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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

Taking toys to school

54 replies

Royaldada · 21/07/2015 20:06

Does your DC's school allow your DC to take toys like dolls, footballs and trading cards from home or do they have a box of age-appropriate toys and games to choose from at school - because according to our new HT (starting in September) the latter is norm and I was just wondering

OP posts:

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mugglingalong · 21/07/2015 20:08

They discourage toys etc and trading cards are banned.

starlight2007 · 21/07/2015 20:10

The toys don't go to school..Trading cards do go on though..

Each year has a box of toys, skipping ropes, can't remember what else is in it for play time

TheMoa · 21/07/2015 20:12

They are not allowed to take any toys/trading cards in.

Toys and the swapping/breaking/stealing/losing of them cause no end of arguments.

There are footballs and tennis balls, hoops, and skipping ropes available.

Littlefish · 21/07/2015 20:17

No toys in school.

Our previous headteacher used to allow a "pocket sized" toy to be brought in, but it caused endless problems on the playground with lost/broken/taken toys which then had to be sorted out when the children came in after lunch.

Skipping ropes, balls, books etc. are provided at lunchtime now.

mrz · 21/07/2015 20:19

The rule is no toys (but they do keep appearing) as they get lost, misappropriated, broken ...

clarad · 21/07/2015 20:20

In my kid's primary school you are allowed to. However, I made the mistake of letting DD1 take her new doll into school in reception. Watched her put it the special toy box for home toys when I dropped here off but by the end of the day it was missing.

Original poster

Royaldada · 21/07/2015 20:23

That's now become the case in DD's school and that's why they've got this ban starting in September. I initially thought that it was the new HT trying to make his mark but as I've seen your comments I can assume that most primary school do this

OP posts:

Shapebandit · 21/07/2015 20:23

No toys to be taken in at our school and trading cards banned

jelliebelly · 21/07/2015 20:24

No toys or trading cards from home. Plenty of stuff at school to play with!

Ashwinder · 21/07/2015 20:25

Yes- no toys is standard at every primary school I've ever come across.

TheTroubleWithAngels · 21/07/2015 20:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TheTroubleWithAngels · 21/07/2015 20:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

storynanny2 · 21/07/2015 20:32

And it always is the teacher's fault apparently. Last week a parent said to me " how difficult is it for you to have made sure her toy didnt get stolen?"

cariadlet · 21/07/2015 20:42

We allow toys, but do advise that children don't bring in anything too precious (in either sense of the word ie expensive or very special to them).

From time to time there are bans on whatever the latest craze is if it involves swapping as these always lead to arguments and to lost and stolen toys. We tend to give children a chance and wait for problems to occur before banning anything.

OstentatiousBreastfeeder · 21/07/2015 20:48

DS' school allows them to take things in that will fit in their personal trays.

I only let him take happy meal toys in because there's a particular boy in his class who likes to pressure other children into parting with their toys for 'keepsies', and DS is a sucker.

Wolfiefan · 21/07/2015 20:51

I never let my kids take toys in. The school has lots for them to do and they don't need to take in toys that could be lost or broken.

blink1552 · 21/07/2015 22:05

Ours are encouraged to bring a playground toy but it must be small - something that fits in their hand so no dolls or footballs. Trading cards fine. They banned loom bands because of the mess.

LibrariesGaveUsPower · 21/07/2015 22:07

No toys unless it's things for show and tell. They must stay in the drawer except for that activity.

starlight2007 · 21/07/2015 22:43

BLink Have to say I felt the same about wanting to ban loom bands in my house too.

OldRoan · 21/07/2015 22:50

Nothing allowed in school here. If KS2 are found with trading cards they are removed and, generally, chucked or kept until the end of the week. In KS1 I keep them until the child remembers (sometimes the end of the day, sometimes never!).

They did allow looms (briefly), but my classroom policy was that if I see them, they go in your tray. We have playground games and toys that the children use on a weekly rota.

BelindaBagwash · 21/07/2015 22:53

No toys and trading cards usually start appearing when a new set comes out, but always cause problems so end up getting banned.

Bunnyjo · 21/07/2015 22:53

No toys is the norm, I feel. The risk is they will get lost/misappropriated/damaged and the teacher has enough to do without dealing with numerous toy incidents per hour day

MidniteScribbler · 22/07/2015 01:22

Toys are strongly discouraged, electronic toys are absolutely banned. Trading/swap items are generally allowed at lunchtime only, but if they start being an issue we may ban them. We have a big trolley that comes out at lunchtime with lego, blocks, etc and we put down big mats for those that want to play with them. We did the same during the loom band craze (thankfully over now as I was running out of places to put all the ones that I've been given after lunch), by putting some mats down (they are like these ones, a type of woven plastic, and easy to clean) and that was where they could be made only. Any toy must go in their bag or tray except at lunchtime.

One of the bits of paper parents sign at the start of the year is that we take absolutely no responsibility for any personal property brought to school, including lost or damaged toys, items 'lost' through swapping, etc. If it's too important to lose, then keep it at home.

LucyBabs · 22/07/2015 01:34

Quite surprised by the replies.
My dd is starting first class in September she'll be 7 in October so maybe that's ks2 in the UK? We're in Ireland.

They have been encouraged since junior infants (Reception?) to take a toy into school to be played with at breaktime. Thankfully no child has taken an electronic toy or overly sentimental toy into school.

Mainly its been comfort toys or whatever is popular that week.(shakes fist at shopkins!)

mrz · 22/07/2015 07:09

In England it's unusual for reception children to have break time and having experience the trauma of a child leaving their comfort toy in school (unable to sleep without it) I'd prefer not to repeat it.

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