Half days reception

[theresnouseingrumpin]

My son who has high functioning autism but delayed speaking started reception this week and he's having to do half days until he settles. Not sure how I feel about this. I think it's only tor a week or so. Has anyone else gone through this and how long we're they on half days for snd did it affect learning?

Some schools do half days for some pupils all the way to half term.
If they are there in the morning it won't impact learning.
You can 'insist' he goes full time, but it may well be helping him not to be overwhelmed so if it is only a week or so, I'd roll with it.

However if everyone else is full time, and if he has been in full time nursery and coped fine, I would be less keen.

Did he go to nursery/preschool? If so and was settled there then I don't know why they would say he has to do half days if the rest of the class aren't. I'd say that is discrimination and just for their benefit not his.
I would not let this go on for more than a week. Tell them he is missing out on what the other children are doing and is entitled to a full time education - even if they just play all afternoon they will still be learning, especially social skills which is likely to be very important for him to be a part of.

There are a couple others who are also round part time

The plan is that he needs to eat lunch otherwise he won't be able to fully function until 3pm

Today was the first day that ALL reception kids saw the lunch hall and my son ate small bit but not lots. We are going to see how he gets on next week. He started on Tuesday of this week as did all the others

Yes he went nursery part time

Perhaps the lunch hall is too overwhelming. If it continues you could ask about reasonable adjustments e.g. sat at the end, sat near the door, ear defenders, going in first/last, or eating elsewhere.

As has already been posted, if you want DS to attend full time, especially as most of the year is, you can insist. The school cannot prevent that otherwise it would be an illegal exclusion.

@Thatsnotmycar I'm only going to let it go on for a couple weeks more before I say something As it is still extremely early days as he only started 4 days ago!!

But he can be a slow eater which I will mention to them also

So I'm back for an update. He done 9-12 this week and finally today ate all his dinner. Next week he will have school dinners but I'll also be taking a packed lunch in case it's needed. That's the arrangement we have decided in with his teacher. Because he has been going at 12 he hasn't yet been into the main playground so they're trialling him with that next week too to see how he gets on and so he will stay an extra 20 mins.

So a slow progression /time extension but he is improving every day and they assure me this is the best way for my child