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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

Starting School - when will I get info?

18 replies

DuelingFanjo · 01/05/2015 14:10

I've put my acceptance in for my son's reception class (he's been in a private nursery so it will be a completely new school for him) and now I am wondering what happens next?

When does the school contact new parents, if indeed they do?
Do schools do a Home visit?
Do reception pupils have after school clubs?

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JewelFairies · 01/05/2015 14:22

Had this last year (also from private nursery) and got a letter in late May for a school visit for dd in June. As for after school clubs, you'd better phone the school asap to ask about this because they may have a long waiting list or use an outside agency you need to contact.

From3to2 · 01/05/2015 14:33

Hi, I asked a similar question just before allocation day and got a few responses here: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/primary/2353876-starting-details-from-allocated-school-when

It will depend on the school - I did my acceptance a few days after allocation and received a "welcome" letter from the school within the week with some outline details of some things that will happen between now and september, but no dates or home/nursery visit info tho I know they do them. For ours, all their club info is available on their website.

HTH!

bingandflop · 01/05/2015 14:33

We got a letter very soon after accepting the offer. They have invited parents to an open evening in June to explain what happens next. At this school they do home visits during the first 3 weeks of term. After school club's depend on the school but it will probably say on the schools website. Many schools do

Original poster

DuelingFanjo · 01/05/2015 15:12

yup - just called the only after school club I can find (this is not a school one - it's an outside agency) and they have a LOOONG waiting list 'because most parents put their children's name down when they are in nursery' Bum.

My question is - how do people know which after school club to reserve if they are not sure which school they will be allocated. What would have been the point me calling schools to be put on a list when I didn't know what school he was going to until last week?

The school has zilch info about the school run clubs, or at least the ones they do have do not cater for reception children.

I have emailed the school but received nothing back - guess I should call them too?

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Original poster

DuelingFanjo · 01/05/2015 15:34

I have heard back from the school though :) exciting.

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manchestermummy · 01/05/2015 16:12

Do you mean after school activity clubs, or out of school wrap around care? I think activity-type clubs don't tend to cater for reception. Also, they sometimes don't run all year.

At our school there are a good number of childminders who pick up so that's another option.

JewelFairies · 01/05/2015 16:19

No after school clubs for reception here either, no after school care, and a pick up time of 3pm. Makes my life interesting.

Original poster

DuelingFanjo · 01/05/2015 16:44

Wrap around care really. There are two which cater for kids in about 5 schools and have a long waiting list (I have recently discovered) and only 5 childminders listed on the council website who do pick-ups from the school.

I did think it was a 3pm pick up but the school contacted me and said it's 3.30. Still doesn't make it easy for me though.

I am not against childminders, but we have never had to use one and so I am not sure how easy it would be to get one for just a couple of days a week or how they would suit my son who has been in a nursery since 10 months and isn't really used to childminders. I guess we'd have a settling in period but I would so much prefer a seamless transition to school and after school care with other children he knows from school if that makes sense.

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Original poster

DuelingFanjo · 01/05/2015 16:45

I don't need breakfast clubs, just 3.30 - 5.30

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bingandflop · 01/05/2015 16:51

Do you have any family members nearby that could pick him up?

Original poster

DuelingFanjo · 01/05/2015 16:57

My mum can do one day and possibly my BIL but there are five days a week we need to cover so ideally I would like 2 days in after school care otherwise I am going to have to drop several hours in work and it's not likely my flexible working request will be accepted if I am doing part-time hours.

I'm just amazed that the provision is so rubbish in my area, or maybe it's me who is rubbish for not getting him on waiting lists before i even knew what school he would be in!

I want to be fair to my employer and not take the piss RE my flexible working request.

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manchestermummy · 01/05/2015 17:10

We've had an absolute nightmare with using family for pickups this year (school nursery, definitely no provision for that age group!) and are counting down the weeks until we can 'go it alone'.

Fwiw we started using a childminder for holidays when dd1 started school - she'd been in nursery and nursery only from 7 mo. She adapted well to the different set up. So don't rule that out - it might be your only viable option.

Original poster

DuelingFanjo · 01/05/2015 17:26

To be honest I am loathe to rely on anyone other than my mum for childcare as it needs to be rock-solid if it's going to form part of my flexible working request.

A childminder is looking increasingly likely but I am just not sure how likely it will be to find someone who will take him for just 2 days. I know nothing about how it works.

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manchestermummy · 01/05/2015 18:01

If they have vacancies it shouldn't be a problem: we only use a cm for two days. You could always ask the question?

You're definitely doing the right thing by sorting arrangements. Our arrangements have gone to pot this yea, mostly due to MIL messing us about and I cannot wait until the end of this term tbh (summer hols are all sorted!).

Mopmay · 01/05/2015 18:44

For us it was June. No home visit but yes to clubs

Mopmay · 01/05/2015 18:48

All our local schools have full wrap round 8-6 and afterschool clubs as well. Wrap round is for nursery up. We are so fortunate

OhMyActualDays · 01/05/2015 18:48

This is such a nightmare. I need out of hours care from 7.30 in the morning. No one here starts before 7.45. Can't find a childminder with vacancies that drops at this school. Only school she would have got into in the whole city, so can't change. Have booked a before and after school club place but they say they will let me know in the summer holidays. What if they say no?! I still have to work in September! School have said they will be in touch in June. Not helpful for a working parent who needs to plan ahead!

YonicScrewdriver · 01/05/2015 18:51

Childminders will often do after school care for different children on different days. Definitely contact them now!

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