Reading time with parents at school drop off - is this usual?

[Gotosleep91]

Just been on a tour ready for making applications for DD to start reception next September.

The Head said one of the 'really great' things was that from 8.40 - 9 the parents sit with their child in the classroom and spend 20 minutes reading with them. Every day in reception/year 1 and then twice a week after that.

I immediately felt sad. As both me and her Dad work outside of the home there's no way we'll be able to do this with her, and on top of that she absolutely loves reading with us! I think she'll be so sad to see us leave while other children read with their parents.

I'm sure other parents won't be able to do this either, and obviously I'm happy for the kids whose parents can stay. I guess it just feels a bit out of touch? ...or maybe I'm out of touch!?

Anyway if you have primary aged children do they do this?

My DCs' school (US) opened its doors at 7am for parents to drop off students in the extended care room, which closed at 6pm. School was 8-3. Lots of UK schools do wraparound care, breakfast clubs, etc.

And ✨most parents aren't teachers✨

FFS.

Unrealistic expectations.
No accounting for working parents.
Upsets the kids whose parents can't go.
Plus I don't want my kids with people I don't know and who aren't qualified to be educating them!

DS’ school does this. I usually end up reading to a group of kids so it’ll be fine.

I have never heard of this. I have volunteered to go in and listen to children read for an hour a week (1 hour for me, children in turns of about 10 min) and I was one of only 4 parents who did it in the whole school of about 100 kids (about 60 families).

@whydoihavetowork I can't speak for the scheme at the OPs school but the one at my daughter's primary wasn't about teaching children to read - but just enjoying and sharing books. In the younger years I "read" to several children books like Where's Wally and You Choose. One that was a mix and match book about combining fairy tales characters and plots (so for example Snow White climbs the bean stalk and defeats the wolf) - that one usually ended up with lots of giggles.
When the children were slightly older they loved books like 1000 facts about cars or the Guinness Book of Records.
(Also I'd be very impressed if you "know" all the staff that are involved with teaching your child)

Again - it's NOT mandatory!

Explain that to the 4yo who's sad that it's never her mum or dad who are there though. This stuff really matters to them at that age.

So you do what is called parenting (I know, it's an odd concept on here):-

Acknowledge the child’s feelings. You could say, “I know it feels sad when we can't be there, and it’s okay to feel upset.” Then, explain in simple terms, “We love you very much, but we have to work during that time to take care of important things for all of us, such as paying for a house to live in and buying food to eat. But we can still read together at home, and we will always make time for you whenever we can.”

Explain that there are conflicts in life and we can't always have everything we want.

They did this at DS's school once a week in Reception. They were always some parents who were unable to stay. I think every day is a bit much to be honest.

So no child gets extra support of having an adult hear them read ? Nope. My oldest is 17 and this and maths for fun has been happening since he started school. Some parents can do it once, some all the time some never.

The children learn in early years we get what we get and we don't get upset.

Ours did it once a week in one primary. They also did a bedtime read every term - evening reading session, PJ's/onesies and hot chocolate. It was lovely because parents who couldn't often make the morning reading sessions would nearly always attend the evening one. It wasn't quite the same as parents didn't always listen to their child read, but they were participating in the act of reading.

If your school doesn't already do this, maybe suggest it.

Otherwise, as long as you are listening to your child read at home, you are doing exactly what you need to be doing. Being a working parent is hard and schools aren't deliberately trying to exclude you. They just have so many working hours where they can make things work.

I used to volunteer to read once a week with a group of kids, in my DC class, but not with him.
I was DBS checked though, as were the other volunteers. I wouldn't be happy with parents in on a daily basis with no checks taking place.
I also can't imagine 30 parents in the classroom each morning reading for 20 minutes - and then twice a week until Y6 or do they stop before that?

A school I was on work experience at did that. Not sure about the younger/older ones but year 1 did "book and biscuit" once a week. If you read with your parent you could have a biscuit but if you didn't you couldn't have one. One of the girls whose mum worked always cried because she wasn't allowed a biscuit. This was a long time ago and most of the parents used to come in and do it then. I hated it and thought it was so unfair. I always read with her but the teacher still wouldn't let her have a biscuit. Naomi will be in her late twenties now but I still think of her.

My DDs reception class did this. I probably rocked up at 1 minute before 9 most days missed out on the reading time. If I did have time to go in for reading I had to leave DS alone outside his Y2 classroom, which school were happy with but I'd have rather have seen him go in (when I walked back after reading to DD the TA on the door always reassured me he'd gone in.

If you have to go to work then it's a positive that they open the classroom at 8:40, rather than 9, surely?