to be annoyed at ds's new school for not giving us this information sooner

[IwishIwasmoreorganised]

DS1 (3) started at nursery school this week. We had written confirmation last term that he had a place and the start date (6th Jan) and times (9am - 11.30).

All Ok so far. I rang them to ask about uniform as I've seen lo's in the school uniform and was told that it wasn't compulsary in nursery. We decided to get it for ds anyway. It's only sold at 1 shop so I made a special trip to get it all.

Tuesday came and we arrived a few minutes before 9am. The classroom was packed full of kids already, all happy and busy but as there were only a couple of kids starting on Tuesday I was expecting somebody to come up and introduce themselves and explain how things happen, who was who etc. Eventually we were shown ds's peg. He was crying and very timid to start with which isn't like him at all but after about 10 minutes he engaged in an activity and I left. On picking him up, they are all ready with their coats on and as the teacher sees you at the door, they let your lo out - so no chance to discuss anything with them.

Yesterday we had a letter sent home saying that nursery PE sessions will be on a Monday and please ensure that "suitable attire" is provided.

Today we had a letter home telling us what house DS was in, and so what colour PE T-shirt he should have and that he will need "sturdy trainers" and shorts which will be sent home each week to ensure that they stay clean and fresh.

This letter also informed us that morning sessions are 9-11.30, but the classroom opens at 8.40 and children are able to arrive from them.

Now correct me if I'm wrong but wouldn't this have been useful to know before ds started? I could have taken him earlier so that he wasn't one of the last to arrive and made the whole experience less daunting for him. None of it is new for the school, they could easily have let me have tis information before the end of last term. We have just had Christmas holidays and I have just bought his uniform. I could have got everything sorted in 1 trip.

I've still not been told the term dates for this academic year - is this normal?

I'm now expecting everything to be communicated in this rather slapdash, lastminute manner and am wondering if I've made the right choice of school. The other one that we looked at sends all information out to parents via e-mail in a much more timely fashion.

YANBU it all sounds very slapdash, bring it up at your first paren's evening

Yep, that is poor. Can you give them a ring to discuss?

They do presume allot dont they, ive found this im sorry to say.
I have got into the habit of asking things.

Just as an add on, i think that they are only insured to take the children from 9am, an 8.40 start i think is under parental supervision....you are right though, they could have told you all of this so that you could turn up earlier to ease your boy in.

Wouldnt worry too much about PE attire, sound like trachy bottoms, t shirt and pumps will be ok.

IME they do presume that people know term times! I have NO IDEA myself, never been interested, and never enquired, but i get a list of term dates for the next year and a half, plus new letters from the school each month and the teacher each term.

When you work, you need plenty of advance warning dont you, im not sure that they always get this though.

I think we might get short notice of the first parents evening too

is there a school handbook? you might find all this information is in there... i know at our school it is all in there, people kept asking me if i knew this and that - they hadn't got a handbook or hadn't realised it existed.

but if not, then very slapdash!! esp the term dates, that is just weird. that is what makes me think you're missing some vital document, that has to be written somewhere!!!

is there a school handbook? you might find all this information is in there... i know at our school it is all in there, people kept asking me if i knew this and that - they hadn't got a handbook or hadn't realised it existed.

but if not, then very slapdash!! esp the term dates, that is just weird. that is what makes me think you're missing some vital document, that has to be written somewhere!!!

sorry for double posting...

is it just a nursery or a primary school with a nursery attached?

It's a primary school with a nursery unit.

In Wales if that makes any difference.

I'll ask about the school handbook - that could be a polite way of saying I having got a clue what's going on at this place, could someone please enlighten me?!

let us know!!

the thing with schools is they send you one letter with the info on and then you don't get any reminders. Are you sure you haven't had an information pack? All the info you need is probably in there. As for term times, just pop into the school office and ask for a holiday list. I always pin mine to the fridge. Schools have a habit of sticking in odd INSET days that take you by surprise!

No I've definitely not had any term dates. No chance to speak to anybody again this morning, but we did get there earlier and ds went in without even welling up today so that goes to show that arriving with less kids there is much less daunting for him.

Just rang to ask about a school handbook and got an answerphone so have asked for somebody to call me back! Let's see what happens............

Message withdrawn

Well the headteacher has called me back and admitted that he has forgotten to send out the term dates to this terms' new starters

He was surprised that I didn't have school handbook but I have searched high and low and looked in all my places where really important things get kept and I definitely don't have one so I'm going to get one of those too.

I mentioned about how it would have been useful to have some of the information that we have recieved this week before ds actually started and he agreed with me.

Hopefully I won't be labelled as an unorganised or troublesome parent, and if it helps another lo starting next term that that's great!

good on you! hope your little boy enjoys nursery!

You can always find term dates on the local government/council website if you are stuck.

Got those now thanks - didn't think about that website! Just have to get the dates of the inset days now!