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??

Book bags, like school uniform, even out the differences between children from different backgrounds.

As they are flat, they can be stored easily, and teachers/TAs can easily carry a small pile, find and change reading books, etc.

And, for the love of God, it's stationery. Pens and whatnot. As a memory aid, it contains E for Envelope.

The lack of care for the environment astounds me. Just 6 months or so ago I remember the kids learning all about recycling at school etc, everyone shunning plastic. The world's gone mad that the kids can't even take a lunch box to school without it being disposable. My child was a key worker kid and went to school some of the lock down. They told me no bag allowed I was travelling on a bike with the toddler. I said my 7 year old can't carry water bottle, pencil case, inhaler etc just in his hands . They did then keep the pencil case and inhaler at school but even wanted to keep the water bottle at school. I questioned who would actually wash the water bottle and there was no clear answer. The receptionist said they might rinse them out. I said that's not hygienic enough, they need a proper wash each day. Madness.

No bags were ever taken, or needed, throughout infant school for mine. Only once they started juniors and took more stuff.

When DC's school said disposable only, we sent his lunches in paper bags. They never went as far as banning reusable water bottles.
It all seems so pointless. They're not going to infect each other with their own lunches, they're going to infect each other by sneezing, hugging, touching door handles and taps, just breathing in closed spaces.

Children have book bags to stop you putting the book into a rucksack with her water-bottle and lunch which inevitably leaks and ruins the book- also the book bag will go into a box or tray for the TA to change the book and add any letters etc.

On the day they have PE in our school they wear their PE kit to school and stay in it all day, doing the same in granddaughters high school ,don't know if they have always done this in high school or because of covid she is only just starting there

No , at my daughters school they have to bring a large bag as the lockers won’t be being used.

Are English classrooms tiny? Here, most classes would have 25-30 children in them and all children bring a schoolbag - it goes on the back of their chair so nobody is tripping over them.

@AldiAisleofCrap is that Secondary, never heard of lockers at Primary just a peg!

AldiAisleofCrapis that Secondary, never heard of lockers at Primary just a peg

Dds primary has lockers. Installed 3 or 4 years ago. Keeps all the crap off the cloakroom floor.

Mine loved their bookbags. They were all given one with the school logo on the first day (PTA provided them) and they not only lasted through infants, but they then used them as music cases for around the next 10 years.

@angelikacpickles
Are English classrooms tiny? Here, most classes would have 25-30 children in them and all children bring a schoolbag - it goes on the back of their chair so nobody is tripping over them.

In infants mine didn't have a set chair, they moved around depending on the subject, the day, and how the teacher felt,so that wouldn't have worked.

Children have book bags to stop you putting the book into a rucksack with her water-bottle and lunch which inevitably leaks and ruins the book

Oh is that the theory? DS's teacher would always send them out with water bottle and jumper shoved into the book bag, with inevitable consequences.
When DD started school we sent a rucksack instead, with a bottle carrier on the outside and room for a jumper without crumpling the book. Much better.

I'm sure they'll have changed it to set chairs for covid.

[quote Mumtobe193]@Evanna13 the wearing the PE kit to school thing sounds like a very sensible idea. I know my 4 year old DD would struggle a bit getting changed for PE by herself so to me that sounds like a great policy.

Also when I went for a tour of my DD’s school on the open day last year I didn’t think the classrooms were particularly small, but then they do have 30 children to each class so I can understand not wanting to have 30 bags under the desks of a primary school classroom, however each year group had a fairly large cloakroom allocated to them so I just kind of assumed their school bags would hang their with their coats and stationary would be provided in the class room, it’s all very c onfishng[/quote]
If it's anything like my Y2 classroom, the area laughably called the 'cloakroom' is an area approx 3 sq metres. I dream of a proper cloakroom...

The pegs are so close together that children's coats constantly fall off. When they bring in large bags (and god, the size of them, particularly when bloody Smiggle bags were popular 😳), it's carnage.

We had to stack them on the floor under coats and it was, frankly, dangerous. Children were always falling over them / falling over each other when someone was crouched down rummaging about in their massive bags.

Honestly, KS1 children really don't need huge backpacks.

Although I do also feel for you as book bags last approximately half a morning before falling apart.

And it's worth saying that the DFE guidance is so unhelpful and woolly in terms of sharing equipment that schools are all doing slightly different things. No one really has a clue how to keep classrooms 'covid safe' as it's not really possible.

