My 7 year old daughter is starting school this sept. Do I have everything?

[mummyloveslucy]

Hi, my daughter is going to school after being home educated. She should be in year 3 but is going into year 2, due to her SEN's.
This is what I have so far.

Uniforms x 2
PE kit x2 with pumps
New shiny shoes (Velcro, for Euphemia)
School bag
Pencil case with pens pencils etc
socks, undies etc
waterproof jacket.

Is there anything else she might need? She's having school dinners, so doesn't need a lunch box.

Water bottle? Depends on the school but usually required. Have you labelled all her clothes REALLY well? (Sew in are def the best but rather boring to do). 'School' hair accessories? (Or is that just my diva daughter!)

A drinks cannister
Some schools ask that hair accessories match the uniform (I use ribbon and plain hair-coloured bobbles for dd's)
Pump bag for PE kit
Book bag (essential at dd's school, but not always asked for)

Good luck to your dd

Nothing to add to your list but just wanted to wish you and your DD good luck!

Named Hat and gloves although not needed just yet

Does her school do swimming and need kit?

Probably won't need the pencil case. All our first school provide stationery.

Will she need a swimming kit?
Plenty of hair bobbles/clips
Book bag?
Welly boots to keep at school?

Only ever bothered with 1 set of PE kit IME it goes to school at the beginning of term return for decontamination at half term and then at the end of term.

With our school, only need one pe kit but that should include trainers as well as plimsolls and outdoor pe wear. They usually ask that we provide this after the first half term. Pe kits kept at school, for the whole half term (!!!). suppose only worn a little each week and saves time in handing over and so o.

We don't have to provide any stationery or pens. Usually get begging note at some point asking for kids to bring a Pritt stick in, and often a box of tissues for winter colds.

Our school very very keen not to require parents to contribute too much - know others nearby that are much more demanding!

I think that you will need more uniform unless you plan to wash every night. I would have at least 4 sets of uniform so that she can wear one, one in cupboard and two in the wash. Many children of Lucy's age without SEN come home wearing their school dinner.

Our drinks bottles have to be clear (so no smuggling of squash). You can buy logo-ed ones for £2 or just write with marker pen on an Evian bottle (and reuse). Sports cap for the bottle.

Oh thanks everyone. She'll need a drink bottle and book bag then. She has a swimming costume and plenty of hair bobbles/ribbon to match the uniform.

I agree with getting more uniform - both mine have enough uniform for a week so I just have to wash it at the weekend rather than doing as load midweek as well.

I agree. More uniform will make keeping up with washing easier. And agree you probably won't need pencil case or two PE kits.

Book bags are given by our school (paid for by PTA, one per child).

We can buy them from PTA (if get lost) for £4. Logo-ed.

More uniform then. She'll have to take spares to school too, due to the nature of her problems.

At her school they are alowed squash in their bottles, which is lucky as she won't drink water. It's hard enough getting her to drink squash.

Shal I put a pencil case in just in case? If not, what do I put in her school bag?

Ours don't need a bag. Just a book bag plus PE kit on relevant days.

They like their own pencil cases with funky pens or crayons. Washable pens!

Oh, I guess these are all things I should've asked about. Oh well, I'll find out pretty quickly I'm sure.

Needing a bit of advice on these things will give you a great icebreaker with the other parents at the school gates. They will be eager to help you, and everyone will have an opinion on whether you REALLY need each particular item and where you can buy everything locally.

If you go in looking all organised and like you don't need any help, you'll deprive the other parents of the opportunity to be helpful and make you extra welcome.

At least, that was my experience when my dd went to school for the first time aged nine. I was glad I didn't have all the answers when she started!

Good luck to your daughter! She must be getting quite excited by now.

Thank you, good point. Yes she is very excited. She's told nearly every shop keeper we've met about her new school, and given them a discrption of the uniform.

What about you, have you got what you need sorted? Thick skin, something to keep you from spending your day worrying, excuses to not be talked into being too involved with the PTA?

Deffinately agree with lots of uniform - DS1 is let's say a little clumsy we have two official sets and two cheap Asda ones for when they do painting/ cooking/ sand/ water play more than twice in the week.

Fantastic to hear that your daughter is so excited.

Ha,ha! Yes, I'll have to get my check list sorted too.

I suggest that you get a shoebag for PE kit and maybe another shoebag for taking home pooed on clothes if Lucy is still prone to toilet accidents. Prehaps you can keep a spare set of clothes at school in a shoebag in case. If Lucy takes home weed on clothes in a shoe bag its less humilating than a Tescos plastic bag.

I hope that Lucy enjoys her new school and that its a postitive experience for all concerned.

The school may well provide/sell a logoed book bag-it may be worth asking.

our school doesnt use a book bag and the kids take a backpack or messenger bag as a schoolbag instead. Our only take PE stuff on gym day and then bring it home afterwards - it gets put in their schoolbag.