SCHOOL- starting in sept..anyone?

[laneydaye]

my ds is........ and wont be 5 till january...
scary..
im exited i think, but a little scAred!
how do you feel?

got dd at home so wont be bored though....xx

Azure they're not compulsary. DS1 had them after his 3.5 year check-up, but it was down to me to get this booked (in our PCT it is the doctor who does this review, not the hv.) Once he had had the check done I was encouraged to book up for the jabs. But I don't think that the school can insist on them. London have had a bit of a blitz on boosters though so you may find that the school does a check, and offers you the option of having the booster at school.

Second that, we are in w12 and the school sent home a form for us to fill in, required details of when had booster and whether single or combined. The offer I think was that they were arranging sessions for children whose parents wanted/needed top up. It wasn't compulsory - and we were already sorted so I have no idea how they handled the refuseniks.

My ds1 is going for his first storytime tomorrow, so his first official visit. I am feeling a bit nervous about it as we have to wait for him with all the other parents. As for uniform am hoping from tomorrow i will be able to see what most of the reception where as am not sure if they have to wear ties at their age -school information sent wasnt the very informative.

DS2 has his hour-long orientation session this pm. Not a good day really as we have been away for the weekend and he is very tired. When I told him that he was going to his new school, he said "But I won't be 4 on Monday" - he isn't 4 till end of August and he knows 'new school' starts when he's 4!

DS is only 3.9 but is starting at the Kindergarten bit of his "big school" in September. Unhelpfully, they have just moved the orientation day which means that it (coincidentally) comes immediately after DS's leaving party at nursery school (at which they have an entertainer, unsuitable party food and a lot of silly and overexcited running around as only 3 year olds know how to). Couple with that I have a completion meeting on a transaction I have been working on for 4 months. Accordingly the Anchovy family will turn up for DS's induction:

1. DS frothing at the mouth in sugar over-drive. I have precisely 1 hour to get him back from nursery school party, sponge him down, give him something sensible to eat, put clean clothes on him and get him to new school induction, which takes place at exactly the same time he has his lunchtime rest;

2. Anchovy wearing suit she has worn for last 2 days having been in the office for 48 hours constantly looking slightly disorientated and contact lenses now sticking to eyeballs. Blackberry buzzing in handbag as assistants fret about a variety of things (clients are in another jurisdiction and don't need to know about me taking some time out). Trying to take furtive mobile phone calls while listening to some exquisitely pointless information like why it is necessary to have a shoe bag with DS's name embroidered on it.

3. DH looking serene and well groomed. Everyone thinking he is "lovely" and isn't it marvellous how he has taken the afternoon off work.

The scenario will end with DS vomiting up vast amounts of party food (and very small amount of sensible boiled egg); no one wanting to talk to me as I loook like a crazy bag lady; my head falling off through over work half way through a discussion about recommended contents of packed lunches or me shouting "Buckaroo" when the final request comes from my completion meeting and throwing my mobile onto the "allweather sports court"; no one making eye contact with me for the next 7 years DS is at the school; DD's automatic sibling place being revoked for "unspecified reasons".

anchovy.

My DDs have their introductory hour this week and one of them is desperate to wear her new school uniform when she goes. Do you think other children will do this or would she be the only one? Don't want her feeling silly when she gets there!

Anchovy - LOL . Well, it can only go better than you are expecting. Issymum - I wish I was even a tiny bit as organised as that! DS had a "meet the new classmates" tea last week - as he's at the nursery he already knows half the class. I only heard about the tea the day before and so wasn't able to go - our after-school nanny took him instead. Boy, do I regret that decision. It transpires that the rumour I had heard that the child of a heart-throb actor (well, to some of us) was going to be in his class was true and said actor was actually there. I don't want to say who it is, but I was devastated. I may even brush my hair when it's the first day of school just in case - though as my baby is due 2 weeks beforehand just getting there will be an achievement.

Sandyballs, I would not expect any of the children will be wearing uniform. I'm impressed you've got it already, though. Second-hand sale on Wednesday so I'm hoping to pick up a coat and blazer there.

I didn't think they would . Not sure what to do now, she'll be so disappointed if I make her wear normal clothes. Think I might just let her wear it anyway but emphasise the fact that she might be the only one.

Haven't got uniform yet for DS. Got a letter today confirming his starting date of 7th September. He has a pair of school trousers that he wore to a wedding recently. He is practically the same size as his sister so he can have one of her jumpers. Still need to buy them both new white polo tops. I bet I am out at the beginning of September trying to find some!

