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A thread for 2012 new reception starters?

201 replies

ApuskiMcClusky · 25/05/2012 11:09

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?

OP posts:
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roadkillbunny · 29/06/2012 09:56

simpson all parents have a short meeting with the teacher as part of the transition process so haven't had to ask for anything extra although I would have had the meetings not already been happening. The teacher has known ds since he was 1 so she knows a little bit about him but I feel it is really important that we start as we mean to go on and that is being very pro active about his problems to ensure he gets everything he needs from school in regards to both support and general school experience.
The booked meeting is only 10 mins long so we may need to schedule a second meeting but we shall see, I think we will be able to cover everything as other then speech and the hearing issues (lingering effects of bilateral glue ear) he is a very happy boy who is eager to learn and should settle into school well.
I would in your position ask for a meeting with the reception teacher before the end of summer term, if nothing else it will help put your mind at rest that the teacher will be prepared for any extra support your dd may need rather then starting in September and hitting issues.

On the PTA front, at our school all parents are automatically members of the PTA, they hold the AGM in September and draw new parents in with the offer of wine after the September curriculum meetings lol! Now I will have both in school and wont have my responsibilities to toddler group and pre-school I am planning on being more involved with PTA and may even go as far as joining on of the sub committees for the fate or something. It can be quite intimidating going to PTA meetings but I have a friend and neighbour who would also like to do more with the PTA but is too nervous to go to the meetings so we have said we will hold hands and go for it together lol!

wondering why I can never seem to write a short post Hmm Confused

MrsJamin · 29/06/2012 11:16

Hello everyone. Very excited about DS1 going to school, we have only just heard that he got through to our first choice school through an Infant Class Size appeal! I just bought shirts and trousers from M&S - 20% off until tomorrow inc free delivery which seemed like a v good deal. I need to calm down my excitement as the first day is 2 months away! Thankfully we heard about the appeal in enough time for him to go to his settling in morning in a few weeks' time. Are you all hanging around them for long or doing a brief "goodbye, you'll have so much fun, I'm going now!"?

simpson · 29/06/2012 13:38

Mrsjamin - congrats on the appeal!!!

I have found out today that what I thought was a parents eve on 10th July is actually a prize giving for nursery and reception together. This is followed straight after with yrs 1,2 and 3. So poor DC are going to have to sit quietly for over an hour, help!!!

DD is in nursery and DS is in yr2. It does not seem very well thought out to me and also I was hoping it would be an opportunity to talk to DD's teacher about my concerns. Oh well, will have to speak to the HT instead at the new parents meeting next wed instead.

rice33 · 01/07/2012 02:46

Hi

My DD is starting school in September , well 30th of August and we are both very excited about it (Pfb) Grin

I'm in Ireland so a different system here , bit confused reading a lot of the posts !! I had her name down for 3 different schools and she was offered a place in all of them so I've spent the past couple of months humming and hawing over which one I like best . I finally decided to choose the smallest one , 11 kids starting this year in junior infants (reception) and 88 kids in the whole school , so a really nice family feel to the place.

The first day she is in for 1 hour but then after that it's full days which here is 8:50 to 1:10 for the first two years. She turned 5 in feb so I feel she will be well able , although she could still be better at the bum wiping Smile

I see a lot of people worried about their los changing into PE kit , well here one day a week is track suit day and they go in in their school track suit so no changing worries . I bought the rest of her uniform in m&s during the week , just need to get a plain navy tie and I'm done.

One thing I've seen no one mention is school book lists ?? I ordered hers online yesterday and it was €112 !! Can't wait till they arrive and I can have a read through them Blush

naptime · 02/07/2012 21:27

Hello, I'd like to join in! Great to read all these tips - rice33 I like the Irish way of PE kits much more sensible. My pfb DS is starting this September too. We got our 5th choice of school, so I am feeling nervous, but am trying to be excited and positive with my DS (its hard when I don't feel happy at all about the school and friends/ family keep mentioning it infront of him). Good luck to all those waiting for confirmations!

