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Original poster

Starting school in September and my working hours..how did you prepare?

40 replies

krispykreme11 · 14/03/2011 21:44

Hello

Couple of queries that I hope you MNers can help me with and allay my fears?

1/ I work 4 days a week 9-5pm, my commute between work and school will be an hour, I'd like to pick my DD up a couple of times in the week and combine with out of hours club. Have any of you had a similar experience and what hours/ days did you end up doing? Forgive me maths is not my strong point!

2/ With her starting in September, did any of you take leave to help your child settle in?

Starting to get sleepless nights about this as I want to ensure I do my best to help make her experience go as smoothly as possible.

Thanks for your help x

OP posts:
Fiddledee · 14/03/2011 21:46

Is she going full time from September, as many reception classes only do part time for a term or two (depending on child's birthday)

WipsGlitter · 14/03/2011 21:49

I have no answer for you. But I have just been lying in the bath stressing about DS1 starting in September. He can only be dropped off at 9.00 and is to he collected at 11.30. This is useless for working parents. I now not only have the continued expense of childcare but also the stress of getting him picked up and dropped off.

candleshoe · 14/03/2011 21:49

Most reception classes are only part time till after half term and at my DCs school KS1 (age 4-7) kids can't stay to after school clubs.

Original poster
krispykreme11 · 14/03/2011 21:49

I assume she'll be going full time, she's just had a birthday. Thanks

OP posts:
candleshoe · 14/03/2011 21:50

It is a nightmare - I had to go part time until end of October.

candleshoe · 14/03/2011 21:52

My DD was oldest in class and had been in full time 8am-6pm nursery but they still wouldn't let her go full time.

Original poster
krispykreme11 · 14/03/2011 21:54

I'm still waiting for confirmation about which school she'll be going to but assumed she would be doing full days 9-3.30pm.

Jeez I can feel more sleepless nights happening if I cant put her in afterschool clubs and if she is only in half a day. Oh to win the lottery and not have to worry about thisSmile

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Original poster
krispykreme11 · 14/03/2011 21:56

Thanks for the insight candleshoe so how did that work, what hours did you do for those two months? Did you change back to your normal hours?

OP posts:
candleshoe · 14/03/2011 21:58

We ended up using another mum as a cheap illegal unregistered childminder. She collected loads of kids from school on different days and was well trusted and liked by other mums with kids in higher classes. She still looks after my DD one afternnon a week now.

candleshoe · 14/03/2011 21:59

My boss = ME! So I was able with a load of juggling and nightmare stress levels to be quite flexible for a short while.

onadietcokebreak · 14/03/2011 22:04

I thought all schools had to offer full time from this sept?

candleshoe · 14/03/2011 22:05

Well if that is true then it is about bloody time! Talk about backward anti-women policies.

onadietcokebreak · 14/03/2011 22:10

Just dud a quick google. Looks like I'm right. Will try and find a link

Original poster
krispykreme11 · 14/03/2011 22:12

I'm really hoping that it is full time as I dont know anyone locally who can pick her up and look after her after school.

How did you manage your working hours around school time and did you take leave during that first month?

Thanks for your help MNers

OP posts:
onadietcokebreak · 14/03/2011 22:13

schools admission code

BetamaxBandit · 14/03/2011 22:14

Schools round here just do one week of half days and then straight onto full days after that.

I work similar hours to you (30 a week over 4 days) but my commute is much shorter and my employers are very flexible about when I do my hours.

In Sept I'm going to do 30 hours over 5 days, with one long day when DD will go to after school club and 4 short days where I'll drop off / pick up DD.

All this is hypothetical though as I may be out of a job by Sept :(

candleshoe · 14/03/2011 22:17

"Parents can request that their child attends part-time until the child reaches compulsory school age."

Onadietcokebreak - I don't think it says anywhere that you can insist on them being full time does it? Or have I missed that?

somersetmum · 14/03/2011 22:17

Our school is a total nightmare for working parents. The Reception children (all of them, regardless of date of birth, or whether they are already used to a pre-school or nursery setting) are split into two groups.

Group 1 goes mornings only the first week, then afternoons only the second week, then mornings only the third week, then two full days the fourth week but not consecutive days.

Group 2 do the opposite, so that the classes are only half the full size for the first four weeks.

In the fifth week, the two groups are merged together, but mornings only.

In the sixth week they supposedly start full time, but they helpfully place an inset day on the Friday and the school is closed that day.

The seventh week is half term and then they finally start full time in the eighth week.

I sincerely hope your school does not have such a ridiculous pain in the arse of a headteacher a system like this.

Original poster
krispykreme11 · 14/03/2011 22:18

Thanks onadiet, this will make good bedtime reading!

OP posts:
candleshoe · 14/03/2011 22:19

That is so familiar somersetmum - are you sure you're not secretly Gloucestershire mum?

somersetmum · 14/03/2011 22:24

candleshoe definitely not. Maybe your Head is our Head's twin sister Wink

Original poster
krispykreme11 · 14/03/2011 22:24

Betam-hope you have good news with your job.

Thanks for these really useful insights into the school hour system, seems a bit crazy in some cases!

I really dont want to have to spread over 5 days as also have a toddler and with already astronomical nursery fees I'd still like to work 4 days, god knows how I'm going to have to be at pick up for 3.30, will be leaving work at 2.30pm!

All feels really complicatedSad

OP posts:
candleshoe · 14/03/2011 22:29

Sorry we haven't helped much but I hope 'forewarned is forearmed.'

onadietcokebreak · 14/03/2011 22:35

Candle it's under the four year olds section

Original poster
krispykreme11 · 14/03/2011 22:38

No all very useful, thanks candleshoe and everyone. If we put aside those initial months, does anyone have other examples of balancing working hours and school hours?

Off to bed now but looking forward to some ideas and suggestions. Really love MN for good tips/warnings that are shared! Night

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