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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

Induction periods for reception children

50 replies

Chianna · 12/07/2015 21:51

Did you know that schools can't enforce induction periods for reception children and that your child is entitled to a full time place (should that be the right thing for your child) from the first day of term? Check out paragraph 58 of the office of the school adjudicators annual report for 2013-14www.gov.uk/government/publications/osa-annual-report

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Heels99 · 13/07/2015 11:59

Whilst the part time induction is frustrating for parents I can see it's beneficial for children. Mine were used to being in nursery 8-6 all day but even they benefits from a gradual introduction to school. It is designed with the kids in mind. Our school had no crying children in a reception year of 120 kids! I can't imagine insisting they go all day just to make my life easier!

Hersetta427 · 13/07/2015 15:10

Our school is in all day from day 1 anyway - no phase in at all which is much more helpful for working parents.

LuckyLopez · 13/07/2015 15:13

And if every else is following the planned induction? Yours will be the only one not picked up at lunchtime (for instance), and spend the afternoon on their own feeling forgotten?! Way to go!

ShadowFire · 13/07/2015 15:17

I thought that the intention behind induction periods was to ease the transition into school so that the kids settle in faster.

The school DS1 is going to has full days for all the kids from day 1 anyway.

Original poster

Chianna · 13/07/2015 18:03

Whilst I agree starting on day one isnt suitable for everyone, it is the right thing for my children and many others. The simple fact is that if they are not in school they will have to spend the time with a child minder they won't have met before which will be unsettling followed in short order by another unsettling period at school. I would much rather they had only one new situation to deal with!

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littlejohnnydory · 13/07/2015 20:24

There's no induction period here, full time from day one. I think it's equally important to know that parents don't legally have to send them full time until the term after they turn five.

JiltedJohnsJulie · 13/07/2015 21:11

Ours do full time from day one too.

Notfabulousatfourty · 13/07/2015 21:14

We have three weeks of phased induction.

After taking three weeks if over summer hols as well I am totally stuck as to how we will cover this.

No childcare available around here for only the three weeks and no Family to help either.

leccybill · 13/07/2015 21:15

Last year, DD had three days of half days with lunch then straight in. Wasn't too bad, we managed.

Bunnyjo · 13/07/2015 21:18

DS is going full-time from day 1. When DD started I think it was 3 days part-time and full-time the first full week.

Original poster

Chianna · 13/07/2015 21:49

Your child can also go part time until they are five. Same link clarifies this
So you basically have four options:
Go with the induction period if it works for your kids.
Start them full time on first day of term if that suits
Part time until they are five again if that is the right thing.
Deferred entry in the term after they turn five.

The link above clarifies your right to select one of those options regardless of the helpfulness or otherwise of your school. The original source is the school admissions code 2014.

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MiniSis · 13/07/2015 22:55

DS has a pain in the arse phased start! Half days then half days with lunch them finally full time on the 17th. I'm a teacher and go back on the second, new school no chance of covering it. Relying on family, mum, cousins you name it! Far more bloody disruptive. But hey ho!

WhenSheWasBadSheWasHorrid · 13/07/2015 23:04

Dd's school do one week mornings then one week afternoons - then full time.

Luckily we can put her in the attached preschool to cover the induction periods. We have to pay for this privilege though (tbh it would be a nightmare without it) - I didn't know she was entilted to a full time place

Pico2 · 13/07/2015 23:18

The schools admission code just says FT place from September, so I'm not sure where the adjudicator gets that it has to be the start of the term. Presumably most schools that do a phased start will go FT by the end of September and would claim that this is sufficient.

There was previous guidance that all pupils are entitled to 380 school sessions a year including reception pupils. So an induction with half days was only on if the sessions were made up at another time. But that guidance was changed.

We've got 1.5 weeks of half days which is ok for us as I am on maternity leave. No idea what we'll do with DD2 as we will have to be using our annual leave to cover school holidays as best we can. I'll be intrigued to see how DD1 settles into school as she is one of those who has been to nursery all day for years, so should cope with a normal length school day. She's actually turning 5 on one of the half days, so really isn't too young to cope with a whole day of school. But she'll have a good birthday.

