What do we actually need for first day?

[icclemunchy]

DD starts reception a week Monday but what does she actually need in her school bag? Pencils? A change of clothes? Anything else?

(We see her teacher next Friday for a 1-1 meet but I go shopping a Wednesday so would like to be sorted before then!)

School uniform.

A good night's sleep the night before.

Packed lunch unless she's on school dinners.

School provides everything else

School uniform, we send pe kits in on the first day because they keep them at school (the kits come home every half term to be washed), spare clothes if you think she is likely to have an accident, water in a bottle. Have school said if you need to provide wellies? Ours have book bags, so will be sending them in with those

No mention of wellies in the info but we have those, got uniform and a water bottle. Sounds like were sorted then!

She's not likely to have an accident but I might pop some knickers and tights/socks in just incase

You need to ask the school/teacher.

I would imagine book bag and school uniform is a given.
Other things may vary!!

I put things in to my ds's bag in case of an accident (probably wise even it is extremely unlikely - you never know how nerves/being extremely busy with new friends will affect them) - I put in pants and a pack of wet wipes in.

No need for pencils, case etc - they don't need that sort of stuff that's their own until about yr2/3.

I would definitely throw spare knickers and tights in the PE bag - even the most reliable kids can have accidents in a new environment like school. Otherwise, just water bottle really for the first day, the rest can be sorted out as and when.

Ours use PE kit if spares are needed (which are as likely due to paint or mud as wee so they're not doing a walk of shame at 3pm).

I'd put the spare pants and tights (and socks) in with the PE kit and make sure she knows where it is which means saying "DD, if you need clean pants at school where should you look?" not "DD, your clean pants are in your PE bag, see?"

On his first day my DC2 will be taking:

Water bottle
PE kit
Book bag
Pack-a-mac (to languish unused on his peg until July)

And that's it. After my experiences with DC1 I'm not bothering with full waterproofs (because they don't stop to put them on) or careful snack (because they're given fruit by school) or packed lunches.

Actually, I lie. We're taking some classroom resources that my recently-retired-teacher DM is delighted to give up.

The school should have told you. DS starts on Thursday, he'll have school uniform, a book bag, a backpack and spare clothes.

It's unlikely that your child will need anything the first day/s. I would expect the information will come home if your child needs to take anything.

What's the backpack for? At ours there wouldn't be room to store it. They need so little kit in Reception (indeed, in Infants) that they tend to have just a bookbag.

They don't do p.e until spring so no uniform. I need to see if there's a school book bag when I go on Friday if so we'll just use that. The bag she has is her old nursery bag so nothing special!

Shit my daughter's school hasn't mentioned bringing anything at all so was just going to send her in uniform with nothing - aargh! She's only in 10.15 till 12.30 on the first day though??

PE kit in a draw bag.
Water bottle
Spare skirt, tights, knickers and wipes. (Several dry children get distracted in new environment)
Book bag
Money for toast or milk if needed

Sorry xpost over pe kit

They are unlikely to be given a reading book on the first day or first week.

I agree mrz but part of it is the routine. And in some classes the reading log is the way to communicate with the teacher which some might like to do from day one. Not me: too lazy.

Just to repeat my earlier comment about asking the school!! It's no good 100 people telling you what is the case at their school.

For what it's worth at DC's school

• there was no room for spare clothes
• PE kit wasn't needed until later in the year
• no money needed
• no snacks allowed unless dietary needs
• school provided all pencils, rulers etc and frowned upon children bringing in their own
• no space for bags other than book bags (which went in a drawer)

And on the flip side

• some schools want wellies
• some schools insist on indoor schools
• some schools will have asked new Reception children to bring something in e..g a photo of my family
• it may be super hot so you will need to bring in sun cream

you get the idea!!

No P.E. until spring? What?

My Ds when started took an empty book bag. no snacks they get fruit break, they have cups in school for drinks, water bottles only in the summer. PE kit ( which you clearly don't need but we did)

The book bag is used for sending letters home.

I have to say I am shocked 2 terms of no pe?

My ds doesn't need a pe kit until spring either, they apparently do pe but don't get changed for it until then.

We have been asked to send in slippers and wellies and that's it.

empty book back for us.
IIRC correctly dd1 didn't get a reading book until Jan, or homework 'til after October half-term. I still think it's worth getting dd2 used to bring her book bag each day, plus they can bring home letters, forms to be returned (there were quite a few of these in reception) party invitations and random shite works of art in it.

Don't worry redsky I'm going to check when we see her teacher.

It's more of everyone had replied saying she'd deff need at least one pencil and a rubber (for example) I could make sure I got them when I go shopping on wed. I have limited mobility so didn't fancy rushing round at the weekend if I can avoid it!

I am surprised the school hasn't told you? Didn't they send you info at the end of last term, or invite you to an info session? Is there some info on their website? Do you know anyone with a child at the school.

DD2 starts reception next week and having been through this with DD1, she will have:

Uniform on, school shoes on

Wellies (school has specifically asked for these)

School specific water bottle

Packed lunch (she is having that rather than school dinners)

PE kit in school PE draw string bag, although I haven't sorted out a PE t shirt (have to get it from the school in school colours) as I thought I still had DD1's but can't find it. But she is very very unlikely to have PE on day 1, or even the first week, so I'm getting that once school term starts

Empty school book bag

Absolutely no point sending in spare clothes in her school - if she has an accident (as DD1 did a few times when she started) the school have spare clothes (including knickers) and will put her in those. I am sure they don't check PE bags to see who has got spare clothes and who hasn't and they just use their stash.

If hot, in our school you send them in already with sun screen in. School don't apply it, and a 4 year old won't do it themselves, so no point sending that in either.

Have you been told they are allowed a bag?

Ours is book bag (from day one as they send home their drawings, letters etc in it). Water bottle. Packed lunch of needed. Coat of needed.

Nothing else until term progresses.