Reception settling sessions

[Abernathie]

Are these compulsory?

The school we have been placed in (not any of our choices) wants my daughter to do three weeks of 1:00 till 15:00 sessions only.

I work full time and am a single mum and this is impossible to do.....

Does she have to do them?

If she is old enough to legally attend school then yes.

Many children find the first few weeks of school exhausting and overwhelming but I agree that three weeks is a very long lead in period. Is there anyone who could help out?

From what I have heard they cannot insist on this. For the first day it would probably be a good idea to have reduced hours though at least to allow her to settle.

She is 4 years and 6 months so I know we can defer her start date.....

I have zero people to help and she has been in full time nursery since 9 months so I think she will adapt to this fine, just don't know what I am going to do

Her age shouldn't matter, as she is entitled to a school place.

Can you take any time off at all?

I had to ask for DS1 to go full time earlier as I couldn't do all the settling in either. They are entitled to a place.

I think possibly a week. It's just so hard trying to hold down a job and schooling/childcare. Really had to fight for a school that fits and then they want this... I will speak to them tomorrow. Thanks for the input

There was a thread that said all children are entitled to a FT place from the beginning of the term. It linked to rulings by the Office of the Schools Adjudicator.

Are all the kids doing half days, or does it depend on dob? If it's only some of them then it shouldn't be a problem to send her full days with the autumn borns. We did this with DS as didn't see the benefit to him of being part time when many of the class were full time, given he was used to longer days at nursery.

But if it's half mornings/half afternoons, would you want her to be the only reception child there for lunch and to repeat whatever activities they're doing twice? Could you keep her in nursery the extra weeks and just let her join after the part time period? I know not ideal to be different from the others but kids joined throughout DS reception year without any bother.

Whether she's been at nursery full time or not is beside the point. She is starting at a new setting with different expectations and different people. Children will almost inevitably find that tiring. Schools want children to have a positive experience of starting school.

I agree that 3 weeks is too long, but a week is probably about right.

Presumably you have known about this part time attendance since July? Did you manage to talk to anyone about it then?

They absolutely cannot insist on this. If the School do not agree you can speak to your Local Authority, who should be able to speak to the School directly. Yes, your daughter will be very tired, and half days might be preferable - but if you have to work, then you have to work. It might be best to be as diplomatic as you can manage however….

Are you only finding out about this now? When do the sessions start - next week?

The place was offered yesterday and I found out today so it's all been a rush and stressful today

Some children are tired. Lots aren't ime, especially if they're used to nursery school.

Three weeks is way too long, and unusual these days. Talk to the school.
Keeping DC in nursery might be your only option here.

Three weeks is a very long time to put a family under stress, and give a child temporary childcare, just at the very time when it's most disadvantageous for that to be an unsettling factor.

Talk to the school, and hope they can be more realistic.

I don't suppose you have a handy granny who would spoil her rotten for three weeks, and then start her when she can do full days on a logistically possible schedule?

I think schools are just used to doing it this way, and the extended "settling in" works well for them, but they don't appreciate how unsettling and stressful it is for the child and their family.

It doesn't get much better when they're actually in full time and schools seem to imagine there is a stay at home parent at standby at all times.

I don't agree that extended settling in sessions are always in the best interests of the children. I know of some schools in our LA that have children doing part-time hours until October half-term! Frankly, that is ridiculous and incredibly unsettling for both the children and parents

There is no staggered starts/settling in sessions for DS. All reception children will start full-time on Monday, which is the first day of term in our LA. The class teacher, who also happens to be the HT, is confident that this is in the best interests of the children; all of whom she taught in nursery.

There was a thread that said all children are entitled to a FT place from the beginning of the term. It linked to rulings by the Office of the Schools Adjudicator.

All children are entitled to a full time place I believe. I know in my school we are starting children full time as default and parents have the option of doing part time if they want.
As far as I know you have every right to demand full time, I'm not sure how far it will get you though.