ApuskiMcClusky · 03/07/2012 09:19

Hi all! Glad to see the thread still going, I'm just back from holiday. We missed the parents' meeting while we were away, and instead of a pack of papers sent out to me covering what we missed, I found a 'postage not paid' card from Royal Mail, so I still don't know much! I did hear that they've organised for the children and parents to go into school one day this week for lunch, so I've managed to book us in for that tomorrow.

This week I need to sort out name tags, get more school uniform, buy tie, book bag and pe kit bag from the school, and track down the missing information - rumour has it they're doing a home visit but I have no idea when!

OP posts:
OliviaLMumsnet · 03/07/2012 10:24

Hello Just doing a bit of hopefully helpful x-linking how can I prepare DD for reception
HTH

roadkillbunny · 03/07/2012 13:05

Hello all, we are all moving on with the meetings and visits now, very exiting!
I had my meeting with the teacher yesterday and that went very well, went over all his issues in regards to his speech and hearing, have agreed on getting ds some ear defenders like people use for young children at music festivals so he can go and put them on when there are noises that hurt his ears and when they are doing music he can have them next to him (poor boy finds the sound of bells particularly bad and is going to a school well known for it's bell ringing!).
It helps that I know his teacher well and we went through the issues with dd and her speech back when dd started so I know we are in good experienced hands who will ensure ds gets ever bit of help and support he needs.
Open afternoon today so a chance for ds to go into school and see his class room and the type of work he will be doing over the year and for dd to have a poke round the Y3 classroom and see what she may get up to next year.
Tomorrow is the big one, ds has his first induction morning, going to have a bit of a hand around after dropping dd off as ds is not due in until over an hour later, we live a half mile from school so not worth walking home and back again, we wont be the only ones at a lose end so hopefully the weather will improve so we can all hang around together over by the shop!
I am still getting all exited and then weepy over seeing ds in his big school uniform for the first time tomorrow, camera at the ready lol!

simpson · 04/07/2012 10:06

We have our induction meeting for DD this afternoon. I just hope DD will sit still and behave herself!!

There is an opportunity to buy the uniform but I think we have it all covered.

Found out "unofficially" that DD will be having her nursery teacher in reception and she is fab, but I guess it will be confirmed today.

DD tried on her brothers old PE kit last night and she looks much to small to be wearing it

roadkillbunny · 04/07/2012 11:03

Ds is at big school right now! !
He was so exited to go he tried to install himself in dd's Y2 class this morning at drop off! We had a long wait around before he was due in so I took him over to the village shop where I work one day a week and started him off on the principles of retail management lmao!
Took a picture this morning of both of them in their big school uniform, ds looks so adorable in his grey shorts, scary thing is he didn't look like a baby dressed up in school uniform like dd did (and most of the others in his class when we saw them), he looked right, he looked like he could be already at school finishing off reception year! He is tall for his age and looks like such a big boy and then you talk to him and you get the speech of a 2 year old, can be very confusing and catch you off guard, and that's me as his Mum, must be stranger for others.
We met one of the 2 boys joining the class who aren't from the village, nice boy, nice Mum, I feel really positive about ds getting the chance to make a new friend, one who didn't start pre-school with him, the boys he has been at pre-school with all knew him as the boy who couldn't talk when he started and they quickly caught on that ds was a good scapegoat for bad behaviour as he couldn't stand up for himself or say what had happened. Pre-school picked up on this within hours and never fell for it, they have been wonderful in making sure that kind of thing is not tolerated but all the efforts in the world can't take away the way the other boys see ds so really hoping for some new friendships on a more equal footing. Don't get me wrong, ds has managed to make friends with a couple of the boys but he has never been invited to play, partly because the main boy he is friends with has a Mother who I don't really like, she doesn't really like me (our older children are in the same class, she has a ds, dd was the only child not invited to her ds's birthday party one year, that is just what she is like so I avoid her tbh, dd didn't give a stuff about that party as she doesn't play with the boy, I didn't give a stuff, one less thing to worry about I just bring it up as it shows what this Mum is like and why even though our younger boys get on well it is unlikely to be a friendship that develops out of school until they are old enough to sort things for themselves!) and partly because there are so few boys and over this year a couple of the other Mums have had new babies so not in a position to have friends over and I haven't been able to invite people over as I badly broke my leg and was in a wheelchair until April, only\just getting back on my feet recently so having friends over has been impossible. Anyway, just glad at least one of the new boys looks like a promising new friend :)
Will be off to pick him up in a bit and drop him into pre-school for the rest of the day so must get on and stop leaving diary entry type posts, sorry!