Got a meeting at the school today at 2.30 pm to discuss Reception Intake for September so should get all the info today plus outfitters with also be there trying to sell the uniform

Already made two visits to the second hand uniform sale - one to purchase, and one to return most everything I'd purchased as DD is currently going like a weed! I was glad to have found a good condition blazer and winter coat as those are the two most expensive items, so it wasn't a complete waste of time.

After the second hand uniform sale, it was off to the "official uniform supplier" where we bought the required items at vastly inflated prices. Was told by the department manager that most of the other mums had already been in - and here was me thinking we were going to be way ahead of the crowd!

Last week was the introductory tea for incoming reception girls. It was a bit nervewracking, and exciting. Nervewracking because all the little ones were clingy, shy, acting strangely, etc until they settled. Exciting because it really heralds a new phase for the children and their parents. I looked around the room at the other children/mums and realised that we will get to know each other fairly well over the next year, so our circle of friends/acquaintances is about to expand dramatically.

I must confess to feeling a bit nervous about all of it. There are so many changes on the horizon. Our "age of innocence" is coming to an end, and it feels as if it's gone far too fast. I know I shall feel quite emotional on the first day of "big school" !

Anchovy, killed myself laughing at your description of your anticipated orientation visit. On a more serious note - b**y awful timing!

DS2 has his orientation visit tomorrow, not anticipating any traumas as ds1 is already at the school, so he knows the routine. Any tears will be all on my part! He was 4 in March so not particularly young in his year but he's my BABY!

Oh and it's not just private schools which have huge uniform lists. DS's nice Catholic state primary requires a large variety of logo'd stuff in particular shades, including blazer, cap and PE kit. DS1's cast-offs are not fit for using as dusters (although he may well have been using them as such for some time at school, given the state of them)so I anticipate a credit-card melting trip to the school outfitters in the coming weeks.

I'm thinking of some lateral approaches. Best I've come up with so far of is trying to invoke the Proceeds of Crime Act whereby you have to go into mysterious silent "cooling off" period which could coincidentally last as long as it takes for me to go to orientation and get back to office. Or murmuring "there may be financial assistance involved" and then legging it.

Ds went to a party on Saturday - the first I have left him at - and told me he had two types of cake, cake for tea and then after that some cake for pudding. When I asked him if he had a sandwich or some pizza or maybe sausages he looked at me pityingly and used the voice of explaining something to someone slightly dim and said "No Mummy, I told you, I just had cake". So I think we can assume the chances of him eating sensibly at his party are nil.

Lying drunk on the floor of Balls Brothers is so much the better option. Unfortunately DH knows I have form in such matters.....

Sandyballs, a couple of little girls were in uniform yesterday for DS's induction. So she might not be the only one....

Thanks Singersgirl. I don't know why I'm worrying about this so much, I'm usually quite a chilled sort . Just want her to fit in I suppose from the start.

For the past week or so, DD has been quite clingy, sensitive and attention seeking.

I spoke to the headmistress at her nursery to ask how she's been at school. Headmistress confirmed the behaviour was in evidence at school too, but said that almost all the children are acting that way, in varying degrees at the moment. She put it down to the fact that they know big changes are on the horizon with end of school year/summer coming/new schools in the fall, etc., and said their anxiety is causing the older ones to act out of character.

Anyone else going through this with their children?

yes - it's ds's induction hour (!) next Thursday when he goes in on his own - he was fine about it until he heard that he'd be left, and now he's really worrying about it. Up til now he's been very excited about the prospect of big school, but now it's turning into a reality, he's realising the enormity.

How annoying - I'm not able to make the second-hand uniform sale this afternoon after all (too much work). Looks like it'll be brand new, full price items for DS - I dread to think what it'll cost. Just as a flavour of things to come at school (he's in the nursery at the moment), DS had sports day the other afternoon (the nursery joined together with the school), has a dance show on Friday morning and next Tuesday a eurythmics display (whatever that is), rather inconveniently at 1.30pm. All lovely - but I wish I didn't have to fit in work as well.

Earlybird, DS has been a bit clingy as well - I wonder if it is awareness of the move to "big school", plus the arrival of a brother in 6 weeks or so.

We had to miss second hand sale for work too, so DD will be sporting a nice floor length Gaberdine come september-if I'm paying full-price for it, i'm going to make it last!

By the time we bought the skirts, various summer/winter shirts, cardigan, blazer, winter coat, rain coat, gym kit, ballet stuff, regulation hat/gloves, scarf, hairbands, art smock, shoes, socks etc, I spent over 500 pounds. I almost had heart failure, but comfort myself by saying that she will only need a party dress and a few bits of playclothes in addition. But, it is scary to think that so much money is required by the school to be spent in order to attend.

£500 . Thank goodness #2 is a boy as well. Marialuisa, LOL at the gaberdine coat - yes, I think we'll have to get one with "growing room".