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!)

Also agree that they would use clothes from their bag if an accident. They can't leave a semi naked child alone whilst they go and collect the pe bag, even if the child says they are there.

I am surprised at some schools not needing PE kit until the spring or summer term. DS went to the school nursery and he took in PE kit for the last term of nursery as they were doing football training with the rest of the class (composite nursery, reception and year 1 class)!

As some have said, expectations and requirements vary by school. My DC are expected to take in the following:
Book Bag
Drawstring PE Bag with full kit - trainers, polo top, shorts, joggers and underwear for the younger children)
Swim kit in a drawtsting bag (only on specified swim days for KS2 children)
Snack Purse/Wallet
Water Bottle
Waterproof Spares (once the wetter weather hits)
Wellies

My DC have school meals (as do all the children), so there is no need for packed lunch. The children play on the field come rain, shine or snow - so they need to have wellies and waterproof bottoms to keep them dry/warm.

For all year groups, from nursery to year 6, the children are specifically told not to bring in large backpack style bags as they take up too much room. They are also told not to bring in stationery from school as they have enough stationery in school to go around and do not have time to deal with numerous "Miss, she/he's pinched my rubber/ruler/pen/pencil!" type moans

I remember being worried and nervous with my eldest, who will be going into year 4, but I am far more relaxed this time as I know the school and routines, and DS is also very familiar with them too.

Do pack tissues in your handbag for the first day - I have found, from previous experience, that there is a lot of pesky dust that gets in your eyes on that first day and brings a tear to them. It's nothing to do with your baby starting school, of course

drawstring bag - my phone has a mind of its own!

Mine need:
Drawstring bag with PE kit, waterproofs, spare pants, trainers.
Bookbag
Wellies
Water bottle
Wristband for lunch

They get fruit provided and you can also sign them up for milk which is free until they are 5.

Not sure if anyone has mentioned it but put the spare pants and wipes in a bag that can be used to hold any wet ones! Does she need plimsolls?

Ours was only a book bag the in the second week a PE kit. I put kickers in bookbag

I've just thought of another couple of things I'll be sending in with my 4yo.

Piriton plus medicine form - obviously this isn't needed for every child but might remind others. It appears that the rules have changed (or perhaps our LA is tightening up its procedures) concerning giving medication to children at school. When DC1 had a nasty reaction to a wasp sting they rang me and asked if it was ok to give him a spoonful from the first aid bottle of Piriton; DC2 who has weird allergic reactions to unknown allergens including swelling lips/mouth has his own prescribed bottle so I need to send it in with the completed permission form.

Money for snack/lunch account - children in Reception/Y1/Y2 get free school lunches but if he has eg toast at breaktime then that will need paying for and the account has to be in credit. I was just reminded of this by paying the window cleaner and seeing all the stubs saying "School dinners"!

Thanks for the reminder about school dinners - DD1 is moving in to Y3 so have now topped up her account!

Yep, I suddenly realised DC1 would starve if I didn't pull my finger out!

I am a teaching assistant who works in an infant school and mum of 5 - you don't need to send your child in with anything unless the school have asked for it. If there has been no advice I would send in their PE kit in a PE bag with EVERYTHING named as well as a spare set of underclothes (pants, socks, tights) in case of an accident. If your child needed clean trousers, skirt etc the school would likely provide that, but most clothes which get sent home never return so stocks of decent pants etc can be low/nonexistent. Most schools will advise you that your child needs their bookbag etc which is usually used to put any letters in too - so it needs checking regularly. I personally put letters in every child's bookbag but have parents who swear blind that they never get letters sent home. If they bothered to look in bookbags they'd probably see an entire term's worth of paperwork waiting for their attention!
Don't worry - I have never seen a child who has not arrived without something considered essential but they (and their parents) have survived to return day after day

Our school Reception needs book bag and PE Kit that's all.

Slightly off topic but something I never thought of, is to make sure your child knows to tell a teacher (not their friend) if they feel ill! My DD had a raging temperature in reception and didn't tell anyone other than her best friend and came out crying! I felt terrible I'd not told her what to do.

Not relevant at all but the school my DCs attended had a supply list on its website.

Four year olds had to bring with them on the first day:
A bookbag or backpack
One blue folder (for communications between school and home)
One bottle of white glue
Six glue sticks
One box of large ziploc bags
One container of disinfectant wipes
One pkg of 6" paper plates
One pkg of large, brown paper lunch bags
A reusable water bottle with name marked
One roll of paper towels
One box of tissues
One set of spare clothes including socks and underwear, all marked with name of child

Not relevant as this was the US.

In my reception class the children need themselves and that's it. We provide a book bag and we will only check and empty school issued book bags. P.e kit won't be needed until after half term. Spare clothes sit in the bag all year as we always just grt our own supplies out rather than checking p.e bags while a child is wet and uncomfortable. Water bottles can be used, but no big deal as we provide cups and jugs of water for the children. Stationery.... Please god no!! Nothing worse than a 4 year old crying because they've lost something in school and u can't find it either! Seriously, we gave loads of pencils! We allow wellies but I have my fingers crossed they won't be needed just yet! Don't worry about it, the teacher will sort you out

They don't need anything other than packed lunch and drinks bottle if parents choose this option in our reception class.

OK, water bottle seems to be a frequent request on here - I'd not thought of that but should I be squeezing one into her bookbag? They just said bookbag and uniform to us and as pp have said no changing for PE until Spring and no mention of wellies. If it is weather like this though, would it be worth sending those in too?

We provide wellies in reception

And waterproof coats and dungarees

I wouldn't worry about water bottles or wellies for the first day unless they school has asked for them - you can always check with the teacher and send them in the following day if needed.

Math - I love the delightful randomness of that list
A selection of glue, but no pens/pencils? What are they doing with the plates? So many questions unanswered there

Experience tells me the plates are for snacktime, and some will be used for crafts/art -- clocks and animal faces probably, or maybe masks. The brown paper bags will also be used for art and for packing snacks into when they go for little trips or for a picnic.

I also know from experience that many of the children will eat the glue but mainly it is for crafting. The children love glueing and always use plenty of glue, but are not very good at putting the lids back on the gluesticks, so best to buy plenty when this sort of thing is in the shops.

Not much writing goes on in the four year old room. There are communal baskets of pencils and crayons supplied by the school iirc.

Wellies? What's wrong with shoes, my dc have never been allowed outside if it's raining.