A thread for 2012 new reception starters?

[ApuskiMcClusky]

I'm feeling the need to chat to others about dc starting school in September - there are a few threads with tips about uniform etc, but I'd like a chinwag about it all too!

Anyone else?

Marking my place! DS is starting reception in Sept. He's totally ready in some ways (October birthday so will be old for the year) but I am worried as a) it was our 4th choice school and b) his dad and I have recently split up so there's going to be loads going on in his life all at once. I'm trying to change my hours at work so I can do drop offs/pick ups (am currently full time) as I think he'll need me around a bit more but not sure if I can manage that financially.

So, what should have been an exciting experience has ended up being quite stressful (for me anyway, DS is still v excited about starting school!)

Well, finally had my letter. DS1 didn't get into any of the schools on our form and they haven't alloctaed him one. We have to apply now to schools with spaces - there are only 3 we are willing to send him to so fingers crossed he gets one of them.

They are all schools we would have to drive to and DH doesn't drive so it's all down to me.

Kat1885 what an awful situation!

Well, I called them as suggested... And they asked me if I had received the dates and pack. Well, 1) they ought to know (it's unlikely to have gone missing in the post) and 2)that's why I was calling... . They are now putting a pack together to send out. I don't know how I feel about it, really - I would rather have got the pack normally than them having to have put one together... It's not filling me with confidence... I'll wait to see what's in it... I don't want to be labelled before he even starts school...

Sorry about all the ...!!

Borntofolk I hope you get your change in hours

Got a letter handed to me this morning as I picked up DD from nursery to say there is a meeting for the new school starters on 4th July.

We also got the uniform list too.

I have just come back from a jubilee party at the school for DS and got speaking to one of the teachers there and she said that in sept they will have 90 kids in reception!!!! They have only ever had 60 before so means when they go into yr1 there will have to be 3 classes.

Sounds like they have taken a bulge class simpson so there will be 3 classes right through from reception until they leave after Y6

I think all 90 kids are going to be in one class but with 3 teachers and 3 TAs but they will never be all together iyswim.

The new classroom that they have built is massive!!! I think the noise level might be quite unbearable though!!!

Hello, my PFB starts in September too. She's VERY young. She starts school 8 days after her 4th birthday! I'm planning no after school activities or playdates in the first term, as I'm expecting she'll be shattered. However, she is very independent and LOVES the 2.5 days she does at pre-school.

I've had a letter today from her school (luckily the oversubscribed catchment school just behind our house). We have an induction day in July followed by 4 Storytime sessions at 3.15 for 30mins for the remaining weeks that sounds a lovely idea. The vast majority of the children in YR will have been to the school nursery, but my DD has been at a different pre-school (attached to a diff school) for the last 2 years. The vast majority of her pre-school friends are going to the other school but we know a few people in the "big school" so I'm hoping it will all be OK. I've bought a fair amount of school uniform already, want to get everything except shoes before the end of term. Then I "just" have to do shoes in the holidays which will be stressful enough as DD has very narrow but fairly large feet and a lot of shoes just fall off! I picked up some summer dresses in the local charity shop this week incase it is hot when they go back.

I think I shall be a mess when she goes to school, as will her younger brother who misses her terribly when she's a pre-school. You can see the reception classroom from my DD bedroom window, I think I'll be glued to it come September. The story Winnie the Pooh and Christopher Robin got to an Enchanted Place makes me sob at the mo. Oh dear!

Me too! My PFB DS is starting in Sept. We got our letter today with the class lists and he's in a different class to the only 2 children he knows going to the same school. One's from swimming so obv the school can't know but the other is at his pre-school & its only the two of them going up to that school so I'm a little disappointed that they didn't put them in the same class. Still, they're not that close & DS is very sociable so I'm really hoping he'll just make lots of friends.

Am equally nervous & excited about the whole thing

Hello all! Any more news on school meetings, uniform purchases and even school places?

I've taken my eye off the ball in the last week or so - the whole family has been struck down with flu, and then we had an offer accepted on a house that will need a lot of work, so my browsing has switched from grey trousers to kitchens and permitted development rules!

But I need to get the bulk of uniform in the next couple of weeks before going on holiday. Any recommendations on the best shops for tall skinny boys? I think M&S are a bit too short and wide.

I would just avoid BHS tbh as DS (yr2) had some school trousers and they lasted less than 6wks before he came home with a hole in the knee

I would also recommend the shoesforkids website which is great for discounted clarks/start rite shoes (they are old designs usually - which is why they are so cheap).

I have used them several times and the service is really good

Hello! DS starts reception in September as well - he is my first (and only) and despite the fact that he has been in FT nursery for years it all feels very strange.

Saying that he is so ready for school, talks about it and is looking forward to meeting new friends. His teacher has been to visit him at nursery and he hasn't stopped talking about it. My only worry is that he is not very emotionally resilient and cries easily. I guess he'll need to 'toughen up' a little but it's hard to know whether there's anything that we should be doing differently.

Still haven't done anything about uniform though - it's on my 'to-do' list...

Hi All,

May I join in?

Some great tips here already thanks.

My DS is starting Sept too ... feeling emotional even though he is ready. He just seems so tichy. He loves preschool but sadly none of his friends from there are going to his school.

I have purchased name tags... but no uniform yet!

We have already had 2 settling visits in small group, 2 whole class planned over summer and a parent meeting.

my dd is also starting in september if we ever get a school for her :-( shes only just 4 but has been at nursery school 9-3 for the past year and is totally ready for it. Hating not knowing which school we will finally get as cant sort uniform etc.. will miss induction days and even worse cant sort out child care and im back at work september after leave with the baby. Oh well xx

M & S online have 20 % off school uniform at the moment, if anyone is feeling like getting a headstart on uniform. ive always had the m&s trousers for ds1 and they last really well ( and have the all important adjustable waists!)

