Thread For Boarders

[morethanpotatoprints]

Just thought I'd start a support thread for those either starting this september or established boarders happy to help those with many queries.

There are quite often individual threads for particular schools but it doesn't necessarily say whether boarding, day, private or state in the title. So I thought this would be a good way of getting us all together and also for those people from overseas looking for particular types of schools.

My dd is starting in sept and will weekly board, atm I am gathering uniform and other essential items and will begin the labelling process soon.
I do quite like this as sad as it seems, I find hand sewing very therapeutic and relaxing for some reason.

If your paper diary is the default do try to back all the dates up on your phone calendar. I find the constant alerts and pings mean school dates are to the forefront of my mind (and I can impress the child by dropping obscure lectures and socials into conversation).

Also make sure the rest of your family's calendars are synchronised!

Nice thread.

My two have been boarding (weekly) for two years now. Only two years left for DD1! Mine are at different schools, which has worked well, as they are not compared with each other. DD1 is at a very glitzy international school, DD2's school is more quirky, and suits her better. Both took a bit of time to settle in. DD1 still calls or skypes us every night, DD2 will text us if she wants something or to tell us what time she will be in on Friday.

Ds's school gp is a god send. Really good. He's sorted out his migraines and although I've had to go to our go during the holidays a couple of times its not been a problem. Even with repeat prescriptions. Our school recommends using the school gp and it does work for most girls as a lot of the time parents are too busy to come and collect them to take them to appointments.
If the school recommend tuck boxes get them, my sons school have lockable lockers in the common room, but at the school I work at, food is kept in their room. But no nuts allowed!
.

Yay! we have ordered the tuck box from storagetrunks.co.uk, we have the uniform and started seeing lables...or at least grandma has started lol can anyone suggest lables for shoes?

Lovely

Well done with getting grandma sewing. I am doing it all but am enjoying it.
Have done uniform now but still a long way to go yet.
For shoes I'm using sticky plasters with name written on and sending some extras. They stay in much longer than other sticking labels and also work well on canvas pumps and trainers.
I know it's not very posh but does work.
You need to use the fabric ones though, and a long strip cut to size works the best.

Oh, forgot to say I've name changed.
It's still me, the tuck box and labelling queen

OK, I need to get DS1 another pair of slippers for this year. They need to be the boring non-novelty types with backs. Size 4. John Lewis have none. M&S have one style in size 4 (with minnie mouse on). Selfridges have none. Clarks have none. Start-rite have none. Debenhams have none.

I can't be the only parent in this situation. surely most boarders have to have slippers. Where can I get them?

My dd starts weekly boarding from September. Year 7. She hasn't hit puberty yet and isn't sweaty. House staff do laundry once a week for them.

Winter uniform is long sleeved white shirt, tie, v-neck jumper and skirt.

How many should I buy of each to start with?

Traditional slippers are a pain to find. I often spot them in the windows of tweedy mens' outfitters but never when they're needed. And probably not in a size 4.

I remember one winter we tried to tempt the child with actual Ugg sheepskin slippers (the women's sizes fitted and the colours were perfectly okay) but he absolutely refused. We have had some from M&S - almost comically plain. I'm sure Muji has intermittently sold something suitable as well. And possibly Toast - although most of theirs don't seem to have a proper, hard wearing, late evening cricket worthy sole.

Howto crocs? Either the clog shaped ones or the flip flops?
Gruach I used to provide 3-4 polo shirts, three jumpers and two pairs of trousers (worn everyday but Sat PM and Sunday) for my DS's when at prep I think washing jumpers was once a week, polo shirts/trousers twice a week. Now he has two suits, three to four shirts ("uniform" is only worn for lessons) and home clothes, washing as required.
Usually IME the school states how many to send as space is often limited.
I wouldn't buy too much in the beginning at most schools pupils have an account with the uniform supplier (HM's/matron provide a chit) so you can always buy more if you need it.

Wasn't me asking HG! (We have strict, unbending and unending lists for every last thing.)

Sorry meant Kingscote

Dd has slipper boots from joules. I don't think anyone has plain slippers. They are either slipper boots or novelty ones or some of them just use Bloch bootees as slippers. Might be different for the boys (who don't tend to post pics of their slippers on Instagram!)

IME younger boys often wear this sort of thing, older boys with bigger feet this kind of thing instead of conventional slippers.

Howtodrain try good old Amazon www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00LMAA19C/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_3?pf_rd_p=569136327&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B00940GK1K&pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_r=1S2B3MQHVQRG26YEZ77P

Although HG's choices are more exciting if allowed by the boarding house.
My DS wears espadrilles in the boarding house which double up as normal footwear for the warmer weather.

thank you - I will resort to either amazon or joules. Sadly they're not allowed crocs (don't know why) and also are not allowed onesies - has to be dressing gowns, which are also hard to find at this time of year. Fortunately, he still fits into last year's.

I've always bought dressing gowns )"(boys/men's) from M and S or JL if you wait till the end of August I suspect they'll both have lots it.

Kingscote

My dd the same but has gone through puberty and is sweaty. I don't know if I'm right but have bought 3 long and 3 short sleeved blouses, but fear I may need 5 of each.
I have also bought 3 pairs trousers and 2 skirts. One of those are concert dress though so two would do if they have options.
Also, one school cardigan and one school jumper.
I'm also new though so if somebody could advise.

How many ties? I'm hoping mine have passed the age of wearing their school dinner, but I'm not sure...

At least three if their silk DS has goes through silk ties at a frightening rate.

I'd get 2 ties at least, my ds weren't boarders and quite often lost one/ misplaced temporarily. Then there's helping out a mate temporarily too.
I'm not certain though. Maybe one of the uniform gurus will be along soon.

Wow, speak of the devil
Hello HG, hope you are well.

I'm very well thank you. to you too.
Boarders frequently change their clothes in a day, school uniform to games kit back to school uniform then home clothes and then even "Sunday best" for chapel or a special event (many boarders become quick change artists) so ties etc are frequently taken on and off, this is reflected in their excessive wear and tear DS2 has gone through more ties in four years than My DH is our whole married life.
I suspect polyester school type ties probably last longer but DS's school don't have an official school tie.
They do get borrowed as well, friends misplace theirs then they misplace the borrowed one although matrons frequently have spares. In fact matrons frequently have spares of most things.