Communication from school

[Efferlunt]

My Facebook
is full of people talking about their year R children's reading books, harvest festivals and dressing up days. Our PFB has just started at a totally brand new school. We are not encouraged to talk to the teachers at pick ups or drop offs. My enquiry about how he was settling in was met with a brisk 'well he doesn't seem unhappy' and the letters home have only really contained medical information and promises of information about what they will be doing this year 'soon' no activities appear to have taken place and no books have come home.

If think as it's brand new and I've never been able to see it in action I am extremely nervous about the whole thing and probably need some perspective. I get that teachers don't want parents hanging round the whole time but what's normal and how can I get more information out of them? Have emailed the headmaster who makes the right sort of noises but nothing else has happened

I'd befriend and talk to a parent in the year above to find out what happens at your school (does one of your child's new classmates have an older sibling?). Or ask to make an appointment with your child's teacher (or do you have parents' evening coming up soon?) It varies so wildly by school, that I'm not sure finding out what others do at their school will be helpful to you, especially if you are worrying.

• some schools spent the first few weeks purely on settling in
• some schools give out reading books from day 1
• some schools wait till after Christmas (or later ) to give out reading books
• some schools start PE with changing straight away
• others don't have formal PE at all in Reception
• some schools have harvest festivals and school assemblies
• others leave these sorts of things to the end of Reception

... you get the drift!!

When mine were in Reception, the policy was that they only started sending books home after half-term.

There haven't been any dressing-up days yet or any mention of Harvest Festival, so it isn't necessarily the case that your school hasn't bothered with anything.

Does the school have a website yet? These days those are often the best ways of finding out what's going on in school.

No real info on website or older children to ask. That's the problem this is a completely new set up so there is nothing to go on.

My DCs school don't do dress ups until Y1.
Also due to the ridiculous system of starting in reception, some children aren't even attending full time until after half term so nothing major happens before then.
I think the first 'event' we had was the Christmas nativity so I wouldn't panic yet
Similarly books didn't come home until after half term
I think they spent the first few weeks helping the children adjust to the new situation - things like having lunch at school, changing for PE, learning how to behave in class etc.
I am surprised that you can't just have a quick chat with the teacher at drop off/pick up, but if tis isn't the school policy, then I suggest you ask for a specific time when you can have a chat if there are things you need to discuss. If necessary email your request.