Schools and backpacks

[BeFire]

Are you allowed to take one at your school?

We've been told no book bags and no pe kits for now. And that the preference for packed lunches is wipeable plastic boxes or paper bags so everything is thrown away at the end of lunch.

But no mention of backpacks for putting lunch in or a change of clothes etc. I'm wondering where DC will put their lunch boxes if they can't bring a bag since lunch is normally left on their pegs.

How is your school going about this?

Yes we've been told they need their bag with pencil case and a reading book from home as they are not allowed to use the library.

They are wearing PE kit every day, but they need to take in rugby boots, hockey stick/pads AND cricket bat as they are going to do daily skills sessions covering all three sports (although I think those things are staying at school). They are also swimming weekly so need swim kit that day.

So, although they've paid lip service to the idea that fewer items need to travel between home and school, the reality is the usual wheelbarrowful.

We are from next week but dc4(5) wasn't in June/July when he we went back for 6 weeks. School are providing a pencil case for each child.

No backpacks allowed here. Just water bottle and lunch. Spare clothes ( only if necessary ) in a bag to be kept at school.

We've been told no bulky backpacks but they can bring flat book bags or drawstring bags. No lunchboxes allowed either, lunch has to be in a disposable plastic or paper sandwich bag.

Yes. DS has a fabric backpack by Animal I will send her in with and I can then wash it overnight, I’m looking for a second bag so I can have one to was and one to use. In short term will send her with her polythene PE bag on alternate days as that is also washable.

I'm trying to go along the route of the least amount of stuff going in to school but it's quite difficult in practice.

I'd like the school (primary) to be a bit more specific or I could just ask but I'm sure they have much bigger concerns right now .

Since they've said no pe kits or book bags I would assume that means they're hoping for no bags but I'm not sure how realistic that is in practice.

No bags or packed lunches for DS school.

Blimey ours is full kit! Judo, PE, Forest School, swimming, music bags .... it's endless first day of term!

We are to take disposable or washable bags with packed lunch, water bottle and fruit snack in separate packaging. That packaging has not been specified to be disposable. Asda have lots of washable drawstring bags at the moment so I bought two for wash and wear.

A real mixed bag then .

We're allowed lunch boxes as normal too (& we're before the summer hol). Interesting to see how different schools are doing it.

Were not we're

For the ones who aren't allowed backpacks have school organised somewhere for lunches to be kept?

Ours are to bring a bag in, everything they need to be kept in there.

Books, pe kit, and lunch as normal. KS1 are encouraged to have the free lunch, but KS2 can chose between packed, school lunch or a mixture as usual.

Their school day looks pretty normal, except staggered starts, breaks, and finish times. Plus staying in their own classroom instead of mixing in the year group in lessons (but year group still mixed for outside breaks, but that's only 60kids)

We've been told only lunch, water bottle and book bag. Which year 5 DD is mortified about!

Lunches normally go on a trolley in the hall, but I'm guessing will stay in the classroom now.

No school bags, no book bags, no lunch bags. Bring stationery in on first day in sandwich bag and it remains in school. Lunch must come in a disposable bag. Absolute nonsense if you ask me!

Dd wasn't allowed a backpack "to reduce cross-contamination", so she carried everything separately - water bottle, lunch bag, book, pencil case, jumper, house key, phone (walking home by self). Was a right mess. Backpack would have been a much better solution. Imagine it all go dumped on the floor in several places as the first stop was the loos to wash their hands on arrival, as was the last stop. (Loos shared across all KS2 bubbles.)

Ours need to bring their book bag plus drink and snack (and lunch if they want packed), and their indoor shoes. Reading books will be sent home from the start. No PE kit though: they need to wear it to school instead of uniform on PE days.

It does seem a bit messy. 1 bag with everything in would make more sense to me.
I'm also thinking of older girls who may need to take sanitary towels etc in. They're not going to want to be carrying them.

@yomellamoHelly seriously!? Where is the logic in that!?!?

We were given information in July about the re start in sept but considering the school opens again nxt week we've had no updated info sent over so haven't got a clue yet 🤷🏼‍♀️! Hoping to hear something soon

DS primary school: only lunch box, water bottle and fruit snack from home, book bag but no back pack. Wear PE clothes on PE days. Welly boots to be brought in on first day and left at school until half term. Only bring outdoor coat if poor weather. Everything kept/stored in classroom.