Half days September

MoreEqualPig · 2023-07-20T17:00:31+00:00

I just had an email today saying my 5 year old will be in 2h/day for the first week and 3h the second week. I presume I also can't send him to breakfast club which he is on the list for for those 2 weeks, as his start time is 30mins after the start of the school day. Do all schools do this? How do people manage with child care if both parents are working?

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Weal · 20/07/2023 18:35

Our school did something similar but it was a week of 3hrs and then a week of 4 hrs. However they offered to keep children all day if their parents needed it.

Weal · 20/07/2023 18:36

2hrs seems ridiculously short.

TheSnailAndTheWaaaail · 20/07/2023 18:39

Ours has 3 days of 1 hour/day, 3 days 2.5hours/day, a week 3 hours/day and a week 4 hours/day. They aren't in full time (9-2) until 2nd October!!

2reefsin30knots · 20/07/2023 18:42

They told you today??? That's insane.

TheYearOfSmallThings · 20/07/2023 18:44

Schools around here tried it but stopped because the children were confused and the parents hated it. Also the children had all been in nursery and weren't remotely phased by school - it just wasn't necessary.

Original poster

MoreEqualPig · 20/07/2023 18:47

@TheSnailAndTheWaaaail they are not in full-time until October?!
I had a job interview this morning if I get it I don't know what we will do those 2 weeks. He is technically Y1 age but it is a special school so the classes are mixed age.

OP posts:

Original poster

MoreEqualPig · 20/07/2023 18:50

@2reefsin30knots no mention of it prior despite meetings, transition times etc. My older son was in full-time straight away so I wasn't prepared for this.
If I don't get the job then I'll be around to do it, will just be a bit of a pain. He has been full time in nursery this year so he is used to full time hours already.

OP posts:

spanieleyes · 20/07/2023 18:53

You can insist that your child is in school full time from the start, they are entitled to full time education and blanket " part time start" policies are unlawful.

TheSnailAndTheWaaaail · 20/07/2023 18:53

MoreEqualPig · 20/07/2023 18:47

@TheSnailAndTheWaaaail they are not in full-time until October?!
I had a job interview this morning if I get it I don't know what we will do those 2 weeks. He is technically Y1 age but it is a special school so the classes are mixed age.

That is correct! I was panicking as was due back from maternity mid August and as an added complication the afterschool club won't take P1 children til October either! We were going to be out a fortune sending him to his daycare nursery instead in September but thankfully my work decided I needed to use some holiday before returning and they now don't want me back before 2nd October 😁

YourNameGoesHere · 20/07/2023 18:55

spanieleyes · 20/07/2023 18:53

You can insist that your child is in school full time from the start, they are entitled to full time education and blanket " part time start" policies are unlawful.

Yep this ^^

Additionally it's worth noting that in the past few years a large proportion of schools have done away with the staggered starts because it's actually not beneficial to children.

spanieleyes · 20/07/2023 18:58

We received a message from the local authority saying that staggered starts were not allowed. We only ever have had 2 half days but this year all the children are in full time from the start.

KeepYourHead · 20/07/2023 19:06

Lots of schools do it. We’ve found that it really helps us to get to know the children better. The 2 years that we trialled not doing it were both horrendous, so many children were upset and they didn’t settle until later in the year. It is a pain for many parents, but I do believe it’s beneficial for most of the children as does almost every teacher I’ve known.

HopelessEstateAgents · 20/07/2023 19:07

Just tell the school you're insisting on your right to a full time place, they have to comply.

Whinge · 20/07/2023 19:12

KeepYourHead · 20/07/2023 19:06

Lots of schools do it. We’ve found that it really helps us to get to know the children better. The 2 years that we trialled not doing it were both horrendous, so many children were upset and they didn’t settle until later in the year. It is a pain for many parents, but I do believe it’s beneficial for most of the children as does almost every teacher I’ve known.

From the other side it can make school transitions worse for many children.
Going in for 2 hours one day, then having lunch the next, then the following day they have to stay home, or go back to nursery or stay with another relative / childcare provider who they don't know very well because their parents have to work. It's an absolute nightmare and very distressing for many children.

Staggered starts can work well for some children, and they should be offered the choice if it suits them. But there's absolutely no need to force every child to do weeks or months of half days.

WaitingfortheTardis · 20/07/2023 19:12

Our school did similar, it worked fine for us but you can opt out if you need to.

Original poster

MoreEqualPig · 20/07/2023 19:27

@KeepYourHead
I'm sure it does help some children, and at this school half of his class started last year so it probably helps them get used to new children too. My DS is used to full-time already, and older son started school full-time, and was fine, even having just turned 4.
I wouldn't have minded as much if they hadn't let us know last minute, they never mentioned this before.

OP posts:

itsamedicalmystery · 20/07/2023 19:29

They've told you today so that you have f got time to argue, they're closing tomorrow for summer. But as PP have said, you don't have to accept it. They have to take your child full time from September.

