DD starts school in September. I'm getting it all wrong...

[StarlightMcKenzie]

So, Have started to look at the uniform stuff.

First question. Is there any rule about when she can wear summer dresses? She's a hot thing, and looking at the rest of the uniform, I can't really see her in anything else for most/all of the year.

Second question. It isn't clear whether she should have a jumper or cardigan. She has enough buttons on her dress so assuming she's going to stick with that, so can she wear a jumper, or are they only for boys. Not clear.

Next question. Letter says must have a standard size lunch box. WTF is a standard size?

Next question. Letter says must have ice-packs/cooler things in lunch box. REALLY? Why?

Next question. Must have clear water bottle with name on. I'm guessing we don't need to get branded water or does it have to be unopened so that they know it is just water and no juice added? That will be a bit expensive right? Can I just refill it each day and write her name on with permanent marker?

[forevergreek]

Also, in regards to clothes storage could you ad another rail/ shelve in wardrobe? Childrns things dont need to be full length so will have space

[forevergreek]

We travel light. Very light ie : 2 hand luggage size rucksacks between x2 adults and x2 toddlers for travelling and nothing else.:

However.. I can't imagine never going out without a water bottle or not owning hats etc.

I would make yourself a list of everything they have asked for and try and accomadate for it. Check what others use and get that. Could you not get your baby a hat from somewhere? My children also get warm but when playing outside in winter it's freezing and thy need decent coat: thermals/ hats etc..

I know many things we didn't have, but also it wasn't as nice. Ie ie remember playing outside at school frozen as had wet feet and no gloves, hence schools now ask for welly boots and hats/ gloves to be sent in. Same with suncream, people used to just burn, but now we realise this isn't good for you/ cancer blah blah so suncream is the way forward

I would maybe ask for a meeting at school if you want to clarify things and make sure you know what's what, I'm sure they won't mind

[missnevermind]

Starlight - with the sandwiches at lunch thing. What would happen if you were entitled to free school dinners. Would the child be refused to claim them for the 1st term ?

[LoopyLupo]

SISTEMA bottles - I bought two from Asda this week for £2 each. They haven't leaked yet.

[Margetts]

My DD likes to be the same as everyone else but I have never bought her school shoes. I think she is too young to wear black shoes, she likes this as its easy for her to know which are her shoes.

[Margetts]

I put an ice pack in the school lunch box as they are left on a trolley behind glass which gets full sun !!
My daughter has 2 dresses, I couldn't get away with one, as I wouldn't want the stress of making sure it's dry in the morning. A little girl in her class wears her summer dress all year and it looks ok with tights. She will need a cardigan to wear out at break and lunchtime otherwise they may make her wear her coat!!

[TantrumsAndBalloons]

Can I just say that is impossible to get every thing right and perfect before they start school.
Because you have no idea what the weather will be like, what they want to wear, how dirty they will get, whether their friends are wearing jumpers or cardigans, whether they will lose their water bottles, what day p e is, what they will want for lunch until they actually get there.

Buy a mix of summer/winter uniform, a standard lunchbox from Asda, socks and tights, a cardy and a jumper.

By October, you will know what you need more of/don't need at all.

[mrsyattering]

• SISTEMA bottles

[mrsyattering]

The bottles link further upthread are the ones we use, asda have them beside all the lunch boxes etc. These all seem to be approx same size.

My DD has 4 dresses (we never get 2 days out of one) 2 pinafores, 4 cardis (she leaves one everyday in school) and 4 polo shirts. Hot days she wears dresses. Most of her uniform came from Asda and Morrisons (Nutmeg range) so not too expensive)

[BigBoobiedBertha]

Mmm, ime, empty mineral water bottles are a very expensive way to go. DS1 was getting through at least 1 a week because he chewed the lids - it only takes a little chew to warp them. It is difficult to chew the lids of the bottles we have. They are very flimsy too so don't withstand being in bags with books or anything heavy as they end up cracking and generally their lids leak very easily even if you put them on properly which I always double check. DC may not remember not to chew but they always remember to close the lid which helps with soggy books. Each to their own though. Everybody the same bottles as us here so they can't be too bad. Perhaps you had a duff one. Sometimes, if you buy an extra lid, they don't fit without a bit of a struggle to put them. Mostly they are fine and at 30p each it isn't a big deal to splash out if you do get one that doesn't fit so well.

[Zingy123]

Bigboobiedbertha our school has those bottles for sale. They are awful they constantly leak. I had to replace a reading book as my Dd's leaked in her bag. Empty mineral water bottles are so much better.

