party invitations given out in class

[Magicmum2014]

Hi, I am a serial lurker who is going to take a more active part in discussions from now on.
I was in DS2's reception class today and two girls were asked to give out their party invitations (right after show and tell so while everyone was sitting down). Those who got invitations were asked to put them in their bag, those who didn't were asked to stay sitting. More than half the class didn't get invitations so it wasn't like just one or two kids were left out.
I am wondering what people think of this policy, and what happens in other schools. I was really surprised, I assumed it was done discretely, but I guess it is also good for kids to learn that they don't get invited to everything. Now I know this, I will have a little chat with DS2 about it, he didn't seem bothered about not being invited to either party, nobody did actually, I just thought it was strange to do it so openly without any thought for the noninvited. Views welcome, thanks :)

[goonIcantakeit]

tee hee.

[storynanny]

If anyone thinks it doesn't take long, offer yourself as a volunteer for the day, you will soon be back here reporting differently!

[storynanny]

I recently did a day supply with reception who were going on a short local trip. 3 mums volunteered to come with us. After the register, the dinner register, collection of late permission slips, every one to the toilet and into outdoor clothing, matching up hats and gloves etc, the mums told me they were exhausted watching me organise that for 30 children even before the trip had started! Add to that giving out invitations and consoling the sad uninvited, well that would have just added on more time. Still had to fit in phonics, literacy, numeracy etc when we got back from the trip.

[TheBuskersDog]

One of my colleagues in Foundation stage mentioned this the other day, she quite rightly said it was nothing to do with school and how irritating it was that some parents just expected them to give out invitations, as if they don't have enough things to do.

[Expatmomma]

Our school sets up a contact list per class with phone numbers, addresses and emails.

Parents simply email out the invitations.

Simple and no one gets hurt.

[turningitaround]

Once, DD1's teacher (excellent in all other respects) handed out invites publicly by calling out names of invited kids (a bit more than half of a small class) to come up to front and get invitations. This was a joint party and DD1 classed both kids as her friends, she was heartbroken not to get an invitation. She's reasonably popular and gets invited to plenty of parties, but there are certainly other kids in the class who never do. I was absolutely furious and complained with some force. It didn't happen again. We're not in UK (but Europe) and I wondered at the time whether this was some cultural thing I didn't understand, but in the end I decided it was still mean enough to make a fuss. DD1 was 7 at the time.

[neepsandtatties]

I don't know how my school manages it, but the invites end up in book trays and eventually make it home (I did of course put a note in my DS's reading record politely asking and thanking the teacher for helping with this). We have no class address list, and with breakfast club and afterschool club and working parents and childminders etc it would be impossible for a parent to do the job independently of school.

Now I'm a bit worried about the thank you letters I planned to send to school with DS.....

[TamerB]

There is a whole lot of angst about parties. Was your DS a particular friend of the two girls? Anything to suggest that he is close enough to expect a party invitation?

[Morgause]

When I was teaching the schools I worked in refused to have anything to do with invitation delivery. The best policy, I think.

[Meglet]

The teachers put them in the book bags at the DC's school. Although there's a lot of whole class parties (including us) at infant school level. I really did have to involve the teacher when DD started school, whole class party 4 days into the start of reception term, I didn't have a clue who half the class, or parents, were.

Once DS reaches junior school age I'll know the parents / carers and hopefully have their mobile numbers so be able to invite each child directly.

[clam]

Seriously? Teachers/TAs are now expected to hand out thank you letters as well?????

We also had an issue last year with parents using the school Christmas post box for their own cards to other parents. Do these people think we're Royal Mail?

[TamerB]

I would have thought you could hand them out to the children in the playground. If your child can't point out the child then I can't see why they are inviting them to a party.