Induction period for kids starting primary school reception class
Hugh Jboobs
Posts: 15,316 Forum Member
✭✭
When I was a kid starting primary school in the early 1980s, I remember going along and just starting. Full time, straight away.
The oldest of my three children is due to start school in September, so this is the first time we've experienced it as parents. But I was pretty surprised to learn of the school's "induction" period for my daughter and her class mates.
For the first week she goes in for an hour or so each day. In the second week, she goes in either a full morning or a full afternoon on three of the days. (She's off all day on the other two days). In the third week, she goes in either a full morning or a full afternoon on all five days. As of the fourth week, she's there full time.
This is set to play havoc with mine and my wife's working schedule. I work full time, my wife works three days. Our kids are in nursery on the days we are both working. So between us we'll need to take time off in those first three weeks to be around for her when she's not in school.
Besides that though, is this sort of thing really necessary? Like I said, I'm pretty sure I was just thrown straight into it and it didn't do me any harm! I'm fairly sure my daughter would cope fine with it if she was too. Is my daughter's school fairly unique in this sort of thing, or is this sort of thing the norm now?
The oldest of my three children is due to start school in September, so this is the first time we've experienced it as parents. But I was pretty surprised to learn of the school's "induction" period for my daughter and her class mates.
For the first week she goes in for an hour or so each day. In the second week, she goes in either a full morning or a full afternoon on three of the days. (She's off all day on the other two days). In the third week, she goes in either a full morning or a full afternoon on all five days. As of the fourth week, she's there full time.
This is set to play havoc with mine and my wife's working schedule. I work full time, my wife works three days. Our kids are in nursery on the days we are both working. So between us we'll need to take time off in those first three weeks to be around for her when she's not in school.
Besides that though, is this sort of thing really necessary? Like I said, I'm pretty sure I was just thrown straight into it and it didn't do me any harm! I'm fairly sure my daughter would cope fine with it if she was too. Is my daughter's school fairly unique in this sort of thing, or is this sort of thing the norm now?
0
Comments
I don't see why it would have to affect your work schedule though, does she have a minder now?
I agree with you I think it's unnecessary and don't see the harm in them being thrown straight into it. They've had 2 years at nursery before this so it won't come as too much of a shock.
I've a bloody cheeky I cried for my mum every day when I went to school for the first couple of years and I'm sure I'll be crying when my daughter starts school next year
Edit - Just read the OP again I live in Scotland so am not quite sure what reception class is. I'm referring to going into primary one where the child has previously had 2 years in nursery. If reception class is similar to nursery then I take back what I said although I still agree it is pretty disruptive.
She's at day nursery when we're working at the moment. She'll have left there once she starts school.
The work schedule issue is a minor one to be fair. Obviously, having to change things around is part of having kids! (Before anyone rushes to point that out!:D) We can get round it.
Edit to reply to edit. ;-)
Reception class is the first year of Primary school. She was 4 at the start of this (calendar) year, so starts in September. Don't know if that means it's the equivalent to Scotland's Primary One? I believe your academic years run January to December though? (Rather than September to August, as in England/Wales).
For primary school he didn't have his first day until October as they bought the children in at different stages and he missed an entire month before his group started. Totally ridiculous, I was working at this point and it was a nightmare because his daycare offered reduced prices during the summer holidays and because it was September and a new term we were having to pay more to keep him there all day.
Look for a pick up daycare near her school so you don't have to change your work routine, you just inform the daycare instead and they can do the different pick up and drop offs.
Yes that sounds about right so I totally agree with you it really seems unnecessary and if anything will cause more confusion with the different times and days. Term starts late August and ends late June.
My daughter is starting reception this September and again there's no induction period. She's been full-time at the school nursery this year though so she already knows the layout, the teachers and is used to the hours so it shouldn't be a problem for her.
Thinking back to when my son started, there was only one child who properly cried on the first day and she cried every morning for the whole of their reception year so I'm not sure if an induction period even would have helped her.
School Uniform at 4 ? Where were you Eton? I was at primary school full time from 1970ish, but before that I'd done a term of half days (seem to remember lads being jealous cos I could get home for Supercar )
School uniform at 4 i.e in reception, is normal isn't it? Actually most of the schools round here expect children in the school nursery (so age 3 and 4) to wear the uniform too.
I agree, no induction period up here either - all kids start in September full time - many of them only just turned four.
Mind you in grammar school the first years also got out 5 minutes before everyone else.
That's my memory too. I started school in 1973, i remember doing quite a few part days, going home lunch times and not going back etc.
School uniform for reception class (age 4-5) is the norm.
My daughter was younger still (Independent School).