Graduated starts and half days.

[shoedweller]

I went to primary school in 1980s and my mum worked part time as a teacher. She has no recollection of having to arrange child care for graduated starts for any of her 3 children or half days at ends of term etc.

Are these a new thing or is her memory failing her?

[NoBiggy]

I remember starting school at the beginning of the summer term and it was 8.50-3.30 from the start. This was 1974 btw.

DD1's reception did home visits in the first week, and started them in age order over the course of the following week. Thankfully they didn't go in for all the odd and variable hours over the first few weeks.

Early finish at the end of term, yes, remember that, 2pm sort of thing. In fact at secondary school, it was late start and early finish last day. Not much more than assembly and tidying up.

[Niecie]

I think it is quite a new thing - it didn't happen to me or my brother but then I am old (Primary school from 1971 to 1977).

I don't think we had early finishes at the end of term either - first time I came across that was at work on Christmas and New Year's Eve!

The end of term used to be marked by being able to bring one of your own toys to play with in class.

I know people have childcare issues but even though I don't, I don't like these graduated starts. DS2 started this term and being a September baby and already 5 went full time after a week. Unfortunately, the Spring born children started a week later and have 2 weeks of part time and the summer born started 2 weeks later and have 3 weeks of part time. DS is having to stay at school all day when 2/3rds of his class go home at lunchtime and he is NOT happy. He wants to come home at lunchtime too and gets quite upset.

[Hulababy]

No graduated starts when I was at scool either from what we can remember, although there was still a two intake system. I (Feb b'day) started in September, my brother (June bday) in January.

At secondary school I can remember early finishes at the end of term - by about an hour or so.

DD's school starts all the children at the same time - same first day as rest of school - and they do FT from the start. Two years ago when DD started they did half days for a week, which was a pain TBH and I couldn't see any benefit either. At DD's school they only do half days on the last days of term.

In our LEA there is still the two intake system - with those with birthdays afetr Marh starting in January. We really wanted to avoid that for DD (April birthday) as she would have been only child in her nursery class not to go in the September, and she was ready to start - was one of the reasons we chose private in the end.

[mummyclare]

I find this slightly scary after what was said recently on the thread about coping with work when they are at school. My mum didn't have to worry about half days or graduated starts. She also doesn't remember having much in the school day in the way of commitments e.g. concerts, french cafes, reading updates.

It's a shame this increase in commitments during the school day has coincided with a generation of guilty feeling mothers. Do we not have enough to feel guilty about already?

[mummyclare]

Might have to start sucking up to my mum...

[Boysboysboys]

I had half days when I started, and started the term I turned 5 rather than in September. We also finished early at the end of term. I started primary in 1974.

[frogs]

Mine have all gone full time from day 1. [smug emoticon]

[LovelyDear]

our school is half days for all reception til jan..... v tricky for working parents but the kids don't NEED school all day... in fact my dd is surprisingly tired after 3 hours.

[DontCallMeBaby]

I don't know about the 80s, but in the 70s we were older when we started school - rising 5, if not 5 already. There were no children starting school the day after their 4th birthday, and I think that's made a huge difference.

Besides, my mum can't remember how old I was when I started school, let alone what hours I did.

[LyraSilvertongue]

I was a September baby so went full time straight away (1976). I don't remember any of my classmates going home at lunchtime.
DSs are both summer babies and I'm glad they went/go part time for the first term. DS2 has just started reception and he's knackered by midday, when he comes home. He's not ready for full-time school.

[cmotdibbler]

I started school in 1977 (had been at nursery before that) and they had 3 intakes a year - you started the term you were 5. No staggered starts or part time.

When I was at infants school, my mum actually taught there, so I played on my own in the hall before and after school. Once I went to junior school, I walked myself to school and then went to an elderly neighbours after. Neither parent could ever come to any daytime school event.