Starting primary - Staggering vs Full-time from day 1 - dilemma

[yummymum01]

I have a dilemma - my son will be 4yr 2mo when he starts school this week.

The school is taking in 60 new starters (a record year) and they have a policy of starting them all at the same time, on the same day, full time i.e 9am - 3pm, from day one.

I feel uncomfortable about this. My son has only ever been to preschool for half a day. And is an only child, so not overly confident with his peers, but holds his own.

I have tried to prepare him as much as possible - bought 'going to school' story books, made it sound exciting etc.. i've even been giving him his lunch in his new lunch box!

But I'm worried that dropping him in at the deep end, or so to speak, for such long days, with a bunch of strangers will be traumatic for him (he knows none of the children - we couldn't get him into the school with his friends). He met his teacher once at a play session. The teacher that came to visit was a fill-in so not much help really.

We had a problem with him at preschool in the fact that if he got upset it would come out as anger and not tears. His carers had no sympathy for his sobs as no tears came out and he was branded as just having a temper.

I'm thinking about calling the school on Monday, before the Wednesday start. I don't like to rock the boat - I normally run a mile from confrontation - but I feel in this case, as he is so young and unaccustomed to being away from home for such a long time, we should be able to request that he attends part-time, if only for a while so that he can 'get used' to being there.

Any advice? Anyone been in the same situation? I'm trying to be positive, but i know my son, and I know he'll find it hard.

Everyone else I seem to speak to who are sending their kids to other schools, are sending them for half days (not even lunch) for the first week or so.

Thanks for reading (sorry for babbling on).
A worried mum xx
:)

[cjbartlett]

She was fine thanks
Itching to go back tomorrow
Good luck t

[cjbartlett]

Oops good luck tomorrow, I hope they don't kick up a stink
Will preschool / nursery let him stay on?

[GloriaVanderbilt]

Oh well done!!! I'm really pleased for you both.

Have had a lovely reply from reception teacher and she's great about it.
There may be a stink about the other thing but it seems paretns are kicking it up, as HT has now emailed twice explaining the same thing...apparently it has caused 'some confusion' well it would you silly witch, the way you handled it...

happy days

[cjbartlett]

Oops

That's funny!

Glad the reception teacher is nice