If child is not of compulsory school age but is in reception class can school insist they have to attend full-time?

[mummyinred]

My DD (4) is in a reception class at state primary, she's not of compulsory school age until Sept 2008 as she has an April birthday. As she's v.tired at the moment I've told the school she will be doing 4 day weeks which they've agreed to with some resentment but asked when her birthday is and said "well she''ll have to attend full-time from the beginning of nxt yr then." If she gets tired nxt yr and doesn't legally have to be there do I have to force her to go because the school says so?

I think compulsary school age is their 5th birthday.

I think the year they turn 5 becomes compulsory and might depend on school, my local village school for instance allow part time if the child turns 5 in autumn for one term and thereafter full term.

I think it's compulsory in the term after they turn 5, so from summer term 2008 for your DD.

Sorry I maybe haven't explained it very well I know the law states that she doesn't have to attend until Sept 2008 but the school despite that are insisting she attends full time. What can they do if I reduce her days without their permission?

Sorry I maybe haven't explained it very well I know the law states that she doesn't have to attend until Sept 2008 but the school despite that are insisting she attends full time. What can they do if I reduce her days without their permission?

Whilst they can not insist that she attends school full time they can insist that she attends THEIR school full time.

The state school nurseries where I live do this. Either the children attend full time from the September after they turn 3 or they don't go at all, your choice.

(I voted with my feet and went private)

Not sure - they may have a policy where they can de-register her or offer her place to someone else on the waiting list if she doesn't attend ft.

Is it too awkward to just ask them?

Are there more positive things you could do to help with her tiredness?

Or any constructive things the school could do to help her?

The problem is that tiredness is absolutely normal when starting a full school day and the school are probably trying to get her to get used to it and adapt rather than miss out on class time.

They will also have set days and times that they do particular activities so only attending part time may mean she misses important parts of the curriculum.

mummyinred - try looking here. You may be able to get around it by stating that she is being educated elsewhere.

A friend has just been through a similar thing with her dd, but gave in under pressure from the school and the threat of losing her child's place. Appalling behaviour on school's part IMO but friend has brand new baby and no energy to argue.

Good luck!

Unless she is end of April it could yet be legal from summer term of next year ie. term after she turns 5 , but even then that needn't be full time. However I think schools can operate their own policy of it being full time but use discretion. By Easter/ September, or perhasp sooner, she may well be ready for full time so think you could offer a compromise until then. It rather depends how the day is structured as to how you might vary it. At ours dd ,as August b'day, was full time form just 4. Afternoons were purely non academic so we could have asked to take her out then but in the end she coped well and wodul ahve missed a lot of fun.

A part time palce is at the discretion of the headteacher (have just obtained one for my Sn ds3 who needs a gradual start from January), so tehrfore Head can refuse.

Your friend can deregister if such a place os refuseed and then look again at 5 BUT there is no gurantee same school would have a place

I would say, chat to Head about teh possibilities of them being a bit flexible

I honestly have to say that the tiredness is normal and they do learn to cope. I think socially it can be a disfavour to take your child out of school. My 2 summer babies (one the 28th August) are now in R & Yr1, they are ver tired, I just put them to bed earlier and didn't do any after school stuff with them. I think it may be better to collect at lunch time a couple of times per week as they tend to do the school stuff in the mornings and free play in the afternoon.

For example if they're learning letters in the mornings then your dd is potentially missing out a letter per week? My dd gets a new letter twice per week.

I know they would have to hold a place open for her if you stopped her going to school, but they may say she has to go full time.

TBH I think she would be better staying full time. Honset I would think lots of other children are equally as tired - but you could try phoning your LEA and seeing legally what the postion is there. The school may not like it because they would lose funding for her and clearly she would be missing out on the teaching side.

I think legally they have to keep the space for this school year but, if you don't take it up even part time by agreement, could refuse you entry next September into year 1 if another eligible child comes along .

I wonder if the reason the school doesn't want your dd to be part time is because the absent list is looking really bad for their statistics.

I would see if there is a problem of this nature and then see if you can get around any such problem to suit the child rather than suit school statistics.

There may not be a reason but it could possibly be something similar - if you don't ask you will never know and be able to get round it.

I didn't think absence stats applied to children below compulsory age.

Schools are still obliged to compile and report the stats for all children on roll.