Any advice for a new boarder in Y7?

[mustardrarebit]

My DD12 has unexpectedly been offered an earlier place at a specialist music school from January, so we are scrambling to prepare. DH only boarded at 6th form, so there's a vast difference between him and a pre-teen girl!

Can anyone pass on any pearls of wisdom, or advise on what she needs to take that I might not have considered?

She's getting a phone for Xmas, as the school likes them to have one.

Any tips or suggestions would be most welcome!

• A comfy dressing gown (possible with her name printed or embroidered on it)
• Slippers/house socks
• A room/pillow spray
• A mug
• Stand alone photo frames
• Printed photos
• a hot water bottle
• Nice bedsheets
• a bed cover /blanket/throw
• Call up and ask how they are allowed to decorate ( is there a pin board, can they use magnets on wall frames, can they put anything on the walls, are they allowed battery powered fairy lights or battery powered "candles" , can they change the curtains ( we could at my boarding school), can you string up a sort of washing line with pegs and printed photos)

• something to share ( nice chocolate powder or mini marshmallows)

• a pack of cards or a card game like uno

• a nice wash bag

• lots of knickers (in case she doesn't want to get them washed at school to start with)

• personalized pencil pot for her desk

Thank you. There's loads there I hadn't thought of. They do have a pin board and aren't allowed fairy lights, but I thought a string of flowers or pom poms might be nice.

Mattress topper
Sliders for the shower
Locked tuckbox
Mini fridge

Do you know anyone else there or can they put you in touch with another parent to ask, as norms can vary massively between schools, so for example mini fridges and battery powered lights/ candles definitely not allowed at DS's school and it's oodies and sliders rather than dressing gowns and slippers (and the girls just wear hoodies over their Pjs). But actually the house staff will be able to tell you this stuff at a push.

Wash bag- get one that has some sort of hook so it can be hung up on a back of door hook or over the shower door.
At least 3 toothbrushes.
More socks than you could possibly imagine one person needing.
Small lock box for valuables in addition to lockable tuck box
One of those instant shoe shine things
spare charging cables and charging block/ battery pack
Spares of stationary- pens/ pencils etc.
alarm clock as usually not allowed phones overnight
bedside lamp of some sort.

Get a sharpie/ laundry marker and write her name on literally everything.

Don't take anything really precious and limit "own clothes" as there's usually not a tonne of storage space.

None of them seem to wear coats but consider a waterproof/ water resistant school bag if there's a bit of a walk between boarding houses and lessons.

Warm clothes. Extra food. And make sure she has all the correct kit in the correct size (voice of experience!).

I'm hoping they will put us in touch with someone. We only found out she was being admitted on Friday though, so it's a panic to get everything sorted before Christmas (and DH going on jury service, leaving me alone to prep Xmas!) These suggestions are really helpful. They don't have a uniform, just concert wear. I'm not sure if that's a blessing or a curse tbh.

@LaPalmaLlama
Showing my age! It was dressing gowns and slippers when I was at school - but hoodies were already becoming a thing for the cool kids ... I'm closer to 40 than anything else though!

Ring pulls from drinks cans - slot over hangers to make more hanging space, as that is often at a premium.
Ensure she's ready on the period front if not yet started. Period swimwear if appropriate.

Massive amounts of instant noodles
Endless supply of wired earbuds

Label everything with proper embroidered name tapes sewn in. It’s fast and easy if you have a decent zz sewing machine. Send spare name tapes, and make sure she knows how to sew on by hand. Don’t send clothes that need to be washed on delicate. Too often, everything in boarding houses is washed on boil and dried on high.
The shower caddies made of mesh are very practical. If tights are part of concert wear, send extras and bra bag for washing.

A small personal first aid kit. Make sure she knows about paracetamol and ibuprofen and how to use it. Include Ponstan.

Find out about going to the doctor etc so she knows the procedure.

A box of tissues.

Does she know how to wash blood out of clothes?

A basic shoe care kit. A clothes brush as she will be performing in public.

Just random thoughts from a long time ago.

Thanks, these are all really useful suggestions. I just had to Google Ponstan @TheSandgroper I might get some for myself! Really need to teach her to sew, but she's always been very resistant to it.

