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Primary education

Birthdays at school - is taking in a cake "normal"

50 replies

MrsTaraPlumbing · 09/09/2013 18:31

Do most children bring in a birthday cake to share with the class if it is their birthday on a school day?
My impression is that this is very common, Dh thinks it is very rare.
What do you think?

  • Relevant to us now as our twins B'day is in just a couple of days!
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CaptainSweatPants · 09/09/2013 18:33

No people just send in huge bag of haribos or mini chocolate bars & kids take a pack home

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Panzee · 09/09/2013 18:34

Neither rare nor common, some bring cake, some bring sweets, some do neither.

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PuppyMonkey · 09/09/2013 18:34

Most bring sweets

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defineme · 09/09/2013 18:34

Not the done thing at our school. Vast majority of kids bring in 30 sweets/funsize choc bars or whatever and hand out at end of day. Never seen a cake in 7 years of primary age kids. Would be very messy/time consuming for teachers. Twins class has a birthday hat the child puts on and class sings happy birthday at morning reg-that's quite usual too.

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Pantone363 · 09/09/2013 18:36

DS got cake today. The teacher handed it out so he didn't even know who's birthday it was Hmm

Usually sweets/fun size bars. There was some competitive cup caking for a while but it seems to have died a death

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PatriciaHolm · 09/09/2013 18:36

No, not common here. Much more likely to be a some sweets or a choc bar for all. Cake would be a nightmare in a school, they wouldn't be able to cut/serve it easily, it would make a lot of mess.

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BackforGood · 09/09/2013 18:37

No - it's a pain in the bum, tbh.
Classrooms don't have a large knife to cut it with and plates or serviettes to try to catch crumbs (which are always going to go on the floor).
Then there's allergies you need to be aware of, and, quite frankly questionable hygiene from some houses - but you couldn't accept off someone then not off someone else.
Then there's healthy schools policies, or parents that just don't want them munching cake.
IME, 'taking a cake in' isn't allowed at most schools for all the above reasons, so your dh is right.

Some schools apparently still allow a bag of sweets or something, but, again, a lot don't these days. A good thing IMO too - I don't think parents should feel pressured to be sending in enough sweets to feed a class.

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Yonihadtoask · 09/09/2013 18:37

A bag of sweets used to be the norm when DS was in primary.

Cake sounds a bit messy.

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MrsTaraPlumbing · 09/09/2013 18:43

I am not planning to take cake for all those reasons! Nor sweats - yuk! Just wondered what was he norm? I know I heard mention of cake at my twins school but they are just starting in reception so still have to wait and see what other parents do.

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ReadyToOrderSir · 09/09/2013 18:58

Many schools do not allow cake (esp if homemade) if they have pupils with allergies. Multi-pack of Haribos is the norm, or the mini-choc bar / Smartie mixes.

Don't forget to allow a spare for the teacher and TAs. ;-)

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Eastpoint · 09/09/2013 19:01

We took in cupcakes/rice krispie cakes/doughnuts. Something the teachers could just give out easily. It was a nut free school & we knew who had dairy allergies/coeliac disease and so provided alternatives for those children.

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Wellthen · 09/09/2013 19:03

It isnt allowed at all at our school - cake or sweets. Sad

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OldRoan · 09/09/2013 19:03

Our rule is cakes must be a) shop bought, and b) Pre-cut. Teachers have much better stuff to do than hunt down a knife big/sharp enough, cut it up neatly and hand it out. Most bring sweets.

On the other hand, I remember always taking a cake in on my birthday, and all my friends did too. Is it generational maybe?

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GwendolineMaryLacey · 09/09/2013 19:10

Not in our school, no cake or sweets etc allowed. They suggest that the birthday child donates a book to the school library and they put a label inside with the child's name etc

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barmybunting · 09/09/2013 19:10

No cakes or sweets allowed where I teach - allergies, council policy :(

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mothersanonymous · 09/09/2013 19:11

We do it at our school - I guess it varies so best to check first.

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choceyes · 09/09/2013 19:15

No cakes or sweets at out school. They suggest fruit or dried fruit.

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HappyMummyOfOne · 09/09/2013 19:16

Sweets or mni chocolates here, unfair to expect teachers to find time to cut and serve cake.

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spanieleyes · 09/09/2013 19:42

We have cakes or sweets or nothing! There are no hard and fast rules, each to their own. I don't mind cakes, I can cut it up at break and we have cake and squash at story time. ( and as I have an odd number of children, there is usually a piece left over for me Grin However my children are old enough ( I teach yr 5/6) to know whether they can eat it or not.

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noramum · 09/09/2013 20:22

DD always comes home with sweets, ai think the teacher would like to avoid cakes, it is bad enough when they cook or bake and come home with the product.

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CMOTDibbler · 09/09/2013 20:25

No cake or sweets at DSs school thankfully

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Shakey1500 · 09/09/2013 20:26

Never heard of this tradition.

Also DS is an August born- win win!

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Periwinkle007 · 09/09/2013 20:29

most kids seem to take in sweets so people can take them home at the end of the day, up to parents if they are allowed to eat them.

personally I send in a new copy of a book I know they haven't got (check with teacher first) but which my children really like for the class to keep and enjoy.

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lougle · 09/09/2013 20:30

DD2's school (MS primary) specifically states that 'sweets should not be brought on site for any reason.'

DD1's school (Special School primary) have a class party whenever it's a child's birthday and they have cake and party food Grin

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3MenAndMe · 09/09/2013 20:34

I always buy for DS big tin of Celebrations so the kids can share before heading home...
I think cake is too cumbersome for a teacher, they have enough to do anyway.....

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