Starting reception-full or part time?

[Mummyrev]

Our twins start reception in September. They will be 4.5 when they start but feel more comparable with summer born peers in terms of confidence.

We have to choose whether to start full or part time in September. I'm tempted to put them in for 5 full days right from the off, thinking that it gets all the settling in and adjustment over and done with in one go. Plus I know they will be exhausted starting school and I'm not sure if coming home at lunch time a couple of days a week will make much difference.

The choice the school is giving is to start full time, mornings only or some full days and some half. Teacher led activities in the morning, TA led play in the afternoon. But whatever combination you choose you are stuck with for the whole of the first term.

What do you think?

I'm a big fan of the all-in approach BUT my DD was older - sept born - and whilst DS was younger (April) he is the year below his sister and was very ready to follow her up. And the school might say you are stuck with it, but your twins don't technically need to be in school until after Easter (presumably they turn 5 sometime in Jan-Febish?) then I don't think school are allowed to object to you saying, if really necessary, look this isn't working let's drop a day until Christmas or something.

Thanks. I had thought that I could always decide to take them out of sessions if things don't work. I'm sure the school won't mind if they aren't there in the afternoon if they are struggling.

I have a summer born (June) DS. I have decided to go for full time from the word go.
My reasoning was that I already know he can cope with a full day (he does three full days at preschool). Also, from what I gathered from looking around and chatting to the staff, reception is only a small step up from preschool in terms of intensity of teaching.
Like you I felt that starting part-time would basically lead to two settling in periods when we could get it done and dusted in one go.
I won't deny that there is also the selfish reason of cost of childcare too. However, of course if he really struggles I won't hesitate to take him back to half days until Easter.

My DD is summer born and will start full time in Sep. I am sure she will find tiring but she already does 3 school days at nursery so I thought sending her half days wouldn't work. Of course it depends on the child and whether they have been to nursery/ playgroup much or how mature they are. I've know other parents of summer borns who have said that staggered starts and half days made thier DCs feel left out because they dont stay for lunch. It can also take longer settle and form friendships. Im sure there will be tantrums going FT but knowing my DD there would be even more tantrums if she felt that she was being left out!

Reassuring to hear. And of course it will help with childcare if they are in at least 3 days a week, so it isn't just their needs I'm considering.

DD is summer born and is going full time in Sept. I she does preschool every morning and stays for lunch every day, so I figure it's only a couple of extra hours a day, and she might as well get used to it!

My DD will be 4 when starting reception, she is at the school nursery at the moment so the transition for her will be barely noticeable, but I'm choosing for her to be part time to start with. She does 3 days a week now and is tired at the end of the week and exhausted by the end of term, so I'm taking a phased approach and will go 4 days a week to start with rising to full time once she is 5.