to think the school need to communicate occasionaly with parents?

[slightlymentalmum2one]

Dd's school informed the children on the first day back that as juniors they are expected to bring in rucksack's, pencil case, pens, pencils, colouring pencils, rubber, ruler, sharpener and fruit for break time. They had to have this by the next day or the would get a black mark.

Surely the time to tell them was before the end of last term or put a letter out to the parents or in the news letter. I know the parent could argue away the black mark by pointing out how unfair the situation is but that doesn't stop the kids getting upset.

This is the latest in a long line of stunts by the school

Did you get a letter today about it?

Yanbu too short notice

Suppose a child had been absent for the first day. He wouldn't have known, would he? So he'd receive a black mark.

Or did your DD tell you today that that's what was said?

You didn't know they needed a pencil case and a snack for KS2?
The school should have sent a letter home, we do it in eformat and post it on the VLE as well. Perhaps she lost the letter, was everyone caught unawares?

Why should the children be providing that sort of stuff anyway? All that equipment should be available in the classroom

ooh can they say black mark?

Quite divisive .... usually it is positive reinforcement and those who comply get rewarded.

TBH, I fail to see why any school child isnt adequately stocked and packed off to school with a full set of equipment.

It's what many schools are rubbish at IME. And it's not hard is it?!

All the materials are provided in primary schools, except the fruit in KS2.
Makes it easier and faster if the children have their own kit, and they tend to treat their own stuff with a bit more respect. You can't insist though.
Do your school use 'black marks' as a punishment, OP? Is it an independent school?

All the children were unaware so it wasn't a case of dd not passing on the message.

And no woofing I dont have much to do with the older children

No woofing from me, I don't like dogs.

did they really say 'black mark'?

It's a state school and they use a traffic light and star reward system at the school. So no idea what the mean by black mark but dd and her friends insisted thats exactly what they were told.

In KS1 the kids were actively discouraged against bringing anything into school so the complete turn around caught us all by surprise even those with older children in the school. Apparently it was the requirement from year 4 this is the first time with year 3 and in past years a note went out with reports and the children were told a few times before the end of school.

Sorry woffling my phone didn't like your name very much apparently

that would piss me off more than the equipment thing tbh.....

What's so bad about black mark?! Black marks are black marks because we often use black ink. That's all. It's not like it can be compared to a 'good' white mark, in which case it might be understandable.

The school should have communicated what they require children to have with a reasonable time to purchase things, obviously.

We got a note about a parent meeting (no DC allowed) on Friday for a meeting at 2.15 tomorrow.

Got an email about it too today, ramming home the point that no pre-school DC allowed, and suggesting we 'phone a friend' ...

Letter written to Head, currently smoldering in DS bookbag.

I've never had to supply any equipment for my children in primary school. My youngest has just started juniors and all he takes to school is his reading folder (supplied by school), his packed lunch and pe kit if needed. He can take fruit or buy it there but very rarely does either. I don't even have to supply coloured pencils for my elder two in high school.

We got a list home at end of last term with needed equipment, but dd1 told me about a trip today, but no letter.

Bloody hell, Hissy if my DDs' school pulled anything like that they would have had serious grief from me. I mean, what about those of us who (gasp) work? And of course those of us who (gasp) work will also tend to have friends who (gasp) work.

Out - bloody - rageous.

The DDs' schools (one in Yr5, one in Yr7) have been great about communication and spelled out everything that would be needed end of summer term. No complaints, shocked that not all schools do this because it's hardly rocket science!

hissy I would turn up with dc anyway and say that child care fell through at the last minute... I have written several smouldering letters... they sort of died a death and never got sent...

fantastic.. there must be loads of different scenarios where the parent can not get out to organise these things for the following day...

I do work FT. My boss (new job) is on holiday this week, had i had just a days more notice, i might have been able to get time off. But at 2:15, that's taking the whole afternoon off.

I don't have pre -school children, but the rest of.the parents in our neighbourhood of mums mostly do. Of 8 parents, 5 are.working, the three that don't can't get.childcare. the email.tipped some.over the.edge last.night. Most don't have family nearby, any friend.is.likely to be another parent either.at the meeting, or with other preschool dc.

Its a farce, I've called the school.behind the.times and sexist in its assumptions.

Sorry for random full stops, fat fingers dodgy tablet!

I told.those.with.kids to just tuen up and kick.up.a.stink anyway. We're year 2 parents, so this is the last year we have to endure in this communications fog.

I'll be raising.some hefty.questions.with.the new.school.next.year, in public. I'm not going through this again.