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Original poster

Dd starting high school in a week. Last minute panicking- Do we provide the text books? A few other questions...

38 replies

NewDirectionNeeded · 28/08/2018 09:45

Hi,

This might sound like a ridiculous question, given how little time we have left, but I've concentrated so much on her emotional well-being, I've forgotten about the more practical things, such as what she needs to take! Confused

She has lots of autistic traits and has yet to make friends, so I don't have any mum friends I can ask these kind of questions. We've been working so hard on her attitude, her anxiety etc, that I just didn't think about those (very important) things.

Oh and also, school bags- what's trendy right now? I don't have a fortune to spend, but I want to get her something she feels good wearing, but is also practical. I know bags can be a 'thing'.

Pencil cases- what do they need? I.e should they have a calculator (she's never used one), all the art pencils etc? Or is this something they build up as they go along?

Thanks so much.

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 28/08/2018 09:50

Dd uses a backpack as does ds. They both have pencil cases with pencils, pens, ruler, rubber, sharpener, etc plus a scientific calculator. I got them a few of those plastic A4 wallets to keep jotters in too

Original poster
NewDirectionNeeded · 28/08/2018 09:54

Thanks pixie

Any specific make which seems to be popular? Super dry etc?

What about texts books? Do school provide those when they start?

OP posts:
SassitudeandSparkle · 28/08/2018 09:54

We have a list of items needed from the school, do you have anything like that? It may be hidden in any booklet/paperwork the child received on a taster day!

Basically pens, pencils, ruler, maths set, dictionary and a four-function calculator to start with, in our case.

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cloudtree · 28/08/2018 09:56

With bags and pencil cases Hype is very popular.

I'd ring the school and ask about calculators. Our school needs them all to have the same scientific calculator since they have lessons on how to use it.

Text books would be provided by the school ordinarily.

fussygalore118 · 28/08/2018 09:59

Hype are the bags most if the kids in my daughter yr have... x

Hoppinggreen · 28/08/2018 10:00

No Smiggle, it’s social suicide!

BarbaraofSevillle · 28/08/2018 10:05

As far as books, calculators, stationery is concerned, I would ask the school in case you need to provide specific ones, as all schools will be different in what they expect you to provide and what type.

Has she already been for any kind of orientation? My nephew is starting secondary school this year, and he spent a week and a bit there in July, so has already had the experience of finding his way around and lists of what to provide (PE kit, calculator type etc).

12cuckoocuckoo · 28/08/2018 10:11

At my school (although others will be different) they would be expected to have pens, pencil, ruler, rubber, sharpener and a scientific calculator.

No text books needed or work books as they would all be provided by us. As would art equipment etc. Although pencil crayons can be useful.

Appropriate PE kit when timetabled.

ChateauRouge · 28/08/2018 10:14

Which country are you in? If you're in England, it's unlikely you'll need to provide textbooks, certainly not in the first week. FWIW, with all the new courses, most textbooks are useless atm.

Stationery- not too expensive, so she won't stress if others"borrow" things. Bag- backpack eg Hype, superdry, etc.
No Smiggle!
School really should have given a list- could you have a look in their website, under the parents bit? Might be a basics list.
The main things for a smooth transition:
Does your child know where to get on/off the bus?
Have they somewhere safe to keep their pass (make sure it's always the same place so they don't have to rummage)
Do they have a named adult at school (form teacher, pastoral support, send support) so they have someone they can speak to if it's all going to pot?
Do they know what time things happen, i.e. lunch, start of day, hometime etc.?

Don't worry about the friends thing so much- does your child know how to be a friend (smile, listen, be kind)? Everyone will be making new friends, there'll be someone that wants to hang out, that shares an interest.

cloudtree · 28/08/2018 10:15

Schools will vary with what is cool or 'social suicide" re pencil cases I think. Ds1 (not particularly one of the cool kids) had smiggle (but a black one) in year 7 and 8 and lots of others did too. He's switched to Hype for year 9.

DS2 (definitely one of the 'cool kids') is just starting Year 7 and has smiggle (although was very tempted by the Hype cosmic cats).

SassitudeandSparkle · 28/08/2018 10:21

Hype backpacks were starting to appear in the last year of primary, so I was aiming for Hype or Superdry and trying to steer my DD away from Smiggle for secondary tbh. But we haven't bought a bag yet. So I may be eating my words in a week's time Grin

We have said to let us know if anyone takes the mickey out of equipment, etc, as we want her to fit in and may be able to help. It is a worry Sad

HighwayDragon1 · 28/08/2018 10:23

Adidas, hype or fjallraven kanken
Pencil case, pencils, pens, colours, highlighters (green, pink and yellow) glue stick, maths set (compass, protractor a must) scientific calculator (Casio best) ruler

Original poster
NewDirectionNeeded · 28/08/2018 10:39

Thank you everyone! This is all really useful and has put my mind at rest a bit.