Original poster

Chianna · 14/07/2015 06:51

The adjudicator has ruled in a number of cases about the issue and their annual report clarifies what the woolly school admissions code means by September saying at para 58 "schools must make full time provision available from the beginning of the autumn term of the year in which the child reaches compulsory school age." It then goes on to state that compulsory induction periods contravene a parent's right to full, part time or deferred entry. That means for those struggling to find childcare or being made to pay for the privilege by their school that you can insist on a full time place from day 1.

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mrz · 14/07/2015 07:18

We are full time from day one

caravanista13 · 14/07/2015 07:23

Brilliant. Schools have tried and tested induction programmes for a reason. I feel so sorry for the poor children whose needs are are over ridden by parents' selfishness

Pico2 · 14/07/2015 07:28

Caravanista - there is a wide variation in what schools do. If FT starts work for many schools, why can't others do the same?

I'm puzzled as to why schools aren't aware of their obligations.

YonicScrewdriver · 14/07/2015 07:33

Pico some schools are - mine sends a letter saying parents are entitled to the place but they recommend the phasing (which is actually minimal)

Caravanista, if it was that tried and tested, every school would do the same.

whyhasmyheadgonenumb · 14/07/2015 07:44

Our school does full time from day 1 too but in 3 phases.
The first 10 children go in the first Thursday for a week, then the second 10 the following Thursday then finally the last 10 on the 17th. My DD goes in the last phase on the 17th. The groups are allocated according to birthdays so the youngest children start last. The logic is that the older children will pick up the routines quickly and be able to show the younger children what to do so they need less help from the teachers.

I started a thread last week because my DD had a terrible drop off at the visit day and I was horrified at how she handled it, she loved it once she came out but it's affected her sleeping and general clingyness.

I'm not sure how I feel about the 3 phases but it's made clear that this won't change (a mother made a comment about how she's going to find childcare for the 2 weeks other children from reception are in school but her DS isnt simply because he happened to be slightly younger)

GraceGrape · 14/07/2015 07:54

The school is statutorily obliged to let all children start at the beginning of term. Tell them you want your child to start with the first ten if that's what you want. Point them in the direction of the above rulings if they say no.

Bunnyjo · 14/07/2015 07:56

whyhas, I think that is a shockingly bad induction period. All children should be treated fairly, regardless of their birth month.

whyhasmyheadgonenumb · 14/07/2015 08:01

I'm not sure what to do! If she goes with the first 10 and feels completely bewildered with all the kids not knowing what to do that's not good for her but if she goes with the last 10 when they are all calm and in a routine she might just slot in nicely.
There are only 3 of them that didn't go to the schools attached nursery, they all start in different weeks too.
I feel so anxious about the whole thing, am trying not to think about it.

reni1 · 14/07/2015 08:04

Induction in schools? Is that a thing? 9- 3:20 from September for all children here, never heard of trouble, why make it more complicated? Nursery settling in a 10month old, yes.

suitcaseofdreams · 14/07/2015 08:54

whyhas - sorry to hear the visit didn't go well. sounds like the school are being very inflexible :-(

we are the other way round although not with a whole week between starts - the youngest (Summer born) start first on 10th Sept, then a few days later the Spring born start (15th Sept) and finally the Autumn born on 17th Sept
my twins are March so they'll start on the 15th although the school said they were happy to be flexible on this and parents can essentially pick their start date if they prefer - I think most are just going with the suggested dates though

it's a very small village school though and there are only 19 in the class (and 50 in the school in total!) so I don't think it's going to be overwhelming anyway...

caravanista - I find your comments very insensitive. I would always put the needs of my children first but at the same time, they are very used to (and comfortable with) long days at nursery now and I see no reason why this should be any different at school. All children are different and what suits one may not suit another but at the end of the day I (and I'm sure everyone else here) just want the best for our children

whyhas - do your teachers come and do home visits before school starts? Might help put your DD's mind at rest a bit if teacher comes to see her in a familiar setting before she starts school. hope it all works out OK
x

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