How do you manage whole class parties in reception?

[lilacandpink]

So, say thirty children, and friends from outside of school? Could easily end up with forty or so.

Do people have soft play parties this size or is it a case of being a bit ruthless?

Hall and entertainer. Parents will stay in yr

That works out really, really expensive though (and is a lot of work!) Do soft play parties stop being a thing, then?

Way cheaper than soft play for 40 kids! Soft play parties are a thing still but it would be unusual for a whole class party, round here you have to pay for the parents admission too.

Whole class parties aren't mandatory.

Everyone either hired the village hall and had games etc, or did a softplay party. I think one or two brave souls had parties at home, generally in summer weather where the children could rampage in the garden.

Whole class parties continued through reception and Year 1, and seemed to drop off the smaller affairs during Year 2.

We did one in a soft play that was attached to a pub, so the kids got food after and the other in our church hall (would have done this for both but the roof was damaged when first child was that age).
At the soft play one most parents didn’t stay, it was just 2 hours. My son’t 3 close friends parents did plus both grans to help us.

Village hall type place, bouncy castle, party food, pass the parcel/musical statues if needed.

Soft play parties are usually for smaller groups.

Just don't do it.
Have half a dozen friends at home instead and play pass the parcel and musical statues 😁

I sucked up the cost and outsourced it all to a trusted softplay place. I admire parents who host and cater their own parties but it's not for me.

Defo village hall , bouncy castle or games . I do pre made up ahead cardboard snack boxes . Easy to prep ahead and great for larger numbers.

Everyone in my school did soft play for the whole class in reception and year 1. A few did it in year 2 and in year 3 lots of parties with 5 friends.

We found a smaller soft play last year (reception) that would let us rent out the whole place for £300. Another £200 for food/party bags/cake so £500 overall which still seemed steep, but cheaper than other options round here (nr London) and less faff than decorating a hall etc.

The prices round here are insane. £21 a head for soft play parties at the bigger, chain venue, £30 for a trampolining one! And most parents are paying this evidently as I've been to about 20 between those two venues already this school year 🫠 Not sure what to do this year as everyone has deffo outgrown the smaller soft play, we have a decent garden and trampoline so may go DIY/party at home.

Village/church hall, bouncy castle, pre order trays of sandwiches from M&S/Morrisons, little packs of crisps, mini rolls, party rings, cocktail sausages etc from Aldi. Jugs of squash, paper cups and plates. Tea/coffee and biscuits for the adults. Pass the parcel/musical statues etc. Parents stay (and help to clean up if they are nice!) Max 2 hours at that age.

We did a whole class one but shared with another child.
Bouncy castles in a leisure centre and some face painting.

It was brilliant and DS had the best day.

Never did a whole class. Unnecessary and also puts pressure on other parents to do the same. Book a soft play package for a certain number and let them do all the work.

We did whole class - soft play that fitted up to 36 for £179 - and did the food ourselves so probably another £50 for that?

Soft play party, paid for sole hire up to 30kids. Never done a whole class party, usually 40% class, 50% friends outside of school.

However my kids know that a party is one of their presents so what we spend on birthday presents is small as most of the budget goes on the party

We didn't do whole class parties. Maximum of 10 children.

It's either area dependent or people are out of touch, round me (admittedly SE) hall hire alone for a weekend afternoon is nearly £200. Soft play would work out cheaper here.

Definitely try to share a party with 1 or 2 other families with similar date birthdays. Not only reduced cost but also shares out the admin load and reduces the number of weekends eaten up by birthday parties.

Do you have a parents WhatsApp? If so you can ask who else has birthdays in eg April/May and might want to share. Or you could possibly ask the teacher who has birthdays close to your child’s. I’m not sure if they would be allowed to tell you though. If not, have a look on the classroom walls as there are often birthdays displayed up there IME.

Dc1 had a birthday at the beginning of Sept so we just invited nursery friends. DC2 has a birthday end of Sept and didn’t know anyone at his school. We did a whole class soft play plus a couple of nursery friends. Really helped to get to know people. It was a flat fee to book the soft play (max 30 kids but not everyone from the class will go) so only food to pay for per head which the venue did. Very easy and wasn’t that expensive

I never has whole class parties. Always invited 6-12 children which included cousins not at the school.

Its £18pp for soft play party here, and £2 on top for each adult that stays which they did in yR. We had to make a donation to the church of £50 for the hall, and village halls may be more expensive! Also in SE.

Whole class party, invite all the parents and siblings,
double up with another kid with a birthday in same month if need be.
doesn’t need an entertainer or fancy decor.
1.5hrs is plenty.
the park is good.
a cheap hall.
basic snacks and drinks for kids and adults.
Time party so it isn’t at a meal time.
party bags low key but essential.
pass the parcel and statutes bumps etc

Village hall plus bouncy castle plus a few sandwiches/crisps/fruit and a cake. Way cheaper than soft play and not that much effort. It's only for a couple of years till they lose interest in whole class parties.