Half or full days for ds???

[Stillhopingstillhere]

Ds is just 4. He was a few weeks prem and actually should have been the following year's intake.
He started school last Thursday doing morning only. Prior to that he was doing three mornings at preschool. We discussed with the school before him starting whether or not he could attend half days until at least the October half term.

Our reasons were mainly due to how tired he gets and unfortunately the more tired he is the less he sleeps. We have always had problems with sleep. When tired ds is extremely emotional and easily frustrated. He also develops what I would describe as 'tics' such as head shaking and arm flapping. There is a question over whether he may have dyspraxia and the symptoms of this are much much worse when he's tired.

He's come home today after his morning at school crying and howling because he didn't get a sticker. When not tired he wouldn't be unduly concerned but he's inconsolable - 'I don't think I could have been a good enough boy mommy but I tried my best' etc. There were more children in today as they staggered them in with the youngest children starting first so it may be this too.

I'm not worried about him academically or socially just about how tired he gets and unfortunately this then affects him very badly. I do understand they are all tired but it does seem to affect ds more than some others. He was awake in the night the last two nights and up earlier. He doesn't seem to switch off in the way other children can, which may or may not be dyspraxia related.. On the other hand I've started to worry that he might miss out and the other parents might think I'm mad if he comes home. The plan was to let him stop for lunch and playtime and then bring him home at 1pm.

I don't know what to do now!

Please do whatever you think is best for your child! As a Reception teacher I can promise you that in my experience it makes very little difference to how children progress either academically or socially whether they are full or part time. Also bear in mind that until a few years ago when parents were given the option of sending their children full time from September, at least haf the class would have been part time until at least January if not April. There were several children in my class last year who really struggled with tiredness and to be honest they were getting no benefit from being in school. I sent my son full time to Reception last year because he finds it very hard to make friends and socialise and I knew he needed the experience, if I hadn't felt that this was so important I would have sent him part time. As for the other parents thinking you are mad, I really don't think they would! There is nothing to stop you still arranging play dates after school if you want to, although most children really benefit from some 'down time' after school so I would keep playdates to a minimum anyway! Good luck with whatever you decide, but try and remember that you know your son best!

Thank you, I was worried he might miss something vital. It's trying to decide the lesser of two evils really.

This afternoon he has been tearful and doing mad head shaking. Obviously he won't nap and he's been quite manic. More tired causes more manic behaviour. I'm not sure what he would have got out of it if he'd been at school all afternoon. I think he might have just got into trouble a lot for not listening etc!

Hi, my DS is exactly the same, and I negotiated with the school before term started that he would only do up till 1pm for potentially the whole of reception year! We'll see how it goes, he will probably be ready to do whole days by christmas in reality, but the school were very relaxed and willing to be totally flexible. I said I would be willing to do any extra bits of work sent home so he didn't 'miss' anything and the Head just said 'oh don't worry about that in reception!' His class teacher said the same. I figure he will get the chance to get to know the other children but without the disadvantage of being tired and grumpy, and no-one seems concerned about him missing out. The school is 'good' according to ofsted and over-subscribed and popular in our area, so I trust their judgement. Do what's best for your child, so he will get the best start! :)

He really won't be missing out, in fact at reception level you may find that he goes ahead. Much of the academic stuff is done in the morning, afternoons seemed to be largely play, sometimes with p.e., music etc.

By finishing at lunchtime it is likely that he will then have the energy to do some reading with you later in the afternoon - have a look on the home ed board for ideas of other things you can do. One of mine were so tired that they couldn't do much. Maybe ask whether there are any particular activities each afternoon - e.g. music, and if he enjoys music then introduce that day first.

The school my ds is going to is in special measures, it is really really struggling. That is another thing that makes me think maybe it doesn't matter too much if he isn't there in the afternoons! It appears to be in some sort of disorganised chaos at the moment.

The TA is trying to convince me to send him full time and put him to bed earlier, he is already going at 6.30pm. He will have to go when he gets home if I send him full time!

Is yours the only one going part time kilo?

My dd1 is summer born and has just started Reception. I didn't put her in nursery, just attended playgroups and home ed groups, so I have gone for part time until January. The school were happy to be flexible, so if she wants to graduate to ft before then that is fine too.

Having taught in Reception (and above) I can tell you that phonics, reading groups, writing practice and numeracy sessions are generally done in the morning, because teachers know that children are tired in the afternoon and less likely to take in new knowledge.

I second what 3birthdaybunnies has said, there is no rush and some research does show positive outcomes in social skills and national performance indicators for children of Reception and year 2 who have been home educated (ref).

Reception is also very much about play based learning or learning best done in context, for example there is a lot of literacy and numeracy that can be done whilst shopping with you (counting, prices, coin values, reading signs and labels). Baking is great for measuring.