In my classroom, we do have trays under desks so can provide every child with individual equipment but as sure as night follows day, children will be losing / borrowing / chewing one another's pencils, etc within minutes...

My upper ks2 class are asked to bring in a simple pencil case if they can. We will provide for those who don't have one to prevent sharing equipment. We'll provide glue/scissors for all if needed. They bring a water bottle each day and take it home to be washed. Cups can be found if they forget but most don't. Reading book ideally from home or if it's from the reading corner, quarantined for the week when they've finished with it. Bring your own lunch box and take it home - don't get the plastic bag thing. I'm going into school to take photos to reassure those in my class who haven't been in as children of key workers. It's going to be OK - in a small primary at least!

Oh and Move on Monday and Wednesday Workout are my alliterative ways to remind them to come in with trackies/trainers on PE day. Upper KS2 children like to change separately and this will make it so much easier for everyone - no taking PE kit home each time to be washed. PE last thing so no smelly children :)

In regards to bag for pe I believe on the day they have pe they will go to school in pe kit and wear that all day as cannot change in school.

Just put the book bag, pencil case and lunchbag in a cheap tote bag to carry it to school and then when you get there just take them out and hand them to the child. You can pick up shopping bags in Poundland that easily fit a child's book bag, lunchbag, jumper/jacket, PE kit etc for the journey to school.

Having said that , surely the idea is that you take the stationery in and then it stays in your DDs tray for the rest of the term, so it only actually has to be carried to school on the first day?

As for the shared glue/scissors - since I doubt they'll be using them daily they will probably hand out a pair of scissors and a glue stick to each child for projects, then collect and sanitize them. That way they can be accounted for in and out and if they're only used infrequently it's better to have them stored together in a box in a teachers cupboard than individually in each child's tray where they are more likely to go missing.

Book bag was always standard when I was in primary - they are basically glorified waterproof folders. They are lightweight to allow the children to carry the essentials - reading book/homeschool diary/permission slips - without leaving much room for unlimited random crap kids always want to bring with them and have the added bonus of being easily wiped down if necessary. Also book bags are usually designed to fit inside a child's tray, so it again reduces classroom clutter and they will only have to access their tray once a day - arrive, each child hangs up their coat, puts their book bag in their tray, takes out their stationery, sits down at their desk. At the end of the day the same in reverse - take out book bag, return stationery, get coat and leave.

Lunches - they probably want something that can be disposable so they dont have lunch boxes hanging around all day, especially if they are going to have to have lunch in their classrooms it's easier to just put all rubbish in the bag and put the bag in the bin. DDs school have asked that any lunches must be in either a paper bag (so it can be disposed of easily) or a wipeable container (ie no fancy lunchbags with sequins/fluffy embellishments etc) so they can be wiped down before they are put on the trolley they use to store the lunches in the classroom.

Our school discourage bags for reception to yr 2. Book bags which go in their tray (pencil case in book bag), lunch bag goes on a table in the hall and pe.bags hang on pegs. For us it's more saftey as little ones tend to roam about and tripping over a backpack can be dangerous

[quote ineedaholidaynow]@Polkasquare but this won't be happening in most schools now, as they all need to be forward facing where possible.[/quote]
Oh I see, where will they get the furniture for this from?

I don't know, they certainly won't have got any funding for it. But in theory children will be sitting in rows not groups, and will have their own designated place, and so won't be changing groups depending on what subject they are doing. It is going to be very much teacher at the front where possible

I think a lot of it is made up to try and make people feel better about the situation. Not sure how bringing a book bag in is OK but a school bag isn't from Covid infection perspective. Space wise yes

@IwishIwasyoda it will probably be partly to avoid children bringing in unnecessary crap that they manage to fill their bags with and then get out during class/break. But also if they have a separate cloakroom it will avoid children cramming into that.

I wonder if this year will be one of the first years not to have a craze like loom bands, fidget spinners etc.

My DC are in their late 30s. It was the rule when they were at primary school, so nothing new. Lack of space, constant rummaging, not being able to find stuff - these are all reasons why primary schools don’t want bags full of gubbins taking up space.

A plastic carrier bag? Would these be the same plastic carrier bags that were discontinued due to concerns about the environment Where are they going to get them from?