[MicroMouse]

The ins and outs of 'why' are pointless.

If the school expects them to have them then you have to send them in. Or be hassled about it later. And tbh, its the child that is asked 'where is your bookbag' and then feels awkward because his or her parent didn't provide one.

[LittleBearPad]

Also DH has reminded me he used to take a thermos of coffee to primary school with him! Different times!

[LittleBearPad]

When did water bottles become critical to a child's school day . I'm sure I managed 14 years of schooling without the need for one!

Sorry for the tangent Starlight I'm just amazed by requirements these days.

Also icepacks in lunch boxes! Isn't part of the school lunch box experience the slimy warm cheese sandwich / warm yoghurt combo

[StarlightMcKenzie]

Right. Okay. Consensus seems to be that skirt and polo are the best options until she says something/complains of being hot or whatever.

Thanks.

Got shoes already so that is one thing I don't have to worry about. Thank goodness she still has a month to go.

I suppose I am just trying to balance the line that is giving her enough to fit in, but not more than is strictly necessary.

I do wish they'd do school dinners from the start though.

[BigBoobiedBertha]

Do the school not sell water bottles? Ours do, nothing fancy but much better than ones in the shops and only £1 - these if you can get hold of. If you have a lid chewer, the replacement lids are only 30p each. The bottles last a lot longer than using an old mineral water bottle which had to be replaced weekly with DS1 (the lid chewer) and so work out much cheaper. Even if they don't chew the lids, the mineral water bottles are very flimsy and crack I find.

It would be worth asking the school although presumably they would have suggested it if they did stock them.

I have a very hot DS2. He is fine in trousers and short sleeved polo shirts, although inclined to be sweaty at playtimes. I would reckon that a skirt and polo shirt would be even cooler. I have to agree with others that it would be better if your Dd fitted in rather than wore a dress. I don't think a dress is that much cooler personally. She can also wear short socks which will help too.

[StarlightMcKenzie]

He doesn't have a water bottle that I know of.

[StarlightMcKenzie]

I have no idea what my son does. He has autism so it is a cheese sandwich and a Ribena carton EVERY DAY. He has transport and his escort deals with it. I suspect if he needs water at school he'll get it.

[CaptainSweatPants]

I'm confused

You've got a son in year 2 but you don't get the water bottle & lunch box thing? What does your son do?

[bronya]

Going by friends' kids:

• hats, gloves and scarves just get lost.
  
• warm waterproof coat essential as they're outside for 40 min or so at lunchtime, whatever the weather, and have free flow play at other times, hence the need for wellies in the rain.
  
• winter uniform isn't that hot - cotton/poly polo shirt, knee length thin skirt, short socks, shoes. Most of my friends' kids freeze in Dec/Jan/Feb (school heating = rubbish!) and send them in thermal underwear beneath the polo shirt, and thick woollen tights. So I doubt she'd be too hot in just the polo shirt and the skirt. If she gets hot, get a cardy - can be worn undone so not as hot.

[StarlightMcKenzie]

Sun hats are probably okay as we seem to have a stash and I got DD to leave one at nursery. Sunscreen presumably goes on before they get to school right so doesn't need to go with them.

[curlew]

My children never wore winter hats, gloves (unlss it was actually snowing) or scarves- it never caused a problem. Sun hat and sunscreen-you will have to get your head round those, I'm afraid.

I would have talked directly to your dd's prospective teacher about the home visit- I would be amazed if the time couldn't have been changed under the circumstances.

[StarlightMcKenzie]

Anyway, the home visit thing is sorted as I bumped into her teacher at something else and she confirmed that despite the office promising to pass on our request for time change, they never did and she is more than happy to come at another time.

Suppose that is why I am a bit cross with the 'school'. Though not the teacher, obviously.

[StarlightMcKenzie]

I never expected teachers to accommodate any 'preferred time'.

But 9am on the morning my disabled son starts another school and where parents are required has hardly anything to do with preference. Medical appointments, work commitments and holidays can be changed, but unless my dd's school are free and easy with allowing days off themselves, they should understand the situation with ds and accommodate it IMO.


And a home visit might not be important to you, but to us it helps to bridge gaps and ask questions and get a bit more 'feel' for what is expected as I have already mentioned, I don't tend to 'get' things that seem obvious to everyone else.

And I gave up with hats and gloves when my first screamed like a banshee for having them on and suffered no ill-effects from throwing them off.

[NarkyNamechanger]

Gosh