Last minute panic for reception starter

[ninaprettyballerina]

Some pointless things I'm now panicking about re tomorrow:
dS1 is doing 2 weeks of mornings. No lunch this week and I'm guessing no pe on first day. Right??
Should I take his water bottle? If so, where do I put it??
Which leads me onto the next question - book bag or rucksack bag or neither?? There is no "school" bag and its never been mentioned that they need a bag. What goes in it? Besides a water bottle (which is too bulky for a book bag??)
Aaargh, so many last minute ramblings.
Think I might just turn up empty handed on day 1 and see what the others take

Ruck sack, I can't stand book bags. Small people do not do up water bottles. Outside pockets are essential.

Our school asks everyone to use bookbags throughout KS1. Definitely need a water bottle. There will be staff on hand to show you and your DC where everything goes. PE kit almost certainly not needed first day, I think for the first half term or so they don't bother changing for PE. Just make sure everything is named even if it's with a Marker pen.

We just stuffed the useless book bag in a sensible ruck sack so they could stick them in their draws.

And things like coats and embroidered expensive bits of uniform - mark normally and then mark in other out of the way places too - inside a cuff, near the hem on the inside , in a sleeve or pocket. Horrible to think of but several things wander - with YR it's sometimes just because they end up getting their clothes muddled up after PE but there's always a small cohort that will swipe a nice new coat or jumper and never return it, or will cut out the name tape and sew or write their own name in. If you have names in other places too it is much easier to prove that something is yours!!!

(sorry, not a nice thought before starting)

We weren't allowed to have rucksacks in reception, just book bags, and water bottles were just shoved in and occasionally wet them all through when lids weren't done up properly. Oh and made them all out of shape too!

I also found it useful to have a lunch box that had a shoulder strap as well as a handle so that when you are collecting or dropping off you don't need to have 43 different hands for all the things your dc thrusts at you as they run out of class!

To which end, I found it useful to have one of those jute/recycleable bags that you can get from the supermarket, that was big enough to stick in the book bag, the water bottle, the snack, the sun hat, the sun lotion (for summer), the coat and jumper etc, so that I just had one bag to pick up in the morning rather than lots of bits and bobs. During term time I have a bag for each dc and their book bag and any bits that need to go into school go in it (one dc brings pe kit back each weekend now, so it gets washed and stuck straight back in his jute bag)... Makes life much easier! I also leave a couple of envelopes and a pen in there in case I need them as I've forgotten to fill in lunch money or forms or whatever, and a comb as one dc always forgets to comb their hair, so I can always make them do it on the way to school if necessary.

And if they do have a book bag, tie a bit of ribbon on the handle or put on a keyring (photo keyring of their favourite toy or themselves can be handy and unique), so it is easily identifiable amongst all of the identical bookbags.

oops going on a bit sorry, will stop now!

Our school forbids backpacks as the corridors are too narrow and the peg already holds the PE kit and coat. The drawers for the book bags are very slim, no space for another bag.

We use the book bag, I don't like it but sorry, I can live with it.

DD takes a waterbottle in her hand, similar to the other 219 pupils. But until they actually go in it is the parent carrying it

When she moves to junior they need a proper bag as they will have to carry books and stationary.

Ours discourage water bottles in book bags because of leakage.

Putting a keyring etc on the bookbag is a very good idea, I help with reading and when they are looking for theirs in amongst 30 others in a crate it really speeds things up.

Mine have completed 8 years in total at school and never had a piece of uniform go permanently AWOL but it does happen, I've never bothered double marking but it is a goid idea.

Yes also to keeping comb, envelopes, pen and changepot in the hall next to the coatpegs for last minute admin. We have low pegs for the DCs coats and bags and a magnetic whiteboard above for school letters, so it can all be dealt with on the spot. I check the bags for letters the minute we get home so I don't forget later.

DS starting Reception this morning. We were adkrfcto bringvin water bottles on first day, in school book bags, as their bag storage is designed for book.bags. Also PE kit in a drawstring bag to hang on peg. And a piece of fruit.

DS is giddy as a Kipper. He has been dressed since 6.20 am!

Thanks for the tips Whoknows!

DD starts tomorrow afternoon. Her school provides water bottles for the classroom, so she will have her bookbag with her cap in in case it is sunny. When she starts staying for lunch she'll have her lunchtime drink in her lunchbox.

Tomorrow I will also be taking her inhaler and spacer, named and in a named box, 2 hospital letters to get authorisatoon for time off, a copy of her statement and her mat for her physio.

PE everyday here so yes kit is needed on day 1. It goes on the first day of term resurfaces at half term when it walks itself home. Book bags only infants as they have a draw each.

Oh yes, she'll take her pe kit tomorrow complete with clean knickers and socks...

On the subject of clean knickers and socks, if you are having a clear out as they get too small over the next couple of years, your school is likely to be very grateful for them as spares for the little ones.

My dgs has just started Reception.They all have a lunch bag and a book bag.The water bottle goes in the lunch bag.They also have a PE bag which is left on their peg all week'It has PE kit,spare pants and socks and gym shoes and is brought home Friday and returned on Monday.