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Thread For Boarders

826 replies

morethanpotatoprints · 01/06/2015 11:33

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. Grin

OP posts:
happygardening · 02/07/2016 15:08

Decided what to wear better go and shower of horsey smell.

happygardening · 02/07/2016 15:11

I always cry at these type of things. probably why I don't like meaningless ritual!
So much has happened since DS started at Win Coll I lost both my parents and DS lost his very good friend in a freak accident, when we started we never saw any of this coming of course.

DarklingJane · 02/07/2016 15:17

I don't think this one is meaningless. Those boys have been through a lot together over the last few years and it's a lovely way to mark the end of an episode. If photos are important to you make sure you get a post near the staircase coming down from the dining hall.

Gruach · 02/07/2016 15:42

NewLife I'm sorry to hear that. It would obviously be a shame if this turned out not to be the right place - when it appeared to offer exactly what was needed. At least now you'll have some time to think.

Chin up HG!

NewLife4Me · 02/07/2016 17:39

Thanks Grauch atm it's looking unlikely tbh.
She is even talking about other schools herself, which if you can remember was the last thing she wanted, having begged us to go.
It will be a shame as she has made some lovely friends and has a lovely peer group, but if it isn't right then you have to move on.
The school are still more than happy for her to return in September, so no problems there.
Can't really say much more but whatever the outcome will be best for her.

HG, you will cry Grin Make sure you get lots of photos of his friends as well, unless they have an official end of school photo.

sendsummer · 04/07/2016 18:57

NewLife4Me I am sorry as well, especially as it seemed as though your DD was enjoying herself and in the right place for her talents despite her issues with organisation (making boarding so much harder) and likely SEN.
Only you know if you trust the school to actively manage her problems and safeguard her in the future. If you don't trust the school and house staff then it is time to move on.

sendsummer · 04/07/2016 19:24

Happy was it what you expected? I hope that the occasion was a celebration despite being poignant.

happygardening · 04/07/2016 19:37

It was an excellent evening, not overly formal, all the parents and staff were friendly, the food was nice, and the boys excited. At the end of the evening we heard them singing Dulce Domum which was very moving although I didn't cry or even feel a need too. The boys then came down the steps of college and were very upbeat, lots of photos were taken of them with their friends, HMs etc and then they all went off down the pub.
An perfect way of drawing a line, for us and the boys, under the last five years.

sendsummer · 04/07/2016 22:29

Sounds a great blend of marking the occasion whilst cementing friendships and good memories before the next phase.

gillybeanz · 27/07/2016 13:46

Hello, I'm back with yet another nc, this time couldn't be avoided as needed to reregister. Grin

We are working hard to make sure dd is able to go back in September as she loves it so much and it's where she wants to be, so will have to wait until we are sure. This isn't helpful to gaining the correct uniform and of course to be labelled in time Grin

Thought I'd resurrect the thread as seen a couple of boarding threads recently that haven't had responses.

Hope you are all well and enjoying the hols.

Trufflethewuffle · 27/07/2016 17:14

Hope things go well for you and your DD Gillybeanz.

gillybeanz · 27/07/2016 21:47

Truffle and Send

Thank you for your well wishes.
So much has happened over the past 6 weeks, and it is no way a final decision yet, but we are making progress and hope to have a report and suggested intervention/ plan by the end of August, which is cutting it fine.
We are very open though and she has stopped fighting us now which is a huge step forward.
She finally sees that we are on her side as are her teachers, SENCO and Pastoral care.
Progress at last. Grin Though there is much ground to cover, with what sounds like lots of hard work and a requirement for Gin. Grin

Adventurers71 · 28/07/2016 08:26

gillybeanz

I hope everything gets put in place in time for your DD. It sounds like it has been a very stressful time for you all.

gillybeanz · 28/07/2016 15:50

Thanks Adventurers

It has been so hard, I can't begin to tell you, but hopefully we are coming out the other end now.
I know a lot of people would say any major problem and the child shouldn't be boarding, but it's not so simple, especially when they want to be there.
It's also hard determining what she will cope with, what she won't and of course what we'll do in the event of school saying they can't provide for her needs.
They did say this was unlikely, but were honest and said it has happened before.
We have another appointment with CAMHS next week, hopefully the start of assessments so should know more then.
Her school do have a very good SENCO though and provision for Comp Ed is far better than our local schools, which we also have to bare in mind.

