Missing the first day of year 1

[Badoingy]

DD goes into year 1 in September. Term starts on a Friday. It's her grandma's 90th birthday party on that Friday so we're deciding whether to keep her off and start on the Monday, or skip the party...

I'd usually be fairly relaxed about missing one day of school for an important family occasion, plus I expect there will be low attendance that day anyway... On the other hand, I know that going onto year 1 is a big change, and having that first day with fewer kids in the class might really help her settle.

Wwyd?

Honestly as a primary teacher I would absolutely miss the Friday. I would imagine attendance would be low and nothing much will happen until the Monday. Yes year 1 is a big jump but in the grand scheme of things this one random Friday will make no difference.

Can’t you just leave at 3pm when school
finishes?

She had her ds when she was around 40.
He fathered a child, 5 years ago, aged 45 ?

Not that much of a stretch.

I thought it was a stretch too. I'm mid 40s and my grandma isn't even 90 yet (she's 82).

Haaa yeah my husbands mum is 87 when she’s 90 my son will be 5

Just send her on Monday. It isn’t like the first day of reception. You don’t guarantee birthdays in your 90s x

I’d go to the party. She will probably remember that forever, first day of yr1 is not THAT important, she’ll catch up and be fine.

most likely it will be an inset day. They don’t usually announce them until later on. If it is the same class with the same children it wouldn’t bother me personally, it’s only one day (I will probably get flamed for saying tha no doubt).

I’d be surprised if any year 1 class had only one day of settling in. Especially if that day was a Friday. I’d go, this isn’t an experience that will come up that often.

As a teacher I'd say the school are crazy to expect everyone back on a Friday. We always have a few missing when the first week is only 1 to 2 days - we never start on a Friday. And unless your child is highly anxious, I doubt missing the first day will be a big deal for her.

You aren't likely to get permission from school though and we ask for evidence of flights / illness etc (such as is possible!) But you won't be fined for just one day whatever they think the reason is.

As it's a 90th birthday, I'd say just go for it.

Would / could Grandma move the party a few days earlier - say the Wednesday?

Its not the greatest day to miss.

I would try to get Grandma to move the party? It's odd to have it on a Friday when grandchildren are in school. Don't make your daughter miss the first day, it will be all the settling into the new class stuff!

I am a retired KS1 teacher and I agree with every word of this. Grandma is only going to have one 90th birthday party and her DGD should be able to attend.
Missing one day at the beginning of the year really isn't going to make any difference to her Y1 experience.
Just email school and let them know.

My 4 year old has an 89 year old granny, so, all going well, when 5 will have a 90 year old granny.

Go OP, you're probably already aware that making memories with Granny is really important and time constrained. One day of school won't matter, and I say that as an ex-teacher.

I think missing first day of term and meeting teacher - finding seats - classroom stuff etc isn’t a good thing

so I would travel up after school finishes or even pic up at 2pm

we have a wedding Aug 31 Mon and term and new school year starts tue 1 so will be driving and leaving venue early Tue 1

as first day is important

It genuinely won't be, because all the children who didn't go on the Friday will settle in on the Monday and even if everyone else attends on the Friday I've never known a year 1 class only have one day of settling in.

It's quite telling that the teachers responding to the thread are pretty unanimous in saying attend the party.

Most children will go on the Friday though and so will have been given books and stuff.

Go to the party, it matters much more than 1 day of year 1, even the first day. They'll still be settling in on the Monday

Even if most go on the Friday, why would them having their books and trays and pegs make any difference. These things take up very little time of the first day and she will probably already know roughly where they will be from the class move up day they do in the summer term.

Go to party. 90th birthday is special

Go to the party

IVe been doing the same. HOw is it possible ?

Go to the party, you’ll regret missing that more than any impact missing a day of school (even the first one of the year) will have on your DD.

Go to the party. We had an 'event,' under similar circumstances, but my DC was starting a completely new school. They were fine, school were fine.

Mum or mum in law makes no difference.Also they are noth the child's grandma