How long did it take your child to settle into reception year at school?

[greenbirdsong]

My son started reception in September. I know we're only half a term in, but he really isn't settling at all.
He's still crying when I drop him off. He's grumpy when he comes home and is having huge meltdowns. He keeps crying at night saying he has no friends and doesn't want to go. It's heartbreaking.

He used to go to preschool 3 days a week and had no issues at all. He liked going and had lots of friends.

I thought he would be fine going to school but it seems not.

The teacher says he is fine when he's at school.

Do we just need to give it more time?
Any top tips for helping with settling in?

His behaviour after school is so different, meltdowns, tantrums, crying over nothing. Usually he's a pretty chilled kid so this is new territory.
Help!
He is one of the older ones having turned 5 in September.

Could he simply be overtired OP? Our lovely Primary School always advised hot having after school activities in Reception as School is enough for them to cope with.

Have you tried a few early nights and keeping things low key at the weekend for a couple of weeks to see if things improve?

My summer born year 1 is still having meltdowns and getting upset after school, he’s just very tired when he gets home. We also get the odd day when he doesn’t want to go but he loves it once he’s there. I think it’s exhausting for them even when they’ve been in preschool.
We don’t do any organised after school activities and weekends are usually fairly quiet.

He does have a swimming lesson one day a week after school.
I think tiredness is a big factor in behaviour!

Reception children are usually exhausted after school, so he doesn’t sound unusual. I’d try dropping the swimming for a bit and seeing if that helps.

This term is brutal! It's so long and the getting dark earlier etc really affects mood. In December my kids used to get more grumpy and hyper because of the Christmas events too (nativity, Christmas fair etc ) By the time that Christmas holidays came along they were well overdue a break.

Spring and summer terms are much better ime. Lots of events at the end of summer term but somehow it was a lot easier on my kids - even when they spent afternoons in July roasting hot.

Definitely see if you can suspend the swimming or at least move it to the weekend until Easter.

And I'd go for early nights and low key weekends and see if things improve. One DF had her DD falling asleep on the sofa at 5pm every night during the first term. They are just exhausted at that age.