Hope you are all doing well and dc enjoying their hols.

Adventurers71 · 30/08/2016 13:08

Having a laugh at how different preparations are for this year.

Only bought one pair of good sturdy school shoes for the beginning of the year and will buy more as the year progresses (last year bought two and DS almost outgrew the 2nd pair before they were even worn)

I haven't even started sewing labels on the new things as yet. (I think last year I was finished by this time)

Have bought things I don't mind him wearing all weekend - last year he drove me crazy with horrid jogging trousers everytime I saw him as they were "comfortable" and he hated wearing jeans. So although we have joggers (they are a little more trendy this time around and hopefully won't go all bobbly) we also have other casual clothes that are not jeans that he will be happy to wear i.e. chinos or shorts (just in case the weather is warm so he doesn't sweat in those horrid joggers)

So this week I will be sewing, sewing, sewing but in general everthing is much more relaxed knowing I can send things in the mail or take them down for exeats if needed.

FantasyAndHope · 31/08/2016 10:43

DD is going back next Tuesday! Ready to
Start her alevels she's staying at the same school for sixth form uniform was £650 so my pockets are very light! Still got to buy stationary and things

devondream · 01/09/2016 06:44

Hello,

We are gearing up for our third year of full boarding here.

Can't believe where the last 2 years went to!

DS was only 10 when he started and I am do proud of how he has done.

He goes back on Monday night and we will travel back to the UK on Sunday ( we are currently posted overseas).

I still have my sewing to do! But "only" 40 odd labels this year.

Just going through his clothes which I washed back in July and am uncovering underpants and trousers which don't belong to us!!! Tip to other mums... Clothes with handwritten initals on labels disappearing off on a trip overseas for a few weeks. Makes me realize the sewing in of labels is worth the pain.

Good luck to everyone.

thebakerwithboobs · 07/09/2016 19:55

Hi, I'm after a bit of a hand hold here if I can have one? Our eleven year old has started boarding this week. He was so excited and had loved his taster weekend. He had a bit of a wobble last night but has rung tonight wanting to come home. It was so hard hearing him crying. All the things that have upset him are, I know, just transition things he would experience anyway like bigger boys being a bit mean to the year sevens, finding that teachers at secondary school are not the friendly souls they are at primary school etc. He's also been confused by the washing rota but hadn't asked anyone, muppet! He said also that he is trying to go to the toilet in the middle of the night because other boys try to pick the locks on the toilets when the year sevens are in there and he is worried they will get in and see he is circumcised. I'm sure he is making big issues out of things that are trivial but it's so hard not being able to give him a big cuddle and I just want to bring him home Sad

arranged · 07/09/2016 20:09

Hi baker.

I'm house mother at a boarding school. We have a few Y8s struggling to settle at the moment but once they know the routines and have done it a couple of times they don't look back. I wouldn't be worried about that at all.

The toilet thing is very worrying though and miles from acceptable. I'd be dropping the housemaster a quick email to make him aware. If I received info like this I'd be coming down hard on the culprits. It's just not acceptable these days and I really feel for your son. Imagining not even being able to go to the loo in peace? Not right at all.

PumpkinPie9 · 07/09/2016 21:11

I agree that you should contact the housemaster. He can then try and catch them in the act and put a stop to it. I'd mention the other unkindness too.

PumpkinPie9 · 07/09/2016 21:13

And the other problems he's had and the wanting to come home.

thebakerwithboobs · 07/09/2016 21:16

Thank you for the replies. I have just spoken to the housemaster on the phone and am very hopeful. He sounds understanding and wanted to get to the bottom of it so I am hoping for better news tomorrow. I feel terrible.

arranged · 07/09/2016 21:18

Don't feel terrible. Nothing bad has happened and the housemaster will sort it.

Ask for a follow up though so you know something has been done. I wouldn't necessarily be admitting to my DC that i was the one who dobbed them in either Smile

arranged · 07/09/2016 21:19

Bless the housemaster for answering the phone at 9pm Smile

I feel his pain....

thebakerwithboobs · 07/09/2016 21:48

Well, he didn't answer his phone unwarned in fairness. He noticed my son was texting me as he was handing his phone in and that his eyes were red so he asked my son to get me to call him and said there was a form I needed to sign that he didn't have. Bless him it was a total lie, obviously but just the fact that he noticed and asked me to call has made me feel a bit better. It's so hard, much harder than I imagined which makes me sound like an idiot!

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