DD starting reception, what does she need?

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DD is due to start school in a couple of weeks. She’s my oldest child and we’ve just moved into the area so don’t know the school or anyone to ask. It sounds stupid, but what does she need to take with her? She’s got a book bag and PE kit and we were told to get a water bottle, is she allowed all these in school at the moment? We’ve had almost no contact from the school, and nothing that’s Covid specific so I’m assuming the information that says to leave their PE kits for half a term and then wash is wrong? Does she need to take pencils or books or anything? I’m sure I’m over thinking this, but with her being my first to start school, and the fact she didn’t attend the preschool so won’t know anyone, I’m worried!

I would e-mail the school to clarify if I were you, but we are back to normal from September, water bottles, PE kits (taken home each half term), and book bags to be taken back in as normal.

About PE kits my DD goes in her tracksuit and spends all day in it on her PE day. I think the might become a popular way of doing it.

I would guess school will contact you this week. We're waiting on ours. But its going to be business as usual. So book bag, water bottle, packed lunch if shes having them, pe kit. Biggest thing is to name label everything- shoes the lot!

No need for pencils etc.
Water bottle - yes.
Book bag - yes although nothing needed inside it.
Reception are entitled to FSM so no lunchbox needed.

Label everything - EVERYTHING - with her name!

Encourage her to be able to independently fasten her coat.

As for PE - some schools are not getting changed for PE, some are going into school in their PE kits for one day a week.
I wouldn’t be overly concerned at the moment as no reception child will be doing a PE lesson for a good couple of weeks, it’s about settling them in and allowing them to explore their new environment.

You don't need to bring anything that wasn't mentioned to school. So empty book bag, pe kit, water bottle and lunch is all you need. Pencils and papers are normally provided by school.
How they do things covid wise, I'm sure you will be told once she started. Everyone is worried, including those who are going back to school, about how the school would be like. So don't worry too much.

Last year we were water bottle and book bag. PE kit lived at school.
This year - water bottle, book bag and pencil case. Wear your PE kit on PE days.

You really need to find out what your school is doing. Is there an active facebook group for the school? That may have other parents asking the same thing (and ours has teachers and TA parents on it too, so we get good info!)

I'm in Scotland so our schools have gone back. Primary schools have said no bags or pencil cases. PE kit to be worn on PE days and to be outside if possible.

Secondary school kids can take bags, etc. Also to wear PE kit on PE days and to be done outside. One way system in the school and lots of sanitiser

Gross as it sounds, PE kits home at half term is normal. You’d only take home more if they did after school clubs in them or something. At reception age they don’t exert themselves enough to get particularly sweaty.

I’d ask the school to confirm what they’ll be doing about pencils. I imagine they’ll be cleaned daily for YR - other years have to provide their own and not let others use it. I think they’ll be too young to be expected to keep their possessions separate from others.

Put name labels on everything so she can identify her own clothes. Get a water bottle that is easy for her to spot. It's a pain for the child if they have the same bottle as other children so they have to look,every time to find their own.

Although saying that about PE kits, I’m not taking a COVID world into consideration 🙄

Yes we are sending in wearing kit on days they have PE... that’s Y5.

the PE kit thing must be an English thing. I'd never heard of leaving PE kit in school for weeks until I was on here. Kids aren't allowed to get changed in schools here (scotland) so you might find PE kit has to be worn all day on PE days

It's definitely not an English thing. I am not English/British, lived in different countries as a child, and I always left it at school. But of course it maybe different under covid circumstances now.

Pencils etc probably are now needed- very strict rules from our school that no sharing of equipment is allowed and pencils etc go in and stay in.
Name tapes on everything. Twice. Name the coat at the back and inside the pocket (people have been known to remove the name tape in the back and claim ownership of coats...)

Our primary is providing pencils, etc. Secondary kids allowed to take own and not to share with anyone

You need to wait until school contacts you, don’t rely on what happened last year or what parents on here say. This is a very different year. Last year school might not have cared if your DC brought in their own pencil case or their own school bag in addition to the book bag, this year they may.

In previous years it would not have been necessary for YR pupils to provide their own pencils etc this year it may.

As others have said PE kit may be treated differently.

Some schools may not have let you know yet as they are still waiting to sign off their plans and risk assessments, just in case the Government change their guidance. If you haven’t heard from school the week before you go back I would contact them to check their requirements.

Gross as it sounds, PE kits home at half term is normal

Urgh, I'd forgotten I used to have to nag remind DS1 to bring his home each weekend from Y5 onwards. Otherwise the smell by half term was impossible to remove

This year, DS2 has been asked to come dressed in PE kit on PE day. They've also been told not to bring in stationery or anything other than their lunchbox and water bottle.

My school is providing every child with a pencil case containing everything they need, to be kept in their tray at school and not shared with anyone else. Other than that the children are just being told to bring in coat and water bottle.

Our school provides everything but water bottles and book bags. Each child will have their own pencil case, which only they can use. It stays in school. On pe day they go in with their pe kit on and stay in it all day. This used to only be for ks1 but they are rolling it out for the whole school now because of Covid. Much better than wasting time changing in and out of uniform. I’d get a large water bottle as a lot of schools aren’t allowing refills and are closing the water fountains. Obviously you’ll need a warm, waterproof coat as well. Your school will most probably send you a pack or at least an email explaining everything.

Don’t get the water bottles with the built in straws, they’re crap!

Sistema ones are good but the whole class has them so use a sharpie.

No water fountains in operation atm. You may be better off with 2 or 3 smaller plastic bottles. I saw a poor 4 year old this week with an enormous Chilly’s bottle. Far too big.

Label EVERYTHING.

If packed lunch, make sure she can open and close her own tubs etc and also knows what is to be binned and what is to be brought back home.

@ShirazSavedMySanity where do you live? We're in wales and my boys were never entitled to free school meals. Usually they just take their packed lunch, their book bags (which were provided by the school) and PE kits which they bring home every half term. Not sure if they'll be doing that differently this year though, hopefully the school will let us know at the beginning of September before all the kids go back

@Heartofglass12345 Since sept 2014, all children in reception, Yr1 & Yr2 have been entitled to FSM

Reception are entitled to FSM so no lunchbox needed.

Mine never had school dinners, it's optional.

It sounds like you’re all set! You may get more information nearer the time re Covid. I’m a teacher and we’ve had no guidance from our Head yet about this sort of thing but I think she’s deliberately leaving it until nearer the start of term in case government guidance changes.

So why do my kids school charge 2.60 a day for meals then? It's just a normal school

@Heartofglass12345 I suspect it's a Wales/England thing.
I think (but could be wrong) Wales does free school meals if the family is in receipt of certain benifits.
England does universal free school meals in Reception, Y1 &Y2. Scotland also does for a similar age range.