How long to settle in

[carbcraver]

My DD2 is due to start reception next sept. The school she will hopefully go to do half days until next week, full days for a week then it's half term!!! DD1 goes there and it was sooooo long winded and faffy! Mornings, then afternoons, then mornings with lunch, then something else and something else! Proper PITA for anyone who works.

Do children HAVE to do part time or can I request she goes full time sooner?!

You can legally insist that she goes full time from day 1 - this may however not endear you to the head/staff ??

and you would need to find out what they would do with your DD when the other children from reception are not there (eg is there an onsite nursery/pre school she could go to, or would she join Year 1?)

Thanks, there's 2 intakes, and they split each class in half and one half does mornings and the other afternoons and they alternate. So she would technically always have a class to be with!

You can legally insist that she goes full time from day 1

This is true. I teach reception and for the last few years we have got everyone in full time from the get go with parents having the option to go part time if they like to. It gives us a couple of hard weeks but now they are all fine.

So she would technically always have a class to be with!

Well, infant class size regulations apply. So she is not allowed to be in a class of over 30. If both classes are classes of thirty, she can't join the other class without having an extra qualified teacher present, I think, so it would be very expensive for the school for her to join the other class!

I wouldnt loose sleep on endearing yourself to staff, its a business there to educate your child, always put your dc first, dont worry about extra work for them,

Sorry Indole I meant she would always have her class to be with as half so mornings then the other half (of her class) do afternoons.

I am on the parent council and might bring it up at the next meeting. I was told when DD1 started that they have done shorter settling in and longer and this works well based on parent feedback.... Not sure who's feedback!!!

Oh well, that sounds like it would be OK. You should definitely ask!