How do your children start reception?

[incywincyspideragain]

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?

I am sure someone once said that legally you can ask that the school provides a full time place from the September they are due to start. But I could be wrong and clutching at straws as I do not know how we will cope with the staggered start at our village primary when dd starts there next year. It will be a nightmare for us as we both work full time and our AL will already be needed for school holidays.

The term before she started DD did 1 morning, then 1 lunch & afternoon. Then she just started full time. She was a bit tired, but it was the best way I think.

We have 3 weeks of settling in.
They go in for 1 hour on Friday but start properly on Monday
For 2 weeks half the class goes for 2.25 hours in morning and half goes in afternoon so teacher gets to know them a bit.
Then in the third week, they all come in morning for 2 days, then the third day, they stay for lunch then go home.
Then the Thursday and Friday of the 3rd week they go full time.
DS is my 4th child who has started school this way, except with my first it took 6 weeks and with my 2nd it took 4!

We're in Wales - at dd's school theoretically they can start in the nursery class the term after their third birthday - at that point they go for half days in the afternoon.

The term leading up to their fourth birthday, they move to half days in the morning.

Then, the term after they're four, they start full time (so that could be any of the three terms).

Personally, I wouldn't complain about a fortnight of half days, myself!

To be fair, though it was a total PITA, it was great for dd - she didn't really notice the transition from going to playgroup in the school hall to staying for a couple of hours in the nursery class, and by the time she got to start full time, she was desperate to go (admittedly only because she'd heard that you got pudding every day with school dinners ).

I wonder why in some schools children are too tired to cope with an afternoon, but in other schools children manage happily to do the full day?

Maybe it is schools where they have large numbers of children who have never been to any form of childcare or preschool previously do we think?

DS is due to start on Monday (rest of the school went back today) and he'll do just mornings (including lunch) for a week.

I'm quite happy with the arrangement so far. I'm changing my work hours from next week too so it'll give us both a bit of a chance to get used to things before it all kicks off properly. I wouldn't want longer than a week though, I've used up all my leave covering next week!

I think it's better for children to get them into the new routine as quickly as possible. A friend in another area has a son starting reception and he's got about a month of half days in various forms so he'll have his parents, grandparents, friends etc doing drop off and pick up. That's got to be more confusing and harder to get used to than just going in full time from pretty much the start!

DD1 starts on Monday, and she has 6 weeks of half days- 2 weeks afternoon only, 2 of mornings only, then 2 of mornings plus lunch.

I honestly don't think this is the best thing for her, I think it's going to be utterly confusing- especially as she'll have various different people taking care of her when she's not at school.

I know school isn't there for childcare, as other posters have pointed out- but there's no other childcare available for working parents during this time. Her nursery wouldn't let any reception children stay past 31st Aug, the after school club isn't open in school hours (obviously!) And I don't suppose many childminders would take on a new child for six very changeable weeks. We're lucky that we have family nearby, but if we didn't we'd probably have had to choose a school based entirely on the length of the induction.

For those who say its for the children - there have been plenty of posts by teachers on various MN threads that say it is in fact for the teachers benefit!

I think all schools should have to offer full days from the beginning with the option of just mornings for a week or two for those parents who want that. At DS1s school there was one parent who insisted on her DS just doing mornings instead of straight in and they allowed that.

DS2 started yesterday full time and was more than happy about it all, yes he'll be tired for a couple of weeks no doubt but he'll be fine, he is a summer term baby so one of the youngest but there are a few august born in his class and they were all ok.

My DD school starts taking reception children from next Wednesday - YR 1 to 6 started yesterday - based on their age. Each day 5 or 6 new children start, starting with the youngest ones first, so they can settle in with fewer people around. My DD is a November baby and is in the 4th group to start on Monday 17th. Once they've started though they're in full time, no half days etc. I've kept her in nursery next week so she will literally go from nursery to school with just the weekend in between. Very easy to organise my work hours around with only her first day taken as annual leave, although this is mostly due to me probably being a wreck!!

PFB started monday. Small school 15 intake.

Previously school did 1 week mornings until before lunch and 1 week mornings until after dinner.

This year they have gone with the parents wants/needs and have done 1 week mornings until after lunch and then normal hours.

So if you generated enough support to change your school may also go with the majority.

I did want as much of a staggered start as possible but 2 days in I'm converted and wish she was full time already.

I agree that parents should have the option of full days from the start if they feel that is right for their child, especially as the school is claiming early years funding for child from the start of term, which then means that funding is not available to use against any additional childcare that you may need to pay for. Actually I think it is disgrace that schools can do this....sigh...but then there are so many things about schools that are driving me mad this week it just makes me long for the days we home educated more and more...sigh...if only I didnt have to earn a living too LOL

My DS started full time from day 1 (with the rest of the school) - did a couple of 'taster' days the previous term to get used to the setting. Never caused any issues. Would love to have had a child that was 'exhausted' by a full day's school - I wish .

and totally agree with cupcake - everyone knows really it is not of any benefit to the majority of children but for the teacher's benefit....

I don't mind the staggered starts and am of the opinion that if it benefits the teachers/ school, it'll benefit the kids as well.
I do think it's good for the kids to have a week or two of part time days, even if they are used to nursery, as school is quite different.
I know it's a hassle for working parents though, perhaps there should be a requirement for employers to be extra understanding over this time. After all, it only happens once per child.

my ds4 started school today, origionally the school wanted them to do half days till oct half term! either mornings or afternoons!

i said NO total pita for me to be backwards and forward to the school three times a day (have two elder boys there) it is an hour at least round trip each time and ds4 has been doing full days at pre-school so will be fien and would actually be really upset at only being able to do half days.

lots of parents complained so we were then offered the choice or half days till oct, OR two weeks of part time at the start of term OR full time straight away. ds4 has started full time straight away and he ran in this morning, couldnt wait to be in school :)

if he gets too tired i will give him a day off if need be but i wasnt messing around with half days and from what i understand legally they have to offer full time from the start, but part time is ok if that is what you want.

We're in Somerset, but our school seems to drag it out for longer than most!

This week, DD1 is back, but DD2 (my Reception child) hasn't started yet. She's bored now that her sister is back at school and there's no preschool or nursery to entertain her! I'm trying to cherish the time with her, playing with Lego, running around the garden and sharing books, but after 7 weeks it's starting to wear a bit thin.

Next week, she goes from 8.50-11.30
The following week is 8.50-12.15
The week after that is 8.50-1.30
Then full time if ready. It will be October then, and we both work, so she had jolly well better be ready!!

Reddaisy it is correct that you have the right to send your child full time from the beginning and if DS1's school had tried many of the schemes above I would have exercised that right.

School isn't child care but it is where your child is reliably located for years on end. the UK is set up so child care options are full day, 8-6 or similar and before and after school which combine with school to cover similar hours. Familes without a nanny or a SAHP are unable to cover extended periods of short days. The government changes working hour requirements for lone parents once children are of school age so they clearly see "child occupation" as a service the schools are providing at this age. Plenty of posters on MN are harsh to people who have been SAHPs and want to carry on in that role after children are at school. It really isn't just the selfish parents "using" the schools. It's how the UK is.

Thedoctrine - I am glad to hear I was right about that and I will be exercising that right next September. There is no way we could afford to pay for yet more childcare or use holiday or unpaid leave and we have no family nearby to help. I will be mentioning it when I have a tour of the village school where reception children don`t start full time until October!

oh I so wish I had realised that I could insist they take DS full time from the start...sigh...
then again I am not getting very far in insisting they provide dd with the requirements set out on her statement - a legally binding document...and I can only fight so many battles at a time...