Reception places

[Miracle29]

Hi everyone I wasnt quite sure where to post this so I hope I'm in the right place. I'm looking for some advice regarding reception places. I have a 3 year old and applied her for a nursery place at a school down the road. She does part time as we were not elidgable for funding because my partner works full time and at the moment I dont after being made redundant and apparently you both need to be working to get the fulltime. Anyway we brought a house 10 minute walk from where we were. I'd already applied for a reception place at that school before we knew we were moving so just to be safe I rang the council and asked them if that school would still be in the catchment area and they replied not really theres another school that's a 9 minute walk from where we are now and the one shes at is 16 minute walk from where we are now so I added another school on the application when changing our details. What worries me is my daughter is very shy and nervous. Its taken her ages to get used to the teachers and has little friends. Her teacher did say she doesnt like change much and does tend to get upset when doing things such as pe ect. I'm very worried that if she doenst get into the reception class there it will knock her back again. Shell be going from part time at the school she now knows to a new school, new teachers and children and full time and dinners. The school shes at is a small school so only 1 class per year and the other one is 2 classes per year. Its driving me crazy. I've spoken to her school but obviously it's out of their hands. I just think its alot for her to adjust to again I'm so worried it'll set her back. I know children are resilient and manage to bounce back but I just have this image that she'll be upset and not like it. I'm so nervous for her. Any advice will be great thankyou

She wont need to go full time until the term after her 5th birthday (Jan or Apr), but obviously would miss learning. So it is possible to ease in more gently.
There would likely be settling sessions to in jun time.

Really? I thought it was fulltime straight away in reception. Is this the same in every area? I've tried look it up on the school websites ive applied for but cant see anything. This would be abit easier to allow her to settle in for dinners ect. Thankyou

Compulsory school age for children begins at the term following their 5th birthday in England. Not sure about the rest of the U.K.
So January for children with a birthday in the autumn term, April for children with a birthday in the spring term.
It’s a bit more complicated for children with a birthday in the summer term, as starting in the term after their 5th birthday means you’ve either got to get your LA to agree a deferred Reception start or have them go straight into Year 1.
My LA mentions this on their official schools admissions guidelines on their website.

Most children do start Reception at the start of the Autumn term, and this does have its advantages, but legally, they don’t have to.

Up until your daughter reaches compulsory school age (as PureAlchemy says, that is the start of term following her 5th birthday) it is your choice whether to send her to school or not and, if you do, whether she goes full time or part time. Don't let the school tell you otherwise.

Having said that, Reception is intended to be very informal with learning through play, gently preparing the children for the more formal education that will start in Y1. Take a look at what actually goes on in Reception before making any decisions.

As far as I am aware (may not be fully accurate) I don't think schools have to allow part time in reception. Yes you can defer until the term after their birthday but don't think you can pick and choose hours. Some schools may let you, others may not.

Which is your first choice? I'm guessing the one she is at now? I think all you can do is wait really

Thankyou all for your replies. I'm probably worrying too much. I was just worried about so much change for her. Shes such a bright little girl when shes out of her shell I just don't want it set her back. Russell19 yes the one she is at is my first choice. I've been reading religiously on the other school to be prepared

Hopefully to put your mind at rest a bit, a lot of children start school in a totally new setting with all new staff and children, she wouldn't be the only one. If you pick a school with a big class size she will have more chance of making friends.

Many schools have a phased start to Reception, eg a few days of just mornings, then a few days of going home straight after lunch, before full days. You might find that this is sufficient settling in time for your DD (whichever school she ends up at).

Schools would prefer you to start full time from September as to have children coming and going and missing days is unsettling to the class, and means some children will miss part of the formal learning (phonics) which is taught in stages, with a little done each day.

Of course, as other posters have said, she doesn't have to be in school full time until compulsory school age, but unless there are serious problems and she's really not coping, it's probably worth trying her full time from the start.

Clownsandjokers this is exactly what I said when talking to her about maybe going to a new school that it is bigger so more friends and bigger yard ect.
Letitgotoruin that's what worries me sometimes now if she misses things as shes only part time but the teachers have reassured me she does just as much as the full time. If I could afford it I'd put her in full time now but the school shes at is 30 a week plus 15 dinners and though my partner works it's still alot of money since weve just brought a house that's had problems along the way weve had to pay out for it would leave us skint. When she comes home I do read with her colour and do phonics as she loves doing them so shes not missing anything I hope.

As far as I am aware (may not be fully accurate) I don't think schools have to allow part time in reception. Yes you can defer until the term after their birthday but don't think you can pick and choose hours. Some schools may let you, others may not

This is wrong. Under the Admissions Code (paragraph 2.16(c) to be precise) parents can choose to send their child to Reception part time until they reach compulsory school age. This is the parents' choice. The school has no say in the matter.

She'll be absolutely fine wherever she goes. Send her at 4, delaying her will mean that the rest of the class has bonded without her.

If you don't get your first choice be positive about where she is going. Lots of "ohhh it's a lovely school, you'll meet some lovely new friends" etc.

delaying her will mean that the rest of the class has bonded without her

I wouldn’t worry too much about that, friendships are very fluid when kids are that young, and they get a lot more time to play in Reception, which helps kids to form friendships even if they do start partway through the year.

We moved schools about halfway through the school year when DC2 was in Reception, and he settled in with the other kids very quickly.

I would obviously realistically want her in full time for one shell not be behind and I dont wnat her treaters differently because shes only part time I do sometimes feel she is with other children because I've watched her in the morning threw the window and she just seems to ponder around but she does say she plays with others. I also want to go back to work and her being part time makes that hard because dad works shift work so cant always get her and I cant rely on anyone else because they all work too.
Whattheother2catsprefer that's what I've being trying to do to get her used to the fact she might be going to a new school I dont want it be a massive shock for her. If she does get in the other one I will phone them and ask to go looka round with her so shes familiar. I have even thought about if she gets second choice maybe pulling her out of the nursery shes in now and putting her in the other nursery so she used to it for reception but I'm not sure if I can do that or even of that's the right thing to do

Have you thought about preparing her fully for the change? Would be a lot easier than going part time when everyone else is full time or changing nurseries.

There are some SEN tricks for preparing a child for school that you could use.
As soon as you are officially placed at the other school contact them and ask if they will let you do lots of little visits to acclimatise her. Going into the library once a week and reading a book for example.
Take pictures of the school, her new classroom, toilets and teacher, make a book of them and look at it and talk about it throughout the summer.

Visit at a playtime just before the summer and see what fun the reception kids are having in the playground.
My child was particularly difficult when it came to wearing a new uniform, so we introduced it gradually the term before he went to reception.
School socks one week, added school shorts the next, school shirt, jumper and bag over the course of a month. He was the best dressed nursery boy!
He didn’t bother at all when it came to the first day of reception.
Trick is to eliminate all the upcoming surprises.

Ask at the new school to help her get to know them as you would a SEN student.

I can understand your worry, but with a bit of help from you she will sail into her new school and not look back.

Isawthathaggis yes that's a good idea. I have spoken to her about it but dont want to talk about it too much just incase she does still get our first choice school but I do doubt it. As soon as I find out I'm going to ring the school an ask to look around and see what they would suggest to help her. It's just so daunting for little ones I want her to be happy where she is not get upset or be singled out. It takes her a long time to trust and settle with someone she becomes shy so fast even with people shes seen before of they speak she says away and I dont want people thinking shes just am ignorant child because I've tried everything to help her and now shes ok with the teachers and school shes at I'm just so nervous itll knock her back I'm hoping she surprises me and actually prefers the other school.