Refusing to try on uniform and other issues

[PseudoBadger]

DS finally starts school (afternoons only) next Tuesday. The staggered start has only served to get him thoroughly confused about when he's actually going and to him the 11 weeks since he finished the attached school nursery must have seemed like an eternity. So now he's completely gone off the boil about school and has got in a comfy home routine.
I have mentioned school occasionally but he got too overexcited and with weeks still to go I just backed right off.
We went and got school shoes yesterday and today suggested trying on the uniform. He is absolutely refusing and got in a complete state. I left him to it and when I went back to him he came sobbing that he wants to go back to nursery, doesn't want the uniform or to go to school
There's still 7 days to go and I don't know how to approach this. Help!

It's tough isn't it?

One of my twin boys flat out refused to try on uniform over hols, swore he wasn't going to wear it and was going to wear pyjamas instead. I even mentioned it to the teacher at our home visit and she said not to worry, send him in in pjs if need be and they would sort it out!

I managed to get him to try it on once last week by bribing him (with Haribo and a Lego mini character - he's super into Lego at the moment) but that was it...he still said he wouldn't wear it again....

They started school this morning - I promised another Lego character if he got dressed nicely which he did ?? came out all smiles this afternoon and said he likes school ??

Hoping no further bribery will be needed!!

I think the build up is hard for them and there's a lot of fear of the unknown. I would just down play it for the next week. Mention it casually every now and then to remind him he's starting but otherwise just don't make a big deal out of it....bribe him on the first day if needed (maybe the promise of a special tea after school? We had cupcakes for a treat ??) and hopefully once he's there it will all be fine

Do you get a home visit? That seemed to really help my two - they liked showing the teacher/TA their toys and it helped them feel familiar when we got to school this morning
good luck, hope it all goes ok - think I was as nervous as them and I'm so glad the first day is over!
x

The build-up must seem like a lifetime for the little chap. We didn't have a linked nursery, and we were luckily able to keep DD's place whilst she settled into school (alternate mornings/afternoons), so she kept in touch with the staff she adored and they were great at reinforcing/encouraging the transition to a completely new place. Would you be able to suggest popping in to see if they like his smart new look? Phone ahead, obviously, to prep them.

Maybe it is a daft idea, but it might help to visit the school at pick-up/drop off. Do the children all pile into a nearby park after school?

Assuming you do manage to get him to wear SOMETHINg on his first day, do try to give him something like a banana or flapjack before he starts his 1/2 day and go armed with a sugary snack/sweet fruit he adores to prevent meltdown at pick-up when you are trying to introduce him to other newbies.