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Original poster

What kind of school bag for first year of school?

22 replies

peranaka · 12/04/2022 13:38

Our 4-yo is starting school this September. What type of school bag do children of that age use? A backpack? How big? And are they usually plain or can they be pink (as requested by 4-yo).

I'm very new to school, and don't want to get it wrong for her!

Thank you!

OP posts:

nearlyspringyay · 12/04/2022 13:39

They usually have a school book bag in Reception

SillyBub · 12/04/2022 13:41

Wait and see what the school say. Some schools have compulsory school book bags, some have free choice. If it's free choice, don't rush out to get anything now. What a 4 year old wants in April is highly likely to not be the same in September!

liquidrevolution · 12/04/2022 13:41

Book bag as they need to put in trays in class usually. We had a drawstring bag for pe kit. School sold a backpack but was only for PE.

Dd has only moved onto backpack in year 3.

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NannyR · 12/04/2022 13:42

Most reception aged children just use a school bookbag. You can usually buy them from the school office or uniform supplier. If you have a choice, it's worth paying more for the one with a shoulder strap and proper fastenings, rather than the cheaper ones with velcro as these wear out so quickly.

Whatwouldscullydo · 12/04/2022 13:42

They usually have biom.bags which are a a pain because you have to load up your kid like a pack horse as pe kit and lunch box won't fit in them. But it makes it easier for thr school to send u advertising/junk as they can be held in a box in the classroom.as opposed to being on pegs. Of course kids cant identify their own as they cant read at 4 but looks good in the back to school photos..

Artichokeleaves · 12/04/2022 13:43

Yeah check and be careful... we were told any bag would be fine and the child chose their special bag. Then a week later we were told that actually the school book bag was compulsory (not mentioned anywhere in the literature) and the child was upset that they'd been told their bag was all wrong and causing a problem.

It turned out that the class TA collected all the book bags in a crate to put reading books/letters in and the child's rucksack was messing with her system.

PutinIsAWarCriminal · 12/04/2022 13:44

Book bags definitely to fit into trays. Nothing expensive- its cute when they are in reception, as their little legs are so short the bags drag on the floor.

Mol1628 · 12/04/2022 13:45

I wouldn’t bother with a bag especially if they will be having school lunches.

One of those drawstring type bags would be useful for PE kit.

redbigbananafeet · 12/04/2022 13:47

It seems to depend on where you live. In Scotland kids don't have trays so it's backpacks x

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 12/04/2022 13:48

With PE kit... some schools have kept the PE kit all day on PE days thing from Covid as its more efficient.
All the reception kids need is their book bag and water bottle.

Needcoffeecoffeecoffee · 12/04/2022 13:49

@Mol1628

I wouldn’t bother with a bag especially if they will be having school lunches.

One of those drawstring type bags would be useful for PE kit.

How do you carry reading book and school/home diary?

Original poster

peranaka · 12/04/2022 14:15

Thanks all! Will hold fire. We're expecting to hear soon which school we've got into, so will see what the school says.

OP posts:

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 12/04/2022 14:19

Mine had (at schools request) a bag left on their peg for a term with sand shoes, wellies, change of clothes, sun hat and sun cream.

They then gave the kids a plastic book bag each which was carried home and back daily.

MajorCarolDanvers · 12/04/2022 14:31

We've always gone with back pack / rucksacks

Mol1628 · 12/04/2022 15:18

@Needcoffeecoffeecoffee they just carry it in their book bag

Changechangychange · 12/04/2022 15:23

Will totally depend on the school. We have a school-branded backpack with waterbottle, change of clothes, snacks for after school, and gloves/hat if it looks like a chilly day. My friend’s school makes them use a book bag, carrier bag for spare clothes, and water bottle carried separately.

You will almost certainly end up carrying the bag yourself at least 50% of the time in Reception, so keep that in mind.

TeddyBeans · 12/04/2022 15:30

I've just finished a job as a reception TA. Our kids had a backpack for spare clothes if they were prone to accidents and a book bag that went in a box underneath their pegs. DS starts school in September. He'll be taking a backpack, a book bag and a lunchbag (he didn't eat hot meals at nursery so I don't expect him to at school). He's got a toddler backpack from Smiggle at the moment and I intend to use it for reception as well

Needcoffeecoffeecoffee · 12/04/2022 15:34

[quote Mol1628]@Needcoffeecoffeecoffee they just carry it in their book bag[/quote]
But you said you wouldnt get a bag so I was confused. Sorry

HadEnoughOfBears · 12/04/2022 15:34

@redbigbananafeet

It seems to depend on where you live. In Scotland kids don't have trays so it's backpacks x

Bit of a generalisation there.

In this area of Scotland we have trays and bookbags.

singalongforever · 12/04/2022 15:35

As a reception teacher, book bags are so much easier. The cloakroom is often quite small and 30 large backpacks take up loads of room!

Mol1628 · 12/04/2022 15:39

@Needcoffeecoffeecoffee sorry I wasn’t clear , the school provide a book bag, so no need to buy anything.

Skyeheather · 12/04/2022 15:43

My son has three different PE kits (indoor PE, outdoor PE and wet weather kit), each in it's own drawstring gym bag. These are placed in boxes on the first day of term and sent home on the last day of term. Teacher brings out the box on PE day.

He also has a backpack containing a spare change of clothes, school fleece, painting apron, mid-morning snack, water bottle (removed on arrival and put into a tray) and lunch bag (removed on arrival and placed on a trolley).

There's no need for pencil cases etc in the first year.

The school will tell you what you need during transition.

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