Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Education

Join the discussion on our Education forum.

Flip

1 2 3 4

Original poster

DS starting Reception in September

95 replies

PrettyCandles · 02/08/2005 15:20

What do I need to prepare for him?

The school list only uniform. What else ought I to have ready?

Also, I'm not the world's greatest fan of synthetics, is there anywhere I can get grey school trousers that aren't made of 100% polyester?

OP posts:

motherinferior · 02/08/2005 21:29

motherinferior · 02/08/2005 21:30

mumbee · 02/08/2005 22:12

Also the battle of stand or sit to use the toilet which unitil Ds went to nursery was not a problem All the little boys stand, my Ds still sat. So the agreement is away from do what ever at home you sit I do not want the mess!!

Expecting that battle later on in school life!!

Original poster

PrettyCandles · 03/08/2005 14:14

Oooo, thanks, and can I have a teeny-weeny boast here please? Ds can do all of the things you have suggested that he needs to be able to do . TBH, it never occurred to me that any of them would be an issue - only maybe bum-wiping, and we started working on that 6 months ago.

I'll have a look at M&S for trousers. JL had 100% cotton sports shirts, but only in the larger sizes. JL's trousers knocked me for six when I first saw them - I'd never come across Teflon-coated polyester trews before! It sounds a good idea, but is Teflon really necessary? The children's nursery uniforms have survived this far, and they're poly-cotton with no Teflon or Scotchguard or whatever.

I thought I'd start him off with three shirts, two pairs of trousers and one sweater, and get more as needed. Is this practical, or will I find that the stuff has walked out of the shops, like Willies and sandals - neither of which you can find in July.

What about shoe-bags, pencil cases etc? If the school doesn't mention them, does that mean the children don't need them in Reception?

OP posts:

charliecat · 03/08/2005 15:13

I would say it means he doesnt need them yet I would get more than one jumper, it will be winter soon afetr he starts and then the first thing to get dirty will be his jumper, you can buy blue/green/red ones in woolies for 5/6 pounds.

Original poster

PrettyCandles · 03/08/2005 15:16

Good point, Charliecat. Two or more jumpers it is then.

And BTW - - Wellingtons are difficult to get in July, not, ahem...the typo.

OP posts:

charliecat · 03/08/2005 15:18

I knew what you meant!

Gobbledigook · 03/08/2005 15:22

PMSL - willies!!

I don't think they need pencil case etc - we've been told they don't. They have a book bag (a school one again) and they have to have a PE bag clearly labelled so that they recognise it among all the others that will be there.

mumbee · 04/08/2005 09:21

Some thing occured to me yesterday whilst getting ready to go out for the day. Ds struggles to turn clothes the right way out when he has taken them ie for swimming. So where having to work on that one now so that he does not come out of PE lessons with tops on inside out and back to front!!

Twiglett · 04/08/2005 09:27

OMG you need to put labels in socks ???

Mum2girls · 04/08/2005 09:28

DP has been saying that we should get 5 of everything for DD - 5 polo shirts, 5 skirts (or mix of skirts, trousers, dress) etc.

But everyone here agrees 3 should be enough?

Twiglett · 04/08/2005 09:29

I suppose we'll need shorts and trousers for september do you think???

SoupDragon · 04/08/2005 09:30

From experience, be prepared for skiddy underpants. DS1 eventally sorted his body clock so he pooed before school and when he got home.

Peer pressure is good for other stuff like knives and forks so don't worry.

If you have younger sibblings, just put your surname in the uniform. Should any of it survive one child, you can just hand it onto the next.

2 jumpers probably isn't enough - 3 is safer as you'll have a spare.

SoupDragon · 04/08/2005 09:33

And Prettycandles, your DS will oon be scuffing about on his knees and playing football. Teflon is fab. You'll need shoe polish too because the toes of his shoes will be trashed within a week.

Buy shorts that will be the right size for next summer. They'll be fine for the half term or so they'll get to wear them this year.

Mum2girls · 04/08/2005 09:34

Bugger bugger bugger - what an excellent idea about surnames only. Of course I got delivery of a load of name tapes with DD1's full name on.

Will now have to change DD2's name by deedpoll.

SoupDragon · 04/08/2005 09:35

Unless you've sewn them in already, just fold the first name under

Mum2girls · 04/08/2005 09:39

SD - genius. That's what I will do. Ta.

SoupDragon · 04/08/2005 09:43

I am the epitome of "can't be arsed to do this again" laziness.

I ironed our surname in all of DS1s reception uniform and have been biroing them in ever since

lailag · 04/08/2005 09:44

I am amazed at the 2 or 3 pair trousers shirts etc, that wouldn't last a week here and I don't want to wash more frequently than once a week. Wouldn't get a load full in the washing machine.

iota · 04/08/2005 09:49

IME it's worth getting 5 x polo shirts as I don't do a 'white' wash more than weekly and they are very cheap.

However have always managed with 3 x trousers and 2 x sweatshirts - it's so hot in ds1's classroom that they don't tend to wear the sweatshirts

iota · 04/08/2005 09:51

and most school slothes have a space in the label for writing the name in in indelible pen - get one of those and save hours of work

clary · 04/08/2005 09:58

DD starts reception in sept too (my baby!).
From experience of ds1 now 6, I would say 2x trousers should be enough if your ds isn?t too hard on his clothes.
M and S do wool trousers but they are a lot dearer. You might find polyester more hardwearing (and easy to dry!). At least polo shirts, vests, pants and socks can be cotton.
Most vial things as others have said are wiping bottom and generally being happy with toilet;
eating own food with knife and fork;
sitting quietly for stories/making a line at start of the day;
doing up own coat zip!
dressing and undressign for PE.
All of these you can practice over next month.
Much more useful than writing name/reading etc etc.
By the way don?t be surprised if uniform ends the year (or even the term!) completely trashed. I have had to just thrown away 3 sets of DS1?s polo shirts as they are just covered in marks and not worth keeping to pass on to ds2.
I have a qu too - do girls have differnt polo shirts? with puffed sleeves and picot collars? Or just the same as the boys?

clary · 04/08/2005 09:59

ooh yes remember to name everything esp shoes as all the boys will have the same Clarks pair!

clary · 04/08/2005 10:02

mumbee M and S trousers for boys are pull up until at least size 6 (ie no zips) IIRC.

(sorry, reading the thread after I post as usual see that lots of others have said what I sadi!)

mumbee · 04/08/2005 10:02

Thanks for the tip about surnames. and the ducks for helping Ds identify his clothes will try that one.

Clothes marker pens are good they do survive the was for the year.

We have managed with 6 polo shirts for Dd (packs of 2 Asda) 3 pinafore dresses and 2 pairs of trousers, and 3 cardigans up until now. This september we will go down the route of 6 shirts again, 2 pinafores, 3 trousers (prefered by Dd in winter)1 cardigan and 2 sweatshirts. Replacing sweatshirts with cardigans at easter, and trousers and pinafores with summer dresses.

Ds 6 shirts (Dd has frilly trim!) 3 trousers and 2 jumpers and sweatshirts he is more mucky each day.

Shoe polish is an absolute must even your shoes will be clean and polished again also water proof spray for shoes is a good idea.

Flip

1 2 3 4