Advice on what else I need for DD to be school ready.

[Outandabout43]

DD starting reception in September. Have just finished the school shop, or so I think.

We have -
5 polo shirts
1 jumper
1 cardigan
2 pinafores
2 skirts
Tights
Socks
2 PE shorts
2 PE joggers
2 PE shorts
1 PE jumper
Plimsolls
School shoes
Bag
Bento lunch box
Drinks bottle

All items labelled.

DD has only recently turned 4 so still very young, so far she is

Toilet trained
Able to use a knife and fork
Can dress / undress herself (unable to do small buttons or laces)
Can spell, recognise and write name.

Is there anything else I need to buy, or work on woth her ready for school?

Very anxious first time parent 😬

You'll need more than one cardigan, I usually have two so we can alternate half way through week or if she spills yoghurt down her front.
Other than that she sounds like she's doing great.
I also bought the zip down pinafores for reception and for p.e days I bought the all in one where top half is white and bottom skirt is attached so she can undress easily. They had a few moving up days and DD complained that they had to change with a timer on so I don't want her to be struggling with too many pieces.

I think you need more jumpers skirts and cardigans but maybe your child isn't as messy as mine.

I've got 4 jumpers 2 branded 2 plain
5 trousers
10 polos
2 short
2 pe shorts
2 pe trousers
Trainers
Shoes
Bottle
Book bag
Coat

I've got more polos as we don't always do a weekly white wash

More cardigans or jumpers . I'd have a set of uniform for every day x

For mine she has 3 pinafores and 2 cardis, 3 polo shirts, 1 of each pe kit item, lunch bag, bottle and school shoes.
The school already gave us a book bag.
She already has a coat.
The school recommended leaving p.e kit in school until half term holidays so we've only ever bought one set.
She's my youngest of 5.

Following for my reception starter as some
Good advice

Board games are a great and fun way to teach taking turns (as well not being a sore loser or winner). Snakes and ladders obviously but also snap and matching games (not board games but obviously similar idea).

RE lunch - DD went straight onto school lunches but mainly because she was going to after school club most days until almost 6 and I didn't want to have to cook a hot meal for her and do reading, bath, bedtime in a rush when we got home.

I'm a bit worried too op.

I'm sure we've got what we need (and labelled !) and anything we're missing is easy to get.

He can follow instructions, sit for a story, take turns, speak up about needing things and wipe his own bum.

However, his fine motor skills need work and although we're practicing it's sloooowww progress and he's so easily frustrated. So pe changing, zips, coats, packets etc are tricky.

I’d do school meals from the start rather than packed lunches. Easier than swapping to them later. And cheaper and less work for you in the mornings.

One tip I read which I would not have thought of is too put some kind of mark inside the shoe to show which goes on which foot. I think maybe easiest to just mark one inside and teach that it always goes on a particular side, then the remaining shoe must be for the remaining foot!

Best of luck to your little one and all the other new starters on the thread, I am sure they will all do brilliantly! Sending them out into the world isn’t easy! But hopefully the teachers are understanding and they’ll have seen it all before.

I am trying to get DD ready for preschool and I feel we have a mountain to climb with some of the practical skills!

We used circle sticker, cut it half so there is a semi circle inside each half of the school and they make the circle whole.

If they are in pe kit all day, they will definitely need proper trainers not plimsolls.

I'd stick with school dinners.
They're free and you'll be glad not to have to the extra chore!

My 4yo August born starts school in a few weeks

We have
5 polo shirts
2 pinafores
1 skirt in current size, 1 size up 2nd hand
3 cardigans -1 branded in size up as I couldn't get her size they'll do!
4 trousers - first set of 2 was too big so bought the same size from somewhere else and they fit. We will hold the other set back for later in the year /emergencies
2 jumpers current size
1 gingham dress size up
1 multi pack grey tights
1 multi pack grey socks
Set of hair bobbles and clips in school colours
Need to buy shoes fully covered shoes not Mary Jane styles

2 pe shorts size up but just about stay up in case of a warm September otherwise they will wait for summer
2 joggers current size
2 white t shirts
Hoodie
Black trainers as in them all day

She will be having school dinners from day 2 (first day with lunch). She has food allergies and they have a menu sorted for her and it's a job less on my to do list! She can feed herself and use cutlery

We have been working on wiping bottoms properly for poos as they are often a bit loose. The school have said that they provide support for this for all pupils during the first few weeks and for those that need a bit more support they can do it for longer.

