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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

How do your children start reception?

69 replies

incywincyspideragain · 05/09/2012 11:17

Mine is doing almost 2 weeks of half days, ds1 was the same. It makes no sense and is an absolute nightmare for work after 6 weeks of holiday - I asked the head and he said 'we've always done it like that' I have ds3 to start next year so would like to constructively challenge this. I know every school does it differently - how does your school do it? and do you know why? has anyone ever looked into the 'best' way to start children off at school?

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vodkaanddietirnbru · 05/09/2012 11:27

we are in Scotland (North Lanarkshire) and our Primary 1's (equivalent to reception) have 1 half day and then go in the full day from day 2. They used to have half days for several weeks but it changed just before dd started school which was about 5 years ago.

Alaro · 05/09/2012 11:29

DD1 started reception on a Monday as this was the policy then that all reception children started school on a "full" week. She finished at midday on Monday and Tuesday. Wednesday a parent/grandparent/carer was invited to have lunch with DC's and then take them home. Thursday they stayed for lunch by themselves and went home at 1pm and Friday they finished at 3.15pm with the rest of the school. The following Monday they started and finished school at the same time as everyone else and had officially started school, IYSWIM. DD2 is finishing at midday for this week, and at 1pm for the next 2 weeks. Starting school full time is by discussion between you and the reception teacher. Other schools in our county have half days for entire terms! One school that I know of insists the reception children go to school for the mornings only for 1/2 a term, then the afternoons only for the other 1/2 term. How working parents cope with this I do not know. Some schools take autumn born children in full time from the first day, but I am not sure what happens to the Spring and summer borns? Again, I think this is an option which the parents of that particular school may or may not take up as they see fit. As your primary school settling in sounds very similar to what is happening at ours, it may well be a new initiative/guideline for head teachers at primary? Hopefully someone will be along to enlighten me.

wigglywoowoo · 05/09/2012 11:31

My DD started reception last year and there was no staggered starts or half days. The teacher said this was the best way as every one was new together and got used to the routine. I don't know if this is influenced by the fact that it is a single form entry school.

My dd had no problem with this but she was used to fulltime nursery etc and was one of the older ones in the year.

I agree the whole half day thing is a logistical nightmare if you work.

JoandMax · 05/09/2012 11:33

DS1 started on Monday and was straight into full days. I was worried he'd be tired, unsettled but it's been fine so far. The school said in their experience the children settled quicker if they went right into normal school hours and days.

Most of my friends kids going to different schools are having a staggered start - starting a week after rest of the school, half days for first 3 weeks etc.

Startailoforangeandgold · 05/09/2012 12:14

We got two weeks mornings - fine all the DCs had done morning pre school they were happy to get up.

Two weeks afternoons- WHY???

The DCs still get up early, but can't go to all their old morning groups. They are just playing nicely when you have to stuff lunch into them and take them to school.

Afternoons are short so you have to turn round and collect them.

It just doesn't work

kilmuir · 05/09/2012 12:18

When my older children started it was full time straight away, with last child he is finishing at midday for 3 days then full time from Monday.
would say the school are doing it for the children, not to be a pain for those who work outside the home. School is not childcare ....

Startailoforangeandgold · 05/09/2012 12:19

Oh and they split the class into two halves
So one lot did mornings first the other half afternoons and DD1 wasn't with anyone she liked.

Please schools its much much better to just start with full days.

I know you want to have smaller groups for assessment etc. but please please please stop it. It upsets everyone's routines, it's impossible for working parents and it's of no value to the children.

MrsPnut · 05/09/2012 12:23

Our school splits the classes into two halves. The first starts full time on the first day back at school and they are the kids with birthdays from September to March.
The second lot with birthdays from April to August start 10 days later, again straight into full days which means if you are using childcare then you just keep them at nursery/childminder until they start.

The idea is that the first group pick up the daily routines quickly because there is a lower child to adult ratio for the first week and then when the younger ones start they can copy the older children.

AberdeenAnxious · 05/09/2012 12:24

Ours start full days with the rest of the school. I'm really pleased they do it this was. I couldn't be doing with a phased start and I'm not sure it's great for the kids as they don't get a lot of time to settle in.

Startailoforangeandgold · 05/09/2012 12:27

School jolly well is child care!

I'm a SAHM and I'm very lucky to be one, but I don't believe schools should be allowed to sit on there smug we aren't child care cloud.

Parents should be able to reliably plan that 9-3.20 in term time, DCs will be in school.

Yes they will miss the odd day out here for snow, but in general they shouldn't mess parents about.

Also after school clubs should run reliably, if the teacher is ill find someone else. Texts at the last minute when your miles away are useless.

There is far too much reliance on the good will of other parents to collect DCs and pick up schools muddles.

Pipsqueak99 · 05/09/2012 12:32

My DS started reception today. All the children start full time (08:30 - 15:30) from day 1, with optional afterschool clubs until 17:45.