Same as Mossity above, my DD is due to start school in Sept (but unsure what school yet...appeal next week and if dont win, then I have registered her for another term at preschool in hope the school we want where she is number 1 on the waiting list gets a place!), I havent allowed myself to think too much about school yet as no idea what happening, but as shes only 4 in July it does worry me! Tho in reality, and especially if we finally get her into the school we want (where her preschool also is and right by our house!) with her friends, I know she will love it and she loves learning and can count to 30 and write a few things now and recognises nearly all letters which I am pleased with :) I need to get her dressing herself better and wiping her bottom better tho! is it a given thing they can do these things by 4?! As an only child I guess maybe I am guilty of helping her too much with some things, but she can do them - just needs time to do it 'better' and I guess as I dont even tho if shes starting in sept yet we have time!!

But loving reading the thread :)

Much sympathy for those of you who are still waiting for confirmation of school places, but welcome to the thread!

I had a quick browse amongst the school uniform section in John Lewis as I was passing - I have to say, I felt the same as I did when I first went into Mothercare when pregnant for the first time, like I was just pretending to have a nearly-school-age child, very strange!

Teflon coated trousers are very odd, not sure I'm going to go for that option!

Somebody might already have mentioned this, but try to buy the uniform well in advance, e.g. June/July because in August things start to run out especially socks, tights, etc.

At most school they start straight away with the winter uniform, eg not the blue gingham dress (which is for the Summer term, eg. after Easter).

I would not use Sharpies for labelling (I did once and it ruined a number of shirts as it started flowing and making a big blob (probably depends on the type of material as well).

If you want to order name labels then this is a good time (not too busy so the waits are not too long). Most labels you no longer have to sew in but you can just iron them in and in my experience they last very well during lots of washing - very quick and easy (including for socks).

I second that it is good for the starters to practise dressing/undressing/changing in PE clothes (including getting clothes from inside out to the right way), also this is one of the early learning goals, so it gives them a good start straight away. Also pracise putting socks/tights/shoes/coats on and maybe don't put tights on on PE days as the quickest children often get a sticker (which makes it pretty impossible if they have tights).

I would get a nice PE bag (not school one, to hard to find the right PE bag) and definitely put a key ring on the book bag, also second not to get school coats/hats etc, much too hard to find their own one.

I would get two water bottles (possibly three, to have a spare), one in the lunch bag and one in the class room. I would not give yogurts/fruit juice etc as they will make a mess in the lunch bag as they have to take empty packaging back home (so parents can check that they eat properly). Just sandwiches, bit of fruit, bottle with water and maybe a little treat (small biscuit, small chocolate), will make it much easier. Also, check how much they really eat during next few weeks, probably much less than you think! Lots of parents pack massive lunches, they only have about 15 minutes to eat it!

For the first term I would not book any after school activities as in all likelihood they will be utterly exhausted.

Good luck to you all! Exciting times!

Thanks dikkert, that's helpful. I am contemplating getting surname only labels so that I can iron or sew them on and then hand them down to ds2 without having to unpick and re-sew. DS1 I think can manage to read his surname, so shouldn't be an issue for him, but obviously don't know about ds2 as he's only coming up for two!

Surnames on the labels are fine even if the child cannot read it. The labels help the teachers at the end of the day to distribute various bits of property to the right child ....

Signing in. DD will be going to local village school. She'll be 5 in her first week - great for being one of oldest in year, rubbish for birthday party planning.

There will be a new head this year but as I don't have any other kids at the school, I guess we won't know any different.

There is a parents' evening in July where we get details etc. I've got two pinafores and some teeny grey trousers so far - spreading the cost out a bit.

DD should go on 2 visits for an afternoon later this month but we are on holiday for one (last chance for non-school holiday holiday, I had thought.)

We've also had a nice letter from her class teacher introducing herself and saying which of the two classes DD will be in. She's not with her best friend from pre-school but she was quite sanguine about it and said that she would still see her in the playground.

DD goes on the school run with the childminder in the mornings so is very used to the school environment and the foundation end playground.

I'm most worried about friendships. She's an only and though she's got a couple of friends she plays with regularly at pre-school, she can be unsure about joining in and dealing with rowdy play.

auntybulgaria ds2 will be 5 in the first week too- Im planning to leave his party till the end of september , he is in the school based nursery so had thought of sending out invites in July, but Im sure there are children joining school not in the nursery, so thought we would wait a while.

Hi can I join? DS2 is starting school in september, joining DS1 who will be in year 2. He has hypermobility, hypotonia and gross motor delay. He is very excited but I'm a bit scared. He is also one of those children who howls when I leave him but is fine 2 mins later when I look through the preschool window on my way out.

Is anyone else not going to be doing drop offs and pick ups regularly?

I will be able to drop off on Friday morning and Dh can do the odd day here and there but most of the time it will be DD's childminder. At the moment she does a combination of childminder and pre-school but we are at home together on a Friday.

I was planning to go back full time when she starts school. I don't feel I can justify being at home on my own for most of Friday just to have 2 extra hours with her in the afternoon but people keep telling me that's what I should be doing.

Ellie - DD is also hyper mobile and I have yet to speak to the school so see how they will help her, she will need help at lunch times and cannot work the water fountain.

Has anyone else bought any uniform yet??

I am going to be incredibly lax about name tags and go down the biro on label route!!! It seems to work well for DS.