Starting school tips?

[Tailtwister]

DS1 starts school this Aug and organising his uniform has got me thinking about organisational tips.

Does anyone have any tips for running smooth school week? How many shirts do you need (I have 6), what makes things move smoothly in the morning? How do you make sure all is covered over the weekend (washing, ironing etc), do you have a system to ensure you don't fall behind?

DS1 has already attended the nursery for a year, so we're used to doing the school run. However, P1 will be more complicated as far as uniform, snacks etc, not to mention fitting in homework!

Hi Tailtwister. Great thread idea. Will be watching with interest!
Mine aren't at school yet, but one's starting pre-school in Sept (with a uniform and everything, mwah!) and so we will need to be more organised too. I think it helps obviously to do as much in advance, and allow plenty of time to get ready. Sure you'll get lots of brill tips on here.

My tip would be multiple of everything especially uniform. And 2 or 3 waterbottles.

In terms of uniform I aim to have 6 of everything as they get so messy and of course you need a spare clothes bag in school. So that is one set out of the system straight away. I use iron on name labels for clothes and stick on labels for bottles, book bag, p.e. bag etc.

When I am feeling especially efficient I lay out stuff the night before. Uniform upstairs so I know if I have run out! And downstairs lay out bag, shoes, coat, sunhat, water bottle etc.

In fact we have added a row of pegs in the kitchen for bookbags etc as otherwise they got lost around the house.

Good luck!

Get clothes out ready the night before and leave in a neat pile ready to dress once breakfast has been eaten.

Ditto for all bags.

Make sandwiches the night before and put in fridge overnight for packed lunches.

Set the clock 5-10 mins fast so you leave on time.

Attach a keyring to book bag so it can be found easily amongst the other 29 identical book bags in the book bag box

Label all clothes and shoes clearly.

Have set nights when homework is done.

Washing at weekend - I do one dark, one coloured and one white wash each weekend to cover all aspects of uniform. I don't iron any of it. Shake and fold...

DD has 3 polo shirts and 1 jumper, 1 pair of trousers and 1 skirt but she doesn't get dirty. DS1 on the other hand has clean everything everyday so has 5 of everything.

Yes to hooks for hanging bags on when they come in the door.

Yes also to having a set place for shoes to be placed so they can be located in the morning.

Also clean out lunch box as soon as you get in the door.

Mostly covered already.

I'd second

= 2/3 water bottles, they go missing and then re appear days later.
= Plenty of uniform
= Wash it all Friday night and get it ready over the weekend.
= Lunch made the night before
= Bags kept in the same place.
= Know where you can buy plimsolls easily for when they go missing and make sure they come home regularly to check for fit.
= If possible don't go for the same book/PE bag as everyone else but if you must they need some decoration or they've impossible to find.
= Write his name in everything, a laundry pen is essential, don't forgot coats, hats and PE kit. Life's too short to sow labels.

My few to add are;

= Check his book bag daily and ask if he's been given any notes/newsletters, so you get maximum notice when they need to take things in/dress up etc.
= If there's a text message system get your number down (and your DPs) its really helpful especially on snow days.
= When he gets party invitations, put his friends parents numbers in your phone, they will come in handy sometime, even if it's just to chase them for our DSs party replies or arrange for friends to come for tea after school.

These are all great tips, thank you!

There are quite a few things I hadn't even considered and I'll definitely be implementing. It makes such a difference to me to feel as prepared as I can.

Please, keep them coming.

I find an extra PE kit handy.

School shoes, uniform, book bag, lunch bag etc always kept in the same place.

Dh job = polishing school shoes on Sunday evenings
Big calendar up in kitchen with all school dates, extra mural activities, birthday parties, play dates recorded (also a record of when school meals are paid up until, guitar lessons etc)
Keep a pot of money (change) around for snack money.
Water bottles washed out and refilled in fridge night before
My Ds has a pack of tissues, extra hair bobbles, lip balm in her school bag.
And.....A bit off subject if school but:
Always keep a stock of a few kids birthday presents, cards and wrapping paper (nothing worse than last minute rush around before a party!)
Jumpers go astray in warm weather - label everything and stay on top of what's coming home from school (if her jumper isn't with her on Monday after school, it's easier to send her straight back in for a look than wait until Tuesday when cleaners have moved things to lost property etc)

As you meet new mums and Ds makes new friends keep all mums contact details (often RSVPs on invitations) in a notebook - you never know when u may need to send 'vicky, Abigail's mum' a text!

A tray or 'pigeon hole' type arrangement is useful, especially as the DC get older and there are more letters, slips needing signing, etc. Looking in bags as soon as home, maybe when the lunchboxes come out, helps last minute panics.

