To think that the ‘no bag’ school rule is ridiculous

[Mumtobe193]

So my DD is due to start primary school in September & I’m just really baffled by a school rule banning a school bag? I don’t know whether it’s something that’s come about in light of covid or if it’s just a school policy? But I just find it quite ridiculous. I’ve had to purchase a book bag with the school logo on which is solely for her reading books, class work and letters etc. Then I’ve to purchase a clear plastic folder which is to contain her pencil case with all her stationary, a packet of tissues, hand gel, a water bottle (disposable can’t be a reusable one for some reason) and her snack. I’ve heard nothing from the school about their policy on lunchboxes? But I have heard from other mums who already have kids at the school that they will be expected to bring their lunch in in a plastic carrier bag, and this is a rule that is apparently coming into play as of September. Also unsure whether she will need a bag for PE?

So when she starts school, she will be carrying a plastic folder with all her daily essentials in, her lunch in a carrier bag, plus a book bag. Would it surely not make a lot more sense for the children to just have a big school bag that they can throw everything into? Rather than carrying 3 separate items in and things getting lost/mixed up etc. I just don’t get it? Anyone else’s DC school have a similar policy? Why??

OP, surely a pot with their names on, on the desk would do the same job? That's what they did during lockdown? I would have thought bringing a case back and forth is not the best idea in regards to covid.
Anyway. The book bags is normal and not due to covid. It's a good thing and has been around for decades.

@user1471530109 yep I’m sure. DD’s teacher had uploaded a video on the seesaw app explaining what they will need for school in September, and a pencil case containing 2 pencils, a rubber, sharpener, ruler and twistable crayons was specifically mentioned amongst the things they will need. I also thought it was odd as we always shared pencils and crayons in a big box in the middle of the table when I was in primary school. Other mums who already have DC at the school have told me it’s because the school want to reduce the amount of things the children share to prevent the potential spread of Covid.

Was the same rules for dd in ks2 last term. Totally ridiculous as she still needed all the same stuff without the (1) bag to contain it all. She enjoyed the replacement of school shoes with trainers though.

Surely the pencil case will be kept in school in that case? You only have to get it there on the first day

Having your own pencil case is to stop sharing, and to reduce the amount of resources they have to clean between being shared amongst pupils. In most classes children will have their own desk facing forward, there won't be groups with resources in the middle of the table.

Because there's no room to store them. Book bags fit in trays

Ours have been back since last week and procedures are already changing as they work things out. Honestly there’s no point getting het up about school rules or you’re going to have a very stressful few years ahead of you.

And when my primary school child has her period? She already struggles with it and now she has to be different again being the only one with a bag, so everyone knows?
Some kids in my DD's class were having periods in P5!

Sanitary pads, change of pants and tights also important. So I'll thought out

@ineedaholidaynow

Having your own pencil case is to stop sharing, and to reduce the amount of resources they have to clean between being shared amongst pupils. In most classes children will have their own desk facing forward, there won't be groups with resources in the middle of the table.

I can tell you now that most state schools will NOT be able to give a desk to each child. Most will be sat next to their mate I'm afraid. The guidance says the kids don't need to socially distance. I don't think the pens will need to be sanitised daily if each child has their own pot? I could be wrong (I teach secondary so not really something that affects us). I just know that some cohorts unfortunately would not be able to provide their own stationary. Especially things like those Crayola twist crayons.

All sounds fairly standard except for the lunch- this will be funded so rare for kids in year r to bring in lunch unless special diet or particularly fussy.
I’d be cross about a disposable water bottle though. Always a reusable one in our school.
Book bag thing is standard and annoying but you can usually put water bottle in it ok.
PE kit stays at school.

I didn't mean an actual desk, I just meant their own designated place at a table @user1471530109, but as they will all be facing forward instead of small groups there won't be a middle pot.

It’s laughable but sad that all these extensive measures that they schools are putting in place, are going to be wasted effort and time .... Kids and parents are not socially distancing as soon as they leave the school gates- why? Because I saw it.
I know it’s not the schools responsibility to police people but all I’m saying it is a waste of time from an infection control point of view, and an environmental mess if every class across the country is going to be disposing their drinking bottle by the end of the day.

Don’t shoot me for this, but I’ve seen it happen first hand when kids some kids went back in the summer term.

They are better off scrapping off these rules and sticking with very air tight social bubble year group to contain any outbreak.
I think we need to be realistic here.

I’m in the west of Scotland and we are allowed bags. Almost everything is as normal except they kids wear the PE kit into school instead of changing

They would have to allow bags from yr 4 fir obvious reasons.

Book bags are a complete con. Pointless having a bag that means you have to carry everything separately.

A lunchbag which can be taken home and washed/sprayed would syreky he better than supermarket carrier bags that have been used by everyone in the house and gotten from a crowded supermarket. Terrible for the environment too.

Many schools are asking pupils not to change for pe at school, especially Primary. Either they just change shoes or come in their pe kit for the day.

Perhaps draft up your own approach to how to reopen a school safely during a pandemic and share it with the school?

What pupils did last September in YR will not be the same for pupils starting in YR this September.

My kids weren't allowed bags 15 years ago, book bags are the norm

PS : (Not covid related) but now even more so:
PE kit staying at home until end of term is one super filthy disgusting idea. Who in the right frame of mind would wear a sports kit 6 weeks in a row without washing it? . 🤮

No way will my child take disposable water bottle on a daily basis to school! I have three children! If either school suggests it I'll literally ignore it.
Once they've handled the bottle it makes NO difference in term of infection control whether it's going in a bin or home. Reusing / washing a disposable bottle is a health no no.

Our school went back last week (Scotland) and we were given the go ahead the week before for a small bag.
School provided a homework satchel and also a pencil case for each child.
We are allowed full uniform, clean & freshly washed every day.
Lunch bag and water bottle able to fit in the school bag.

The school in the next village is disposable everything and jogging bottoms and polo shirt with trainers for uniform.

Same LA but individual schools setting their own rules

@Rhianna1980 I've always told mine to bring them home after PE.
One of the schools DC goes to hates parents taking them home though. I witnessed a friends husband being 'told off' by a teacher for requesting the childs PE. She couldn't understand why he wanted it. Doesn't help that PE kits (and sweaters!) are known to go missing in that school, so lots of parents do want them home as soon as they can but I'll never forget the faces in the playground that day

A lot of primary children chew on their pencils. I have tried to make them stop. It’s grim. I can well imagine how much schools will want them to have their own personal pencils at the moment.

This sounds mental to me. None of the schools around here do that. Why would they have to have their lunch in carrier bags. Surely we are all supposed to be doing our bit for the environment.

We were told no bags previously due to space. I ignored it because my kids scoot or cycle and it is impossible to do that carrying a book bag (ours have no shoulder strap) containing 2 reading books and communication book, plus a lunchbox and a water bottle, a hat, random items for PTA raffle /school fair /junk modelling.

Bags are totally banned this year, even book bags. Kids can take only a washable lunchbox, a water bottle, and their breaktime snack in. How they are supposed to carry those with no bag while cycling I don't know. Also not sure what they will do with cycle helmets which previously went in their rucksack.