Being a bit stricter that every request is " please may I" rather than most of the time. Also reiterating that you look at someone when they are talking to you and listen carefully. Again was mostly doing this just upping the consistency

One thing we have struggled with at nursery is her not telling the staff if she is hurt or poorly so been trying to encourage that for the last year but with limited success. She is far too good at masking pain and it's a battle for her to tell us some of the time because she's often in pain and unfortunately it often her normal. (Reflux and food allergies)

We have a book bag and will be sending her in with a little rucksack with a spare set of clothes in case of accidents. If she is having a reaction to food she doesn't always get the notice to get to the loo on time.

Be prepared that she is going to be absolutely shattered, behaviour after-school may take a nose dive so patience and routine is key, now is not the time to fill afterschool with lots of organised activities if you don't have to.

She's likely to pick up every bug going. Don't plan anything big at the beginning of October half term for the next 12 years as they are always exhausted and often ill. Up her vitamins and veg etc to keep her immune system optimum.

When she runs out of school put your phone away, bend down to her height and tell her how glad you are to see her and enjoy the giant squeeze you get (that disappears in the teen years). The number of parents stood in the playground on their phone or chatting and barely acknowledging their child before turning to walk home is heart breaking.

Meal prep so you can give her undivided attention when she gets home, a transition activity like a trip to the park with a snack and drink is always good. Or sit down and read together with a drink and biscuits if rainy or an art project. Minimise running errands after school.

When you talk to her about her day, don't ask her what she did - she won't remember. Ask her what made her laugh/happy/frustrated/ feel proud/ a good friend etc and you'll have a much better dialogue. DD used to spin it back on me and how my workday was and it's a interesting way to look back on your day. If you can spin it towards happier emotions it will leave her with a more positive view of school.

Have one day a week / fortnight as a playdate day where she can invite a different child round or to the park with you and you can get to know the parents. Friendships are fickle at that age so getting to know lots of children is good.

Oh and when you take them to school / pick them up take a large open top bag (like one from the supermarket) so you can put the PE KIT, book bag, school bag, random bits of art in and it's easy to carry home rather than juggle everything.

We do this too with a bag for life!

I think that’s all fine. I don’t think you need that much school uniform unless you only wash once a week. But fine to have spares in case something is lost.

Mostly I’d just have fun. Unless she has food issues, I’d go straight into school dinners so she is eating the same as everyone else.

I'm a teacher
Wish there were more parents like you.

As the weeks go by please keep checking that name labels haven't fallen out or worn off.

Depending on how messy your child is and how often you do a wash one jumper and one cardigan might not be enough.

Can/will she follow an instruction from an adult or follow simple classroom rules?
Can she put stuff away where it belongs? You will lose a lot less stuff if she’s got some responsibility for looking after her things rather than you picking up after her. Not changing for PE will help but if she can put a cardigan or jumper on her peg or in her tray if she takes it off it’s less likely to walk off.

Generally speaking if she’s got reasonable independence skills, can sit and concentrate for a short period of time and mostly follows instructions by an adult she’ll be fine.

Sounds great OP but don’t worry all the children starting will be at different stages and the staff are experienced in caring for them. My dd also only just turned 4 is still in nappies and still has a nap after lunch and school have said they’ll change her and she can just do half days for as long as needed so it seems schools are very flexible now and helpful

I recommend gettingots of plain navy/black gloves as they go walkabout!

when I was at primary school, many years ago, parents used to sew the gloves to the opposite ends of a long tape. Then you'd pass the tape up inside one sleeve of the coat, across the back and down the other sleeve, so the gloves dangled at the end of the sleeves and were always with the coat.

just had to make sure to match each glove with the correct sleeve!

Great idea thanks @Theleaveswillbefalling

Make sure she can get her drink bottle open.

Send her with a full set of spare clothes for water play spills/wet sleeves washing hands/falls in mud etc.
And have enough jumpers or cardigans for a clean one each day.
Also spare water bottle as she's likely to leave it at school at times.

I agree with this. It sounds simple, but it's something a lot of children aren't able to do.