One tip I got from a mum that we did was have a spare pair of pants and tissues in a nappy bag descretely in a pocket of DS bag. Meant if he ever got in to trouble in the toilet department he could sort himself out. He's never had to use it - but felt reassured by it.
Second the big calendar - we also put on it who's picking up and dropping off and where (school or after school) to remind us (it changes we to week) and to remind us to tell DS which is surprisingly easy to forget to do
Amount of uniform depends on how mucky DC gets. In the first year we never got more than a day out of any item, now we get two days out of some stuff.

Make arrangements with another couple of mums that you'll always check you all know about things like non uniform day, show and tell rotas. Some schools are better than others at communication and reminders but kids hate to stand out as the only one who isn't dressed up/forgot their badge collection etc.

The minute you get any newsletter read it, put every date of any event in your phone/diary/calendar and set reminders the night before.

If you receive a list of the children in your child's class, keep it and use to check names for Christmas Cards, party invitations, that sort of thing.

Hey everyone, sticking my head around the door to say we've a page on starting primary school, with tips on how to get yourself and your child ready, over here, in case it's useful..

I personally second laying out uniform the night before and giving up on ironing

Yes I ditto having a pot of money in the house - mine is £1 coins ready for all the dress as you please for charity days...disco tickets...school trip etc etc

Hair brush, spray and clasps in every bathroom and in sitting room. Toothbrushes and toothpaste in downstairs loo (as well as upstairs)
Packed lunces the night before.
Uniform laid out night before.
Chart with who is doing drop off & pick up each day
Our school has just launched an app of the term calendar...it's amazing!

As a primary one teacher can I make a plea, please name everything!!!! That way we can help!

Do they need a pencil case? I've just realised that I've not seen it mentioned anywhere!

I am a teacher too.

NAME EVERYTHING!!! And make sure they know what THEIR stuff looks like. Some lots of children don't seem to recognise their things.

Great to see that people here are buying duplicates of regularly used items but I think it would sometimes help the kids more if replacements were not so readily available. If you have not ever been that fussed about a pair of missing gym shoes during primary school you can't suddenly expect your child to look after them when they are sixteen. imo And you should see the lost property in p7/secondary school. (Expensive coats/I pods/pads/phones - and not even in a really posh school.)

If you are sending money to school PLEASE send it in a NAMED envelope.

Make sure you send permission slips back ASAP!!!

Send your child to school with ONE pencil case.

Don't ask the teacher to look for lost property 'it is the white t shirt from ASDA'.

Make sure your child can get their outdoor clothes on independently and quite quickly.

When it is winter make sure they know to put their gloves on last.

Get them used to putting their own things away.

One snack is enough. I have seen HEAPS of children come to school with four or five things to eat in their playtime. By the time they get out to play they have about ten minutes.

When preparing their snack don't put it in a Tupperware pot. A plastic bag is far better because it doesn't need to be looked after and taken home.

If your child has a cold and a very runny nose send them to school with a box of tissues for the class. You don't have to do this but the teacher will give you heaps of Brownie points.

Don't ask the teacher to hand out party invitations.

Don't let your child take noisy toys to school.

Have a system for their library book. Keep it in a certain place so you know where it is.

If you are invited in to help at school absolutely DO NOT EVER pass comment or make a judgement about another child.

This is an awesome idea for a thread. I hope HEAPS of people read it. I am aware that some of these ideas may sound bossy but if you regularly spend your day with 25, 5 year olds I am sure you can imagine that good organisation skills make all the difference.

Oh and lastly, you can totally tell if the child has done their homework/reading or not.

And if you don't have time to do homework or reading just write a note in your child's book.

Just remembered, if you feel emotional and teary on your child's first day then please don't let them know. It winds everyone up.

Someone mentioned a pencil case. Yes, take ONE pencil case. And make sure it isn't absolutely bulging, and that your child can open and close it.

Someone else said put a key ring on gym bags so they are easier to identify. Same goes for reading bags, cover them with sticks, or a glittery piece of sellotape down the side.

And those shoes that have toys in the souls are very distracting for the children when they are taking part in story time.

I'm bumping this so EVERYONE reads mameulah's list!

Re snacks, is there usually fruit on offer? Have been told it is provided for during the day (council scheme) so would a child be able to pick up a piece of fruit for their break time snack?

We already have a family calendar so I will be filling all dates in on that. Great thread.

Thanks MrsHende I was worried that people would think I was a bossy cow.

mameulah

I'd rather read it on here than be told off by the class teacher!

Buy extra kit bags and pack everything on a weekend.

Mine have pe, swimming and judo (club) and we wash and repack straight away ready or that day.

We have 3 sets of uniform and do a wash Tuesday and Friday nights.