Regarding the Hype bags, I just showed my dd a selection and she loves them and has seen them before. She's particularly drawn to the galaxy one, but I think it looks a bit loud. There are loads of metallic ones too, which I would have loved at her age, but again, not sure they're not a bit ott for school.... Would a black one be the safest?

OP posts:
ChateauRouge · 28/08/2018 10:42

The galaxy one is gorgeous Envy
Don't worry too much about colour, let her get one she likes and can recognise as hers.

cloudtree · 28/08/2018 10:44

Galaxy is cool and very obviously Hype (which might help if she's worried about fitting in)

gigglingHyena · 28/08/2018 10:52

Thanks to this I have remembered to top up DDs catering card balance. They have the option to buy a drink/snack at break time too, so even when she was taking packed lunches we found it helpful to have a small amount on there.

Have a hunt round your school website, ours has a list of what they are expected to bring in each day, calculator brand etc. but it takes a bit of finding.

We didn't have to buy any books before they started but have had occasional requests to buy odd ones here and there as time has gone on. All have been through the school so they know everyone has the same edition.

Big one here has been a set place to keep books they don't need on any given day. I realised DD was just keeping everything in her bag as she was so worried about forgetting something.

A spare pencil case/set of equipment for homework is not essential but means she can leave her main bag packed and again not be worried in the morning about making sure she has everything.

cece · 28/08/2018 10:59

It all depends on the school.

Dd's school they all seem to have fake Michael Kors handbags.

Dd's school there is a variety. Quite a few hype. He's now got an under armour rucksack for year 10

AngkorWaat · 28/08/2018 11:10

I’ve got my DD together some pens (including red/green), pencils, eraser, sharpener, protractor, ruler and compass. Also some colouring pencils and a pritt stick on request of our school. Tippex can either be required or banned so that might be worth a check with school. Also a scientific calculator from Tesco that hopefully is similar to everyone else’s.

I’m sending her in with an A4 writing pad, but I’m assuming they’ll be given workbooks to write in instead.

Our school has made us buy an art pack with everything in they will need for art (can’t remember what’s in it!) We need an apron for food/tech classes too.

We’ve set aside an area for her books, and for the first few weeks I’m planning on helping her with working out what she needs each day to ease her in.

Good luck to your DD. It’s suprisingly anxiety inducing, isn’t it?

cloudtree · 28/08/2018 11:17

DS2 spent some time last week setting up his desk area with everything he will need. I think he quite liked getting organised.

Ive also bought him a pin board, some folders and dividers and some record cards for language vocab.

DontCallMeBaby · 28/08/2018 11:24

DD’s school offered a maths pack before starting - protractor, two set squares, compass, ruler, erasers, pens, pencils, and a calculator. Pretty sure the calculator is a Casio FX-85 (logic - that one comes in pink, and I was hoping not to have to talk her out of pink, but it can’t be the Plus version as that’s a tenner by itself). They seem to be a common school calculator. She’s gone through numerous rulers (folding ones are good for fitting a 30cm ruler in a pencil case, but fragile).

PE kit in something cool but vaguely distinctive. Miraculously DD has never lost hers, but her bag is THE most common culprit when parents appeal on the Facebook group because their child has switched kit by mistake (Adidas three-stripe black drawstring).

This year’s main bag (year 10) is Hype, first one I’ve agreed to pay for since year 7 as she’s made so many stupid purchases.

SassitudeandSparkle · 28/08/2018 11:26

Some of the Y6's last year had the metallic Hype backpacks, that's where I first noticed them tbh.

ScoutAtticus · 28/08/2018 11:27

Unless the school have specified it, I doubt you need to buy the text books. My dd has a hype bag and I think they are very well made. I've been told to get her a plastic sports direct bag for her sports kit. Hmm I also got dd a hype pack coat which she wore loads.

ScoutAtticus · 28/08/2018 11:28

I meant black coat

GreenTulips · 28/08/2018 11:35

Don't buy a black bag as everyone has those

DS had the galaxy one and others put their bags close to his so they could find theirs!! He also had a Under Amour drawstring bag (they are brilliant) in red so he could spit his amongst the sea of black

Photograph her time table so you both have a copy

See if there's a Y7 FB page or friends page

Make sure she has a few ££ on her at all times for cake sales or money for extras needed in class (for example containers in cooking)

Do they use lunch cards? Top that up regularly

Minimonkeysmum · 28/08/2018 11:40

There's a Mumsnet discount on hype bags too, which might help! 🙂 www.mumsnet.com/style-and-beauty/just-hype-the-mumsnet-edit

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