in Sept!
Basically I need 2 weeks off work and am considering taking unpaid leave otherwise will be about 50 hours down in flexi and will never make it up. I want to only work when ds is at school (guilt about him being at nursery I think but a choice I feel strongly about for us as a family) so my hours will in fact reduce when he is at school as will be going from a 5 hour working day and not 6 and a half one like I have now. I only work 4 days currently so have been really shocked my hours will be less even though I will be working every week day but its only an hour less a week i guess.
The point I am getting to (slowly-I'm sorry) is what a minefield it all is. Nursery seems easy in comparison! I think it has dawned on me that yes it will be lovely not having the childcare costs, not travelling so far (nursery is 3 miles out of our way) and going to school around the corner, it brings its own problems too! Have started to look at playschemes but again, its a headache and don't plan to use them this year whilst ds adjusts to school.
In the great scheme of things a month of being a bit topsy turvy is nothing but the organisation it will take is mindblowing! DH may be able to help but he's forces so won't hold my breath.
Its just such a massive change. I think DS is ready for it, he says he is bored at nursery so I think he will adjust ok.

Anyone know what I mean/feel the same?

OK, I'll stick my neck out because you are going to find out soon enough.

It is very hard to combine work and primary school-age children without some form of childcare. It is not just these first weeks of part-time starts and finishes (and it is unusual for these to have finished by end of September, so you are lucky there). There are the 13+ weeks of holidays, inset days, assemblies, nativities, sports days etc. As an example in the next 7 school days I have a uniform sale today, a cricket match tomorrow (starting an hour before the end of school), sports day for one child on Monday afternoon, a class assembly for another child on Weds morning and a swimming gala on Thursday afternoon. There is also a cricket match next Friday but I won't know if ds1 is playing until Wednesday. And that is assuming that your child is never ill.

Many women manage to work whilst their children are under 5, as actually childcare is available to suit this age group. But I think that a significant number of women do end up giving up work or significantly cutting their hours when their children start school, unless they have a large enough family to continue to justify a nanny or equivalent. Or they opt for an au pair. But I don't know of any working mothers who manage without childcare.

You don't say how you are going to avoid playschemes this year, but I think that you do need to think about that now, because those holidays are going to come round quickly. And if for example you were going to opt for a childminder for holidays then you might find it better to use a childminder for some hours during the week too? I find the term "chuck in childcare" an interesting one, and it may be worth you having a thorough exploration of all childcare options available to you.

Sorry that your boss has been so negative though.

Thanks Ladymuck, that is helpful. I was thinking on the way to work, perhaps I sound hypocritical in that nursery has been good enough for the last 4 years but suddenly I don't want to consider childcare. I don't intend to sound that way and am fully aware that I will need to use holiday playschemes for the Summer holidays and probably Easter too.
It was employers I was getting at and the government attitude, not parents themselves. It should be all about choice and I am not sure that it is.
Your message has hit home actually and I am being a bit naive and complacent aren't I? I will give it further thought...
Thank you

I think the staggered start business is loopy. Here in France I have never heard of a school doing anything more than have a week of staggered first days back, with each first day back being a shorter than normal day. This is so more staff can be available in the classroom on the first day to show the children around their new environment (coat hooks, loo, where stuff is stored etc). It works fine IMVHO - and children go to all day school from age 3 here.

Message withdrawn

Yes but our school keeps a couple kids back each afternoon to do baseline assessments to help get reading levels etc right. so there are some pro's too. But keeping the groups kept back small you can see how a child performs without the envitable distractions that occur in a whole class situation.

IME it's easier to go to work as a parent of pre-schoolers than with school aged children.

Apart from all the fannying around with staggered hours and starts, there are inset days (usually either side of half terms), sports days, school plays, seasonal events, trips and of course the long holidays.

Of course as a parent you tend to want to be involved in your child(ren)s school life but trying to work and fit it all in is nigh on impossible. You either need the most flexible job in the universe, a very understanding and accommodating boss or a nanny.