ApuskiMcClusky · 04/07/2012 14:48

Simpson and roadkillbunny, I hope they both have a great time today! We are just back from our lunch at the school, ds was a bit scared about it, and clung to my hand a fair bit, but overall did really well - and actually ate his food, which I was relieved about! We then got to visit his classroom. Not met his teacher yet, she's new from September so no one knows anything about her, she may be a NQT. But I think she'll be the one doing the home visit next week so ds can meet her - not me though as I start a new job next week and can't immediately get time off.

Have bought book bag, kit bag and elasticated tie, which ds insisted on wearing over his t shirt all the way home! It sounds like his whole gang of 7 boys from preschool are going to be in the same class - great for ds, as there's a good balance of personalities in the group so the dynamics work pretty well overall.

OP posts:
blueberryboybait · 04/07/2012 14:55

DD1 had one of her induction mornings this morning - sending her off with her buddy whilst I sat at the back of the classroom made me well up - I am going to be a mess in September! I always knew she was small but most of the rest of class are at least a head taller. They are also a very boy 'heavy' class of the 20 in today she was 1 of only 7 girls and there are 3 more girls in the other group of 10. Next week I leave her and she goes off to her buddy whilst I go to the hall for tea and cake.

Rice - we thankfully don't have book lists here!

kat1885 · 04/07/2012 15:11

I haven't posted for a while but I have good news, we were informed yesterday at our appeal ds1 has a place in our first choice school and I couldn't be happier.

I have spoken to the school and they have already had their parents meeting but we are visiting on Monday morning so he can see where he is going and I can get the uniform list etc. I have gone from dreading September to being quite excited.

kat1885 · 04/07/2012 15:12

Hmm, hope he will get some induction days, maybe we have missed those too ...

ApuskiMcClusky · 04/07/2012 15:16

Oh kat, that's brilliant news, what a relief! I was wondering what had happened. You can both start to get excited about it now.

OP posts:
FrogmellaMoonbeam · 04/07/2012 16:38

Only just found this thread but DS (my eldest) will be starting Reception in September.

We got a place at our 2nd choice school which we found out in the Easter hols, unfortunately at the time DS was at the nursery at our 1st choice school and DD was starting there at Easter so we have had to move them both to the nursery of the school he has got a place at.

Considering all the heartache and upset I had over that it has actually turned out for the best though and tomorrow DS is having his taster session in his new class and will be staying for dinner which he is extremely excited about.

I havent yet heard anything about any parents meeting or anything but am hoping it will happen at some point.

simpson · 04/07/2012 17:01

Roadkill - hope today has gone well.

I had induction meeting today and have found out that DD has the teacher that I wanted her to have which is fab as DD can already read pretty well and this teacher has been doing extension work with her etc, so knows her already.

I also had a quick chat with the HT about her extra needs being hyper mobile and food intolerances and she was fab and said to fill in the questionnaire we have been given very honestly (which I would have done anyway) and what they do is they look at them all when they come back and make additional meetings with the parents of kids who need extra help and go through everything. So all in all, I feel relieved!!

