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

Original poster

September 2016 school starters

156 replies

ElodieS · 22/08/2016 11:01

Wondered if anyone else out there fancies a school starters thread for this September?

I'm feeling slightly pathetic about DTs starting Reception in September; they've been in nursery for years but I'm still prone to a little weep at my babies growing up when I peek at their uniforms!

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Original poster
ElodieS · 12/09/2016 13:52

Hi all,

Phew, what a busy week that was! We started the week with a few tears and A LOT of questions and angst but ended it with two very tired but happy girls. I'm really pleased with the school and teachers and it all seems to be really nicely managed so they're settling in ok. DT1 had a toilet mishap on Monday which hasn't happened in ages so I think it must have been anxiety but it hasn't happened since.

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Lndnmummy · 12/09/2016 14:14

Can I join? Ds started on Thursday last week. He was very teary on his first day as was me and his dad but seemed to have a better day Friday. My oh said he seemed ok but abit hesitant at drop off today. I just cant concentrate on anything else though. I am so worried about him. Is anyone else feeling very anxious?

Blondemummy1975 · 12/09/2016 22:52

Day 3 and my boy has arrived home with a pink band book to read? Surely school aren't expecting them to be able to read before starting?! Shouldn't school be teaching them to read?

slightlyglitterbrained · 12/09/2016 23:54

Is it for you to read with him maybe? Didn't think they all learned to read in reception - was expecting a start on phonics & not necessarily all reading till year 1 or so?

Idliketobeabutterfly · 13/09/2016 01:07

I think it is to read together. I think in our school you learn some reading but not yet.

MiaowTheCat · 13/09/2016 07:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

drspouse · 13/09/2016 09:58

Reports from friends with later start dates and more part time days aren't good - we are still going great guns here - he seems to have managed to settle in. We aren't fully into our pick up routine (drop off will always be a bit random but pick up has to get settled).

drspouse · 13/09/2016 10:00

PS we are nearly, nearly there with simple VC or CVC words. Today he was using his phonics app (can't remember which one!) and had i-t and sound out eee-tuh (but more like the word "it" if you see what I mean, only a tiny bit separate) and guessed "lit, bit, sit" so he can hear which words have this syllable in, just didn't get the right one!

Having taken note of multiple MN threads I am not telling him "that's OK" when it isn't nor "just guess". Must remember to tell DH the same...

Idliketobeabutterfly · 13/09/2016 11:06

DS is a very early September birthday and can read more than he's letting on. You ask him and he won't answer you or adds letters to end of words and smirks at you. Although he can read when he wants...
Going through dentists a few weeks ago he read the sign staff only on a door. Granted he then saw the radiation sign and told me there was nuclear waste in there but that's a bonus... The reading not the nuclear waste.

TinyTear · 13/09/2016 11:12

Just posted a thread but asking here as well, anyone's child suddenly misbehaving and with LOTS of anger at home?
I think she is nervous and missing her friends but it is a bit difficult - also being a bad influence on her 1 yo sister...

MiaowTheCat · 13/09/2016 11:16

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TinyTear · 13/09/2016 11:20

Ha! the spelling boat has sailed here... the 4.5 yo tells us she is going for a p-o-o and wants some I C and to go to the P G

And I bet she would understand any other things... we have to be extra careful talking within her earshot!

catkind · 13/09/2016 14:31

slightly I think almost all learn to read in reception, to some extent at least. Phonics is great like that.

But at the start it's a wide range and they won't assume they know anything. 3 days in they probably haven't assessed anyone yet, maybe just gave everyone a book to establish the sending books home routine. Shame they didn't also send home an explanation of what to do with it!

At DS' school they sent home books without words from the start, then books with words once they thought they were ready. The initial books had very few sounds in so DS was able to tackle them from week 3 or 4 iirc. Most kids were getting books with words by Christmas I think.

Don't know what current school do (we moved), will be interesting as DD picked up phonics when DS was in reception and is reading really rather well by now.

drspouse · 13/09/2016 14:46

I'm totally fucked when she learns how to spell

Us too. I'm relying on DS using phonics rather than letter names for a short while though.

No books yet here, and we're near the middle of week 2 of full time but we've had a few colouring/copying letter sheets, they have phonics on the daily timetable, so I think they are assessing too.

catkind · 13/09/2016 15:14

I'm totally fucked when she learns how to spell since we've long since resorted to communicating spelling out things to stop her earwigging on conversations!
Grin How's your foreign languages? If they figure that out then at least they've learned a language out of it!

DD reports they did s, a and t jolly phonics songs today, so looks like phonics are on the go here too.

drspouse · 13/09/2016 16:02

My DS speaks more of one of my foreign languages than DH does (we watch language learning videos together and go to a little club) and the other one (my better language) nobody speaks, frankly nobody in the country speaks it!

catkind · 13/09/2016 16:43

Foiled again! Well your DH has a few months to get practising at obscure language I guess Wink or you'll be passing each other notes under the table.

drspouse · 13/09/2016 21:29

I could learn German I suppose, DH speaks it and I don't but I find learning languages easier than he does.

Bigfam · 14/09/2016 09:33

First day.
Stayed with her for 5 minutes and off she went (dd3 was toddling round and may have stolen a snail stamper)

September 2016 school starters
Idliketobeabutterfly · 14/09/2016 13:59

Have a lovely day little Bigfam.

DS was up at 3 this morning as he had nightmares and wouldn't go back to sleep. Hopefully he'll be tired when he comes home and he can go to bed early as I'm exhausted.

Bigfam · 14/09/2016 14:11

I'm preparing myself for a mini meltdown on the way home from school Grin (it happened a lot at nursery when she did 6 hour days)

drspouse · 14/09/2016 14:18

If you get a Parentcall text and reply, does the school actually see the reply?

We got one this morning which I replied to, more to warn them that it's fine with US if Reception does X but they may find it's not fine with DS!

So not crucial if they didn't get it but I wondered if I was supposed to ring school/text a different number.

Idliketobeabutterfly · 14/09/2016 14:23

Never heard of parentcall but school does mass texts in our case. I also think they do see replies as when DS was in nursery they sent a text asking parents to 'remember the willies'. There was a very quick second text due to replies.

drspouse · 14/09/2016 14:30

Good, then they'll be warned if he decides today is the day to kick off!

There appears to be a - wait for it - whole year diary on the school website.

It includes things like non-uniform days, WBD, harvest festival, and even the sports day next summer.

How's that for organised?

Original poster
ElodieS · 14/09/2016 14:51

I've just been called to collect DD because she's wheezy. Sad

Hoping this is just them being super-cautious because they don't know DTs well enough yet to identify risk. We'll see...

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