If your child is or did attend(ing) part time for reception

[Homeymum2]

What schedule did/do you follow, how did you approach the school about this? How receptive to this idea was the school?

My DS is very young in the year and was exhausted most of the time in reception. We agreed with his school that we would pick him up after afternoon registration on a Wednesday and take him home for a sleep. It was just enough to recharge his batteries and get him through the second part of the week.

At DS' school, all the reception children born after Feb are offered, and encouraged, to take up half days until the Spring term. So they leave just after lunch at 12.30 pm each day.

It worked well for us because eldest DS is July born and couldn't cope with full days at the start. His school leant to the other side and are a bit disapproving if you leave your 4 year old there all day, which actually isn't brilliant, because not everyone can arrange half days...

My DS (5 and now in yr 1) went mornings only until his 5th birthday which was late spring. The school told me they did their phonics in the mornings and more play based activities in the afternoon. They were fine when I requested it although a little surprised as no one else had ever done this at our school.

But it worked well for DS who is shy and struggled with full days

I didn't want mine to miss out on playtimes and lunchtimes so did 4 full days. School weren't hugely receptive and tried to discourage with comments such as "no one has ever suggested this before" and "we thinks it's your issue, you'll be surprised for well he (and you) cope". I just stuck to my guns and said that was what I wanted. Interestingly at the end of reception the initially reluctant teacher told me that it has absolutely been the right decision for my DS. You know your child, you just have to be assertive and stick to your guns if school aren't keen. Best thing I ever did.

Following with interest because I'm considering the same although I've not approached the school yet.

My little boy is born late August so was only 4 a few weeks ago and while he is loving school, it is exhausting him. This weekend he could barely function and just as he got better on Monday morning I sent him in again! It doesn't quite feel right.

I'm considering asking for him to do 3 half days 2 full. Not only for rest but also because I believe that at this age, time spent learning life-experiences from parents is crucial.

My ds was pressured to go for three afternoons a week and I wish we'd just said "no". He was knackered and hysterical and ill most of the time and it was miserable. If you feel your ds needs half time the just push for him to get it. It's better.

Those considering part time options please keep in mind that school admissions code para 2.16 c) gives you the right to do it up to the day the child turns compulsory school age (footnote page 24 same document). If your child is not CSA the child does not have to be at school and there is not legal obligation to follow any particular pattern of attendance or have school agreeing with you at all.

Our original plan had been to defer until the start of the Easter term. Starting part time in Sept was actually the schools suggestion, they felt it would be better or her to begin with the rest of her classmates than to be starting on her own once the class had settled.

She did mornings only till Chirstmas, then added an afternoon in Jan before going full time after the Feb half term. She did the occasional full day, for example when they had a visitor in the class in the afternoon.

Despite not having napped since she was about 2, the first couple of months I'd pick her up after lunch and she'd sleep for an hour or so, in that sense I'm glad we opted for a more gradual start.

The down side was that the school day is set up so any chat with the teacher, letters to go home etc are normally handled at the end of the day, so I did have to make an extra effort to keep in touch with the other parents and make sure we knew what was happening.