I think it's the school mine went to for 6th form. They label clothes for you if needed. Pocket money is useful- I used to put some in his bank each month. Raincoat would be good too 😂

Thanks, that's handy to know. I'm trying to find a name stamp that she had in infant school so I can buy an ink pad to send with her. We've had a guidebook through and they only allow them £10 in cash in her house. I don't imagine she will need much, and we are only an hour away in emergencies. I'll send her with a rain coat, without any expectation of it being worn. I swear the child is impervious to rain 😆

I was being optimistic with the raincoat. It does rain a lot there though! If you're on facebook there's a PTA/parents group on there.

Thank you. I'll have a look on FB, it would be so helpful to have parents to talk to.

I can DM you the details later- just off out now

Coats - for DS I bought a Trespass puffa thing that is both warm and reasonably waterproof as his house is a good 10 mins from the main school building. It has been worn (possibly to play rugby in) as evidenced by the mud.

On the pocket money, check they don't mean "10 in cash but they can also have cards"- possibly they just dont want a lot of cash in the house. I would deffo get her a bank card if allowed so she can order bits online if needed (and if they are allowed to) and also if they go anywhere at weekends that doesn't take cash. DS's school allows online deliveries/ weekend food delivery but basically won't accept responsibility for them. However, useful in a pinch -e.g. lost calculator and school shop out of stock.

A GoHenry card or similar is probably useful for sending money - by year 7 that's the norm at DD's school if they don't have a bank account. I think you can get an account for free with someone like Nationwide at 12 though and then they can just have a card as usual.

DD does get through the pocket money - but that's because she can go into town pretty easily, should imagine at the school your DD is off to it is a bit more locked down as is urban and she's younger.

Lots of concert wear, especially tights. Metronome and tuner if they don't allow them to use their phones. endless charging cables including long ones for phones (LABEL THESE).

plasters and paracetamol (so they don't have to ask) and Strepsils (ditto) have been invaluable to DD but you may not want to give those so young. DD just hides them. Cash in pound coins is useful, for charity days etc.

Yes to shoe cleaning kit, and teach her how to iron.

An alarm clock as phones won't be allowed in rooms or they aren't at most schools.

Check about paracetamol etc as my DD who is 15 is not allowed them in her room - they have to be given by house parent etc.

As others have said plenty of knickers and socks.

A mirror may also be useful for doing hair etc.

I imagine she will figure out the types of clothes most people are wearing pretty quickly and want similar. My DD went to board at 13 and was still wearing little cropped vests - I think her first message to me was 'omg I need a bra - I look like a baby compared to everyone else' ;)

Good luck!

Thanks @LaPalmaLlama I'll consider getting her a card for her bank account in that case. I know the school hold £50 for them and give to child if necessary, so will see how that goes.

@minisnowballs do you think she will need more than one concert dress? She's just picked one and a pair of shoes, I've no idea how much use it will get at this stage, so I'm glad you experienced people are here to advise!

@stillavid that's a great point about an alarm clock. Totally hadn't occurred to me!

@mustardrarebit they all seem to have loads at DD's place- but then she's older. She only had one when she went but spends a lot of time looking for concertwear in charity shops. Just make sure it's comfy for playing in. DD2 likes to have some heels - but not when she's standing to play solo, and some flats, as well as some dresses that work when singing but not when she's got an i instrument harness on, and some that work for everything. And trousers for playing contra. But I guess most instrument combinations aren't quite so complex.

I imagine she will start collecting black dresses 😆 She can only play piano in flats, but she's growing so quickly she's going to cost me a fortune!

Do you mind me asking if it's Wells Cathedral School? My daughter starts there as a specialist musician and I came to this thread to find out just that "What to bring to a boarding house?"

She's at Chetham's. I imagine the requirements are quite similar though. So far only one concert dress, but we are on our third pair of shoes in a year! She has quite a good capsule wardrobe, because she likes to keep her dorm wardrobe tidy and hates having to bring stuff home if she can avoid it. One thing she finds essential is a hanging box for the side of her bunk (top or bottom, it's equally useful for having essentials close at hand).

Hope your child has a wonderful time at Wells.