Pipsqueak99 · 04/07/2012 17:09

Hello! My DS (PFB) starts Reception in September too. He is SO excited about it. He already goes to nursery/pre-school at the same school so is familiar with the place and knows the current Reception children and who his teacher will be. Hopefully the transition will be easy for him :).

We (plus DS) have received welcome packs, and OH and I are going to look round the school and the classrooms this week, although we haven?t got any information on a specific parents evening. For some reason I think a parents evening/meeting with his teacher will happen in September, in the week he starts??

Yfandes · 04/07/2012 18:53

Hi

I'm joining here, but am not happy or excited with our place. We didn't have mush choice (due to linving right next door to the school...) but each visit has left me feeling more and more unhappy. I'm thinking of trying to transfer schools, but don't know what to do. It would be so much upheaval. Does anyone elso one here (or lurking) know how to go about changing everthing? Potentially even moving house to be near a better school. I feel like I've failed dc1already Sad

butterfingerz · 04/07/2012 21:52

My PFB DD starts school in Sep. She'll be probably the youngest as she is 4 on the 27th Aug. Still need to tackle bum wiping but she seems fine in all other areas. She can write her name, knows her alphabet, counts beyond 10 (twenty nine, twenty ten!). She's very sociable so is excited about making friends but will probably struggle with tiredness. She only does one half day before going full time.

She has had two induction sessions and I have a short meeting with her teacher tomorrow. I still have a 1yr old DS at home so looking forward to havin some 1to1 with him and working on my degree.

roadkillbunny · 04/07/2012 22:13

It went very well simpson, ds had a great time and the only tears where when it was time to leave and go up to pre school!
The teacher told me that ds did make effort to talk to them rather then just using pointing a noises which is great. It helped I think that he went in having met the adults in charge, the teacher went in to pre school last week to meet all the children there and the TA/nursery nurse went in to pre school yesterday. Mix that in with the school open afternoon having been yesterday so ds was able to go into the classroom and poke about, looking at what was available, I was then able to say 'ohh isn't that nice/fun/exiting you will be able to explore and play with it all tomorrow.
Next thing is the second and final induction session a week Friday, they will spend longer then today (2.5 hours rather then1.5), ds is already looking forward to it. It is also the day that all the children in school move up to their next class for the morning so dd is very exited to be going into the Y3 class and reuniting with her Y1 teacher who we all loved who will be teaching them again in Y3.
Nearly at the end of term now, all sorts going on and I am just getting exhausted by in all now to the point that I was pleased when sports day was called off due to weather, roll on the holidays, I just want the chance to sit around in our PJ's until 11am for a few days at least!

Yfandes What a difficult position to be in, as far as I know you would need to contact the LEA and ask to apply to other schools or go on wait lists, you may be better of posting a new thread that the admissions bods will see and they can give you sound advice. Good luck, hope you get to a point where you can be exited about this next step for our children.

simpson · 04/07/2012 22:41

Does anyone have an official date when their DC starts school??

I was told today that DD will start on 14th sept and some of them are starting as early as the 6th!!!

I have heard on the grapevine that the kids who the school believe are going to struggle to be left are starting earliest and the ones who are ok will start the latest (DD is starting on the last date - and will only do 1 day till midday and then is there till 1.30 for 2 weeks and then full time!!).

Roadkill - glad today went ok, it must take a weight off your mind!!

IwishIwasmoreorganised · 04/07/2012 22:43

Ds2 will be staring on 3rd september.

The whole class starts full days straight away. None of this a bit here and there or a few every day malarkey thank goodness.

He can't wait.

IwishIwasmoreorganised · 04/07/2012 22:44

Starting even Blush

He'll probable be doing a bit of staring too I would imagine!

KateShmate · 04/07/2012 22:47

Hope you don't mind me joining!
DD2 is a late September girl, and is sooo ready to start!