at the risk of sounding like I want to put dd in a workhouse.....

[dilbertina]

I'm trying to work out how to manage the old work/life balance when dd starts school in September.

I currently work 3 full days/week and dcs go to nursery. In Sept dd starts school, she is Jan b'day so her school would normally have her do mornings only til after chritmas.

I could possibly swap my days to 5 "school days" instead of 3 full ones in the longer term but I'm stuck for this term of half days. And I need to sort this out soon so I've got ds nursery place sorted for when I'll be working....

Has anyone asked if their dc could go full-time immediately against the "normal" rules? Would a school ever consider this? Do I sound awful for trying to push her in quick?

I am entirely convinced she will be fine with full days given that she is used to nursery days of far longer....not sure where to start with finding childcare for couple of hours/day for one term.....

Just trying to get sorted out what will work best for my whole family - and this first term of half days is a real issue.

How have other people coped? Any ideas?

Thanks KatyMac for the clarification. But that would mean he would be a full-time space for a very short time. What CM would reasonably want that? (I now see how my DD might be considered dangling bait!)

How do other working parents sort out the staggered start to primary school?

Are you really going to change your hours to school hours after Christmas? That would mean your younger child would be in nursery 5 days and you would have 5 days of commuting. I kept my hours at 3 days and used a before/after school and holidays childminder. Not sure what I will do when DD starts school in January. Have been thinking about two full days and two half days.

Bozza, I was thinking maybe 4 short days rather than 3 long. So I could spend late afternoons with both of them and one day with just ds.

Staying working 3 days would mean I get to see ds for the 2 other days (plus w/e of course!) but would only see dd on those 2 days when she finished school and barely at all before bedtime on the other 3.

For me personally I think I'd rather squash the hours in to 3 long days...I guess it partly hinges around how important doing pick-up every day myself is...and whether it would in fact be "quality time" after school pick-up when we're all knackered. (see I'm trying to persuade myself that sticking to 3 short days would be best!)

My boss would be ok with me doing 4 short instead of 3 long, and ideally wants me to up hours...

oh what to do.....!

Agree it is tricky. That is why I am thinking of two full days and two half days using the childminder for the two days in the holidays and either taking the time off, arranging play dates or sending to grandparents for the half days. This would save me a lot of money but also ensure I could do an extra drop off and pick up each week.