Alternatives to 5 day a week school for a 4 year old

[Firecrest19]

Hello,

my 4 year old is due to start (state) primary in north London this September and my partner and I were wondering if anyone has found any alternative options to the traditional 5 day a week model?

we don’t have much extra money, although she’s a late birthday so we would get her free 30 hours for much of the academic year. She can’t stay at her current nursery though and we don’t want her to defer a year so she’d need somewhere that allowed her to keep up academically.

I only work 2 days a week so in theory could home Ed her, although would need an option for the 2 days I work and enough that is social too.

I don’t want to hold her back, but hate how restrictive the UK education system is and 4 seems so young for 5 days…

if anyone has had similar thoughts I’d love to hear your experiences.

Thank you TopKat. Yes, I completely agree about starting formal school too early here. Interesting it is my friends who are also teachers who have chosen PT and other alternative options for their children.

we will obviously be guided by our daughter and not keep her out of school if she wants to go, but if she wants a Friday at home, I really don’t buy into her missing out by not being at school. You could equally argue that by being in school 5 days a week she is missing 70% of all the many other valuable things a child can be doing when not at school.

As a teacher of almost 20 years I am a proponent of learning and socialising and opportunity, but I don’t think it’s the only thing of value and for some children there are better ways forward. it depends on the child and the family. We do a lot with our children at home and out and about as a family.

Re the afternoons, I’m not keeping her off because it’s nice to have her home- knowing her I think at the start of reception she might be happier just doing 4 days. I think she’d hate to come home middle of the day and would feel too different from the others. Also the school days are quite short compared to nursery and the school is a lot closer to our home. It’s not the length of the days that worry me, it’s the possible relentlessness of 5 days with only the weekend to decompress and be off grid socially. I think for her that would be a lot. At least to begin with.