Letter from school re starting in Reception

[boddingtons]

So we've had our letter from the school:

Invites us to a meeting for Reception parents but doesn't say who with (presume HT who the letter is from) or how long the meeting will be (presume until school closing time so only an hour).

Says DD will do two afternoon sessions from 1pm to 3.30pm and then start full time but doesn't give a morning start time.

Encloses loads of badly photocopied bumf to be returned.

And THAT'S IT!

Is this normal? Have spoken to mums with places at other local schools who have home visits (not exactly sure I'd want one of those tbh tho) and familiarisation sessions this half term so feeling a bit shortchanged.

It's only June - give them a chance!

When is the meeting? I expect at the meeting you'll get much more information and details of possible home visits, settling-in sessions, start dates etc. If there's a school website they usually have timings for the school day, kit that's needed, home/school agreements, policy and suchlike.

I've had a bit more than you, OP, but am also getting a bit fidgety as I need to sort out childcare around all of it and DCs' nursery say they have very little space to provide extra sessions for precisely this reason - all of the schools do different things. If I need to plan to have grandparents around to help, I need to know sooner rather than later!

we have had a similar letter, also the dates of 2 mornings that ds4 can go along for a session in july, you will get more at the meeting no doubt and btw legally if you want to your child can start full time straight away in sept if you want/need them to. our school tried to say ALL children would be part time till october half term, by that they meant either 9-11:30 or 12:30-3pm for me that was a logistical nightmare, total pita, even worse for those that work! anyway lots of parents complained nad the lea got involved, they can OFFER the part time option for those that want or need it but they also have to offer full time option :)

you will get more info soon, failing that phone the school? :) and look on website for uniform requirements etc :)

I'm a year ahead of you, typical useless school letter.... Sounds familiar.

We have had a letter too and the meeting is on 4 th July and we will find out our DC start date at the meeting.

Meeting is with the HT and we have had a uniform list too.

Not sure if kids get home visits although DD had one for the nursery attached to the school and so would not expect another (or want one tbh).

How about phoning the school office, politely introduce yourself and tell them he excited DD is about starting school and do they have any more information. If you treat it like a partnership you and the school trying to do the best you can for your child it always works better than going in wiith the I've not been told about this attitude.
BTW they probably can't say how long the meeting will last, that depends on how many parents turn up and how many questions they ask.

I agree with fairyliz - either call, e-mail or pop into the office with your particular questions. I did this last year regarding the settling in period, as I too needed to sort out childcare. They were very happy to help.

Our meetin, evening one, was with the HT, deputy HT, all YR teachers and all the YR TAs.

We got all dates and times then plus various informations about practical issues.

DD herself got an invite to three playafternoons.

To be fair, I did call the school office and they gave me more info than was in the useless letter, but still no exact dates. As far as I can gather, DD will be part-time for 1-2 weeks. Probably.

I have jumped the gun and bought some uniform already as all the offers are on now and DD is diddy so I need size 3-4.

You will get the dates when you go to the meeting I assume, that is what my letter says anyway.

DD will probably take 3/4 weeks to go full time.

DD is also tiny and I have bought a few bits too although she wears a uniform for the nursery so don't need to get much, just a couple more dresses (which I have got) and proper white shirts (she gets given a tie when she "graduates" from nursery) and of course her shoes. (She will inherit her older brothers PE kit).

Well I rang them and they were lovely so I forgive them the crappy letter. My impression when I looked round was that they were very nurturing but a little disorganised and unprofessional and this has rather confirmed it. But far better than the other way round I guess. Not our preferred school but I'm sure DD will be happy there.

We got all the info on the actual morning of the induction. It gave us a start date and time and a time table to follow.

Give the school a chance! There seems to be a different starting procedure to each school. I remember DS3 starting last year, and the first couple of weeks were here, there and everywhere. Procedures for the first day might be very different to the next day - such as take in through main office door to hall, etc etc.
The school probably didn't want to put all the information in 1 letter, thinking that there will be time with parent meeting, children's trial session at new school etc, to inform via other info, or answer queries.
Look at the website as well for what will happen when all the first few weeks have gone, that will give you the 'norm'.
Breakfast clubs and after school clubs do need arranging pdq as if there are any limits on numbers, you could be on a waiting list!

Just wait until you're given 24 hours notice of the need to produce a costume for a Roald Dahl character, or 2 days notice that your dd has an assembly which you're expected to attend at 10am (without any younger siblings).

This is months and months of notice. Afraid that will be the exception and not the norm ime.