ReallyLongWorm · 05/09/2012 12:33

When DS1 started 4 years ago the youngest children went in on the weds (1st day), I think they were June-Aug kids, then the next lot Inc DS went in on the Thurs along with the original kids, then finally on the Friday the oldest started too. I presume this was to get the youngest ones in first on their own? Then the following week they were all there full time but had to come home for lunch! Finally the following week they could stay lunch.

Now, apparently those born Sept-feb go just afternoons for 2 weeks and those born march-Aug go mornings for 2 weeks! I've got 3 years until DS2 starts so it could have changed again by then!

tourdefrance · 05/09/2012 12:34

DS1 started last September. He had a set time to start on day 1 so he was individually met by the teacher. There were 10 min slots. His was at 11am. Then he stayed for the rest of the day and came in at the usual start time from day 2 onwards. Settled fine no problem.
I think having half-days would have been confusing after being used to full days at pre-school.

Knittingnovice · 05/09/2012 12:35

Ds will start ft on 12th September, his school take in the autumn term children today, the spring children on Monday and the summer babies like ds next Wednesday. He then goes 8.40 - 2.50. Others friends have children doing 1 hr for the first day, then til 12, then til after lunch, then full days, others have a week of mornings. It really varies

PuppyMonkey · 05/09/2012 12:37

Day one, full time straight away. No arsing around. Everyone happy. This is Derbyshire.

blueglue · 05/09/2012 12:37

All children full time straight away. Think it's the best way.

If necessary, there probably could be an option where children can miss 2 afternoons in the first half of the first term.

peeriebear · 05/09/2012 12:43

DD1 (now 10) had, I think, one or two half days before going in full time. DD2 (5) went in for a week of half days last year before full days. It was a right PITA and she would have been absolutely fine on full days. In fact she was sad that she didn't get to stay for lunch and use her lunchbox!

tryingtonotfeckup · 05/09/2012 12:49

Mornings or afternoons for children depending on age (youngest in the mornings) for two weeks. During those 2 weeks the children gradually start to stay for lunch as well. After 2 weeks full time for all.

The reasoning given is that it gives the children to get used to the place and routines whilst there are fewer children. They also start PE in this time, as the teacher said, she'd be mad to start with all the children at once getting them dressed / undressed. It also allows the teacher and nursery nurse to get to the know the children more quickly. It works well, my DS settled in really well and it seemed as though the other children did too.

It makes it more difficult if you are working but looking back, I'm glad they did it this way.

OverflowingMum · 05/09/2012 13:20

well DS2 is starting reception this year.
Monday was inset day
Tuesday rest of school went back, including his 3 sisters.
He gets to go for a 2 hour "visit" tomorrow.
Then he is off Friday, Mon, Tue
Then he goes from 9.00-12.30 weds, Thurs Fri.
School claim this helps the kids. Most parents think it is stupid. DS (and 90% of those starting reception) has been attending nursery at the same school for the past year, 5 mornings a week. The classroom is right next door to reception, and sometimes they join up for activities. I can see no sense in him being so staggered. He is confused already and doesn't understand why he cant be at school when his sisters are. He cant go back into the nursery class for mornings as they have new starters. Also we cant claim any funding for him to go to his old day care nursery that he used to go to in afternoons as school claims all the early years funding(even though they wont let him attend for almost 2 weeks )
In then end I have had to take 2 (out of 5) weeks annual leave, meaning less time at home with other dc in holidays which has been horrible.
I wouldn't mind so much if I could see that there was a reason for it that would benefit the kids, but it just makes no sense to me

Jenny70 · 05/09/2012 17:00

Starts a week later than rest of the school, then reception only does half days until Christmas OMG

MadameCupcake · 05/09/2012 18:06

Straight in full days for both mine (2 different schools for YR). So much easier and I do feel for the parents that have to juggle the half days, switching mornings and afternoons or half weeks. I think it is disruptive to the children, separates them from their peers if they are spring/summer term babies who have friends born in the autumn term.

It is more for the teachers than the children.

MadameCupcake · 05/09/2012 18:07

BTW there is only one state school that does this in the area, the private schools all do

picnicbasketcase · 05/09/2012 18:08

They had an induction day at the end of last term where they were in from 9.30 til 2, then when they started back this term they're straight onto full days.

MrsMiniversCharlady · 05/09/2012 18:11

The parents are given the choice about how much or little school their child does until legal school age (term after fifth birthday). At the start of each half term you are asked to fill in a form stating which sessions they will be doing (mornings, mornings plus lunch, afternoons, full days). You're asked to stick with this until the next half term unless there are major problems.

Works brilliantly as it takes into account the needs of every child eg ds1 did 3 mornings and 2 full days and built up to full time by Easter; ds2 was almost 5 when he started and did full time right from the start.

Quip · 05/09/2012 18:14

6 weeks of half days at our school. It's a little village school where R and Y1 are mixed, and I think the half days make things easier for the Y1 kids tbh.

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