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??

Our primary has been doing this for years - nothing to do with COVID, everything to do with space and systems. Each morning everyone's book bag goes into a box by the door, home-school books are checked, reading books changed if needs be and letters home /work home put in. Simple. Trying to fit 3 backpacks in the same space just doesnt work.

30 back packs

@CountessFrog

I imagine that schools are taking the opportunity to get rid of children bringing in oversized bags, and all the clutter in them. Hopefully, there will be fewer coats in a pile on the floor, less lost PE kit and school uniform. School cloakrooms are teeny, and rucksacks take up far too much room on a peg. Book bags are so much more practical, and can be kept in the classroom.

I'm assuming things like show and tell and large craft projects are off the timetable for now. Less stuff that can't be cleaned.

At our school show and tell won't be happening and parents are being told that only the bare minimum is to be brought into school. Spare clothes are likely to be one of those things and we will rely on our own stocks of spares in the first instance.

We are hoping to use our online platform for show and tell. Children and parents can upload a photograph or video of their object from home and then we can have this in the IWB in class for the child to share and talk about.

Hopefully, there will be fewer coats in a pile on the floor, less lost PE kit and school uniform. School cloakrooms are teeny, and rucksacks take up far too much room on a peg. Book bags are so much more practical, and can be kept in the classroom

Thing is the reason stuff is lost is because you cant fit anything in a book bag. Once you try and stuff a jumper in a book bag it pulls the velcro apart and/or gapes and then all the other stuff falls out to. I had far more trips to lost property when the kids had book bags because first they would try and put stuff in the bag but it wouldn't fit. Then they tried the pe bag and that wouldn't fit either and the t shirts or joggers got pulled out in the process.

So they come out armed with book bags full of advertising whilst trying to hold quite unsuccessfully at times everything that would in normal.circumstances go in a bag.

The lockers at dds school have been a life saver. Keeps everything off the floor and keeps everything together. Akd if there's no room.in a.bag that day it can stay in the locker til the following day and come home then.

Back.packs often have a pocket on the side too for water bottles. Handy for those who haven't found the holy grail of non leaking bottles and are tired of reading library books and having note pads on the radiator

I'm assuming things like show and tell and large craft projects are off the timetable for now. Less stuff that can't be cleaned.

Oh yes, no bags in september, and no physical homework it sounds like, only water bottle and lunch going back and forth. A PP asked what young kids would put in a bag so I was explaining. We'll see how many trips back for forgotten jumpers/bottles/lunches result. Hopefully they are a bit more self organised now they're in juniors!

They might not be able to go back to pick things up as cleaning will have to start in the classroom

There's a fairly wide pickup window, I don't know how the system will work exactly though. I don't know if they'll be able to have a lost property box either. Perhaps i should sew child into jumper in the morning

I wouldn't bank on schools being able to use their own spare clothes if pupils need them - guidance here is all children need to bring in a spare set of clothes every day (Scotland)

Small child starting reception in a few weeks and not much communication from the school. Water bottle can go in, and PE kit to be worn on PE days, that’s all.

@TheresTheFlyingFuckIDontGive some schools are still finalising their plans, ours are doing their final sign off of risk assessments at the end of this week. They were waiting for any further guidance from the Government.

But - where’s the logic in not allowing ‘show and tell’ items into school?

Again, if the item is infected, the child is likely infected.

As my daughter correctly observed today, one of the main risk factors for Covid seems to be ‘breathing.’ If we could just stop doing that.....

I’d honestly like to see the logic behind sooooooo much of these roolz

Can't bring a reusable drink bottle? Wow. My children's school promotes plastic / wrapper free lunches and reusable drink bottles. The class that has the least amount of trash at the end of week or term (can't remember what it was) gets an award. Sad that a school would be encouraging children to use disposable products.

As for the bag situation, the only explanation I can imagine is to prevent kids from bringing items to school that they shouldn't such as weapons or toys? Backpacks make much more sense otherwise.

The children will be mainly staying at their desks apart from when they are outside. Desks in rows all facing forward. There is a space at the front, in theory 2m away, from the front row where the teacher will stand. That is where the teacher will mostly stay. There will be no carpet time, no sitting in groups. So a child should not be entering the teacher’s space to do show and tell.

There are 2 types of book bags schools use - one is a flimsy velcro job that is only useful for a few books. The other kind my DD's school used is much more robust and is a satchel style. Plenty of room for books, water bottles, homework, hat, suncream etc. P.e kits were kept at school with some spare underwear/socks etc. Not much more needed. Snack and lunch were provided. Now in Juniors she has a backpack that fits the more weighty library books, snack, pack lunch (if wanted), her music for piano lessons and choir and stationery used in Rainbow time. P.E bag still left at school (although due to Covid they will now come in in PE kit on P.E days.). Swimming bag is taken on swimming day.

A child can stand up to ‘show and tell.’ He doesn’t need to ‘enter the teachers space.’

I’m so glad my children are older.

But @CountessFrog the children should all be facing towards the front so the child would need to stand in the teacher’s space.

Your child was sort of right breathing is the problem! So they are trying to achieve the position that no child breathes directly into another child’s face (we will ignore the fact that 30+ children will be breathing directly towards the teacher)

If a teacher needs to come and talk to a child they are meant to stand behind them, again to stop them breathing towards their face.

My DD going into year 4 ...requires a reading book bag only. a water bottle to stay on her desk space,no PE kit at all ,packed lunch to be brought in a plastic bag,homework will be given out in september with 6 weeks of work in it and returned to school on October to be marked and no stationary to be brought into school at all.Each year group has staggered drop off and pick up times with no parent allowed into school.My dd will start at 8.45 instead of 8.55 and to be collected at 3.10 instead of 3.20.How the last bit is going to work will prove a challenge as I don;t finish work til 3 myself but she will just have to stay there til I get there for 5 mins extra! I know its going to be trying for everyone...

I stopped taking a handbag shopping and just use a credit card case. It's to do with covid

I stopped taking my actual self shopping 😀