Whole class party (few rsvp)

[immigrant002]

My child has been asking for a birthday party he just started reception and since his birthday is so close to the start of school i thought it would be better to invite the whole class and book a hall and an entertainer bouncy castle etc

I gave the cards with my number at the bottom for rsvp . Out of 30 children 6 replied should i assume no one else would be coming ? Surely people do not just show up ? I would always reply to an invitation even if i was not going so am not sure what to make of this

I am also a bit gutted for him he is very shy and he didn't know anyone from before as he was going to a different nursery he mentions a few names of boys he plays with but none of them replied .

Ahhh... November 5. You've picked Bonfire Night. Most people will be busy with family and events. That's a bad night to pick. Bonfire Nights my favourite celebration of the year!

Always do a rsvp date

bonfire night is prob busy for many

equally 2w notice isn’t much for weekend stuff. Many make plans

ask teacher if a wats appgroup

there usually is

I’m admin on our class group and took me a few weeks to find child no 30 and parents

maybe put a note on door /class window with a list asking people to tick their name if can come

and add your number on list

ask other mums if a wats app group esp those with older kids as they often start one

tho saying that I only have one dc and started ours

I had similar in reception. Only ten kids invited got four responses !! I asked parents of kids I knew who hadn't responded if they were coming and then I invited a few more. Ended up with eight . None of the original invitees who hadn't confirmed turned up. It was better the next couple of years as I got to know more people. Do you have any friends with kids you can invite or cousins to up numbers so you can still have the party you want. And if you feel brave enough say something to parents at pick up you might get a few more. But don't take it personally, they don't know you or your son. Although I would never ignore an invite it is really rude. And remember your son won't care if they don't all come, he will just enjoy his party.

I have had people not reply and just turn up, I have always catered for them just in case but it's usually just the odd one that hasn't replied not nearly a whole class.

Sadly that is another example of where we are becoming more like the US in behaviour- one of my family in the US is used to no-one replying. I was there for what some people call a big birthday, and only three replied but 20 attended in the end.

I understand how annoying it can be.

5th November is not a great date. What time of day is the party? If morning, probably OK.

I would assume that some of the invites had got lost in bags/transit and print out a second lot. Then hand them out directly to parents outside the classroom while you're waiting to pick up your DC with an apologetic smile, explaining that you're worried some might not have been received.

Oh I had this! I had to go round asking! They were all coming, they'd either forgot to reply or hadn't even seen the invite in the bag!
We now have a WhatsApp group which is so much easier!!

I thibk onjust need to bite the bullet and actually ask people at pick up ! I Always turn up right on time

Could you post a reminder on the class learning website thing? Not sure what to call it, generically, but ours is SeeSaw. The teachers in our school don’t mind, as long as it’s about something the whole class is invited to, as in your case.

We did a big party earlier in the year and it definitely took some chasing. About 20% of people didn’t reply at all, but none of them came along on the day.

We get some replies the day invites go out and we get replies the day before or the morning of the party.

We just buy food that can be brought home if nobody shows but people always do.

However a friend of mine had a whole class party and only 3 or 4 children showed. that was a shame.

Honestly not everyone is confident op. Get there a bit earlier and there’s probably a parent or two on their own. Just smile and say something generic - I’ll be glad when it’s half term/what do we need to bring for harvest festival etc. Good luck.

It is frustrating. We recently had a whole class party and although some replied very quickly, others only replied when I put a reminder on class WhatsApp, 5 days before. A couple only confirmed the day before. To be fair, no one did just turn up on the day, but I had similar with the eldest and quite a few did turn up on the day. If you don’t have a class WhatsApp group, you will just have to accost people in the playground!

I had this in reception, didn't know many of the mums either. You will probably get a few more replys the week leading up to the party and even on the day! Just cater for the amount you have invited and it should be about right. I had a few not turn up and a few sibling tag alongs so it evened out. It was well attended and the kids had a great time so I wouldn't worry.

Some may have other plans for bonfire night, but I do think you may be surprised at the turn out despite lack of RSVPs, if there was no date on the invite, and it's still a fair way off in kids party timescales they very well may just let you know the day before, or not at all (some can be very rude)

Cater for all and hope for the best.

My daughter's birthday is bonfire night and it's never been a problem having a party on the nearest Saturday (and her's is on the 5th this year, party finished by 4). I have had RSVPs now, but have had to message around half of the people - some had never received them, some had left them in the bag and some had just forgotten but were planning to come, only one was a no.

Agree with lots of previous comments about how to get the word out!

That’s sad. The invite is for your child not you.

what if it’s your child’s idea of a great time?

5th November - still more than 2 weeks away?

IME people either reply within 48hrs or in the 48hrs prior to the event.

Just do a reminder, and yes, work the playground a bit, whatsapp etc.

Really ? From my experience from nursery people usually replied a day or two after the invite was send out . But is a different area so that might be the case

hmm yes 48 hours is a day or two?

People will reply if they are coming. Plan the party for 6 and I assume siblings are welcome given it's a hall? In the future, you should remember not to book any parties over school holidays or inset day weekends. Many families go away.

It's rubbish but I wouldn't assume people who haven't rsvpd aren't coming as some will have forgotten etc. It's easier to be flexible with a hall party than something like soft play where you have to pay per child so really need accurate numbers. Having done a few hall parties for that age my top tip is to make up a lunch bag per child, mainly containing wrapped stuff eg crisps/mini raisin packets/twix. I found that was much less wasteful and easier than handing round plates where small kids might either take much more than they can eat or dither for ages choosing. And wrapped stuff means it's easier to have extras for kids who turn up on the day and you can use it up afterwards. Otherwise if there's an open plate of sausage rolls or something it's more likely to end up in the bin afterwards. Same for party bags - mainly wrapped sweets then you can do extras and keep the ones you don't need. I still find kids parties incredibly stressful to organize though (and I know most of the parents) so I feel your pain! Hope your child has a great time - doubt they will care how many are there as long as there is cake and sweets....

People never RSVP until a few days before the party.

Also loads never RSVP at all - you need to chase them up!

Try not to stress about it, go speak to everyone who hasn't replied once you get back to school.

I predict you will have about 20 people say 'oh yes we're coming'!

IME of 8 years of primary school parties:

Some say they'll come and then forget and don't show
Some say they'll come and do come
Some don't reply but do show up
Some turn up with extra children
Some totally ghost you

I just expect it now and the week before the party I speak to everyone invited who either has said they will come or hasn't responded - just to remind them and get final numbers.

🙄

Op i think you have to cut people some slack here. They find the invite maybe stick on the fridge...im sure several are at the bottim of kids bags still....

People are stressed and overwhelmed by life and a party invite from a family or child they dont know easily slips the mind

Dont give up! I think you need to tackle your shyness...most reception parents will want to say hello...remember many will be shy or not know people

Go up to people at the school gate and say hi i think some of these got lost in kids bags just checkingwho got them...and also someone needs to start a class whatsapp they are useful