Part time reception

[eyestotheskies]

My dd is due to start school in September, I have been wondering about starting her part time as she's quite a 'young' 4yo and still a bad sleeper, I'm worried she's going to find it too exhausting.

Wondered about others experiences of part time schooling?

It is tiring, but mainly they adjust.

When DD2 started a few years back, they said to everyone to start full time, and take out for the odd afternoon if she is getting too tired.

In the first term, DD couldn't even cope with playing at the park after school, and bedtimes had to be brought forward.

No experience but I think my youngest DT is going to struggle. They don't turn four until mid Aug and while I have no worries about them keeping up academically as they are at a level with kids nearly a year older than them now, I do worry about the youngest coping with the long day (8.45am-3.20pm). I have a feeling she is going to be falling asleep in her dinner at 5pm but we have decide to just go with it and see how she copes. The teacher said sometimes in the first term they have a few kids who have a nap in the afternoon in the quiet corner so that's always an option. I wish I could have slept at school .

Thanks for reply. I'm sure she will be like your dd- dreading the tired grumpy post school child already!

The school mentioned option of pt school in a letter to all parents and since then I've been mulling it over and wondering what others experiences of it have been.

Thanks for reply. I'm sure she will be like your dd- dreading the tired grumpy post school child already!

The school mentioned option of pt school in a letter to all parents and since then I've been mulling it over and wondering what others experiences of it have been.

X posted - yes at dd's school they have a quiet corner for naps! I liked that.. Also hoping that school might finally get her to sleep though ... Aged 4...

My dd did part time this year. It wasn't offered by the school. We asked for it. They said Yes.

DD did mornings for the first half term. Then moved to 4 days - Friday off for most of the year. She's been ill quite a bit - always on a Friday strangely.

At the beginning she was very reluctant to go to school. The part time choice has meant she built up slowly at her own pace. She felt in control and not as if it was being pushed on to her.

She is now very excited about going into Year 1 and happy about it being full time.

Dd just about to leave reception and i cannot wait for it to be over to have a fresh start in year 1.
We and our G.P suspected she had asthma but was told that she wouldn't officially be diagnosed until she was 5 ( February born ) and she was, 12 days after her birthday and hasn't had a single asthma related day off since due to her change in medication.
Her attendance for the year is dire, she has picked up every bug going and has had chicken pox.
I've got to go to a meeting about it this week :(

Also my dd is such a heavy sleeper and has been a nightmare to get up most mornings ( I'm up super early and ds 13 gets up no problem )
We're always the ones running through the gates at the last second.

I would have loved part time to be honest looking back, reception has been quite intense, our school had a staggered start over 2 weeks to gradually ease them in.
Yes dd was tired but not excessively so and have found out that even with her poor sickness record she has still exceeded her targets.

I would at least consider it op.

DD did part time for the first couple of terms. She was the only one, it wasn't something which the school offered generally but it worked for us. Until around Christmas she went back to having an afternoon nap which she hadn't done for a couple of years.

Down sides were that she did miss out on some activities, most of the phonics and maths happened in the morning anyway, and by the time she started noticing that she's not done a particular art project or whatever she was ready to start full days. The teacher was very good at letting us know when they had something extra in the afternoon, visitors to the class and that sort of thing.

We also missed letters home and a chance to have a quick word with the teacher, both of which happen at the end of the day.

Have to admit it was easier with DS who started full time straight away.

I am planning on sending mine part-time in September. (4 mornings) Bit worried about him noticing the other children are staying and how he will feel about that. Also that it might affect friendships will the children be more friendly to someone who is there all the time. I am confident its the right thing for him though and its easier to negotiate increasing hours than decreasing them.

I know of a parent through a mutual friend who has a summer born YR child and he only did 4 days. Mum was off one day a week and kept her child at home with her and his younger sibling every week. Mum just said that he wouldn't be in on xxxday. School seemingly were fine with this and as far as I know he is happy, adjusted and doing just fine.

My DD went part time and it worked really well. She started doing three mornings a week and gradually built up until going full time after Easter. A few children mentioned it or asked her why she went home early, but nothing unkind and it didn't affect her making friends.

Thanks for your messages, interesting to hear how it worked for others. going to speak to the school and sort that out for her for September.