They tried this with my DD, who had been in nursery 7am to 6pm since she was 10 months old. She was more than ready for school, and the change in routine would have caused problems. I spoke to the council regarding the transition and then emailed the school to state my plans to leave her there all day from day 1. Of course on day one, the teacher informed us all of the requirement to collect our children before lunch (11:30), so I politely reminded her that DD would be there all day, and then left. DD felt like a queen having the teacher all day to herself, and absolutely loved going for lunch with the "big kids". She knew I wouldn't be collecting her at lunch so no upset. This continued for a few days, but by day 4 there were maybe 6 or 7 kids staying. The second transition week was then scrapped altogether.

I know her school still does the transition days, but if any parent wishes to have their child there all day, the school cannot argue.

modgepodge · 20/07/2023 19:36

Whinge · 20/07/2023 19:12

From the other side it can make school transitions worse for many children.
Going in for 2 hours one day, then having lunch the next, then the following day they have to stay home, or go back to nursery or stay with another relative / childcare provider who they don't know very well because their parents have to work. It's an absolute nightmare and very distressing for many children.

Staggered starts can work well for some children, and they should be offered the choice if it suits them. But there's absolutely no need to force every child to do weeks or months of half days.

Show quote history

Exactly this 🙄 my daughter started preschool in a nursery reception unit (so basically like school) at 3.5 last year and did one half day then the next day she did breakfast club, full day, after school club. By day 3 she was fine. I really don’t feel a year later she needs a week of part days (and I feel I’ve got off lightly as her cousin has 3 weeks of half days!) she is the sort of child who will find a morning at home with granny then 2 hours in school, then a morning at home with daddy then 2 hours of school, then a morning in school followed by an afternoon play date with my friend far more confusing than just ‘right, now I go to this school instead of preschool, ok in I go’.

PensionPuzzle · 20/07/2023 19:42

I asked this of our school (I was annoyed I even had to ask, to be honest) and was told no, they'll be doing full days from day one. Perfect. She is in the preschool and some of the staff are moving up with them, although of course there will be children new to the school too.

This afternoon (!) we have been told they will be doing two short days, first day is all morning and lunch, which seems reasonable enough. But the second day they are doing two hours only, which is less than the minimum length of a preschool session! Absolutely stupid and I'm minded to do what others have suggested on similar threads which is to say no, sorry, you're obliged to provide full time education from day one so we will do the lunch finish on the first day but that's it, with so little notice. I teach so can't be flexible, no family nearby so will have to hope DP can have annual leave for the day, not the usual amount of notice they need but what can you do?

OakleyStreetisnotinChelsea · 20/07/2023 19:46

I still remember the palpable relief in the room when at the parent info session the head teacher said they were doing away with staggered starts. The child this was for is leaving primary school tomorrow.

I really don't see the need for them. Yes school is hard and tiring and not the dance as nursery so even kids who have been in nursery all day since they were tiny will find it hard but wtf are parents supposed to do? Take 2 weeks of annual leave for the staggered start so that they are left without enough leave to have a summer holiday?

modgepodge · 20/07/2023 21:01

OakleyStreetisnotinChelsea · 20/07/2023 19:46

I still remember the palpable relief in the room when at the parent info session the head teacher said they were doing away with staggered starts. The child this was for is leaving primary school tomorrow.

I really don't see the need for them. Yes school is hard and tiring and not the dance as nursery so even kids who have been in nursery all day since they were tiny will find it hard but wtf are parents supposed to do? Take 2 weeks of annual leave for the staggered start so that they are left without enough leave to have a summer holiday?

Plus there are plenty of jobs where you can’t pick your annual leave. Ironically, teaching being one of them. I always wonder, when the teacher’s child starts school, does the head allow them 3 weeks of half days so she (or he) can accommodate this? I assume not given how disruptive it would be…

PensionPuzzle · 20/07/2023 22:52

That's exactly my thoughts @modgepodge, out school cancelled wraparound the other day for a school event as well, it's like they can't conceive the idea that both parents might work in inflexible roles without family support. Which given how inflexible teaching is in term time, you'd expect a bit more awareness really!

Whinge · 21/07/2023 07:10

I teach so can't be flexible, no family nearby so will have to hope DP can have annual leave for the day, not the usual amount of notice they need but what can you do?

@PensionPuzzle Just tell school your child will be staying. There's no need to waste annual leave especially as the school said it would be full days from the start.

Whatwouldscullydo · 21/07/2023 07:21

Oh god this is still a thing?

I can honestly say it causes more problems than it solves. The worst thing you can do with a child is make everything into a huge big deal. Between faffing about with staggered starts and everyone including the neighbours dog and the postie taking the kid on their first day, and a bunch of adults invading the classroom as they have to take them in, which is supposed to be the kids " safe space " it turns what should be a simple "in you go this is what you do" into a massive event that will of course have the kids nervous and unsettled. Most have done longer days already at pre school or nursery and are fine with it.

Legally they have to allow you a full time space from day one. The option of deferring terms and half days etc already exists for anyone who feels their kids need it.

2reefsin30knots · 21/07/2023 11:00

I think as he is Y1 age, not still 4, you can just say no thank you, you want full time from the start. Or maybe one week of half days + breakfast club if you can make that work.

Sounds like he has already done transition visits, so it's not like this is transition.