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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

Getting ready for primary school... have I missed anything??

52 replies

MumNeedsTea · 06/08/2017 21:49

DS1 will be starting reception in Sept and I am trying to get my head around everything that needs to be sorted before then.

We have bought the uniforms.. it's all washed and ready to go. Childcare is all sorted for all 5 days.

I still need to sort out

backpack and water bottle
label all clothes
buy some school shoes
get DS to practice changing from school uniform to PE uniform (he knows to dress himself so this shouldn't be an issue)

We will be going with school meals to begin with, so I don't have to think of packed lunches for now.

Is there anything else I am missing?? Seems like there's something else I haven't thought of

Thanks :)

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

ItsAMackerel · 07/08/2017 12:36

Make yourself an emergency box:

£10 in coins for charity days etc.
Some white envelopes for sending money to school
Stikins labels for last minute labelling jobs
A laundry marker
Emergency hair clips/bobbles if they have to be school colours
Spare cheap water bottle

Save school telephone number onto your phone(s)

Tomorrowillbeachicken · 07/08/2017 12:49

Wellies to keep at school/ old shirt or plastic coat for painting time?

RedSkyAtNight · 07/08/2017 13:00

You really need to check your own school's guidance. At DD's infants, DC had to use book bags (put in a drawer) and there was really only room in the cloakroom for coats (they didn't have specific PE lessons in Reception). If you'd turned up with wellies, spare clothes, aprons, PE pumps etc. you would not have been popular (and there would have been nowhere to put it).

Tomorrowillbeachicken · 07/08/2017 13:03

Gotta agree. Our school had quite a lot of outside and inside space so requested all that.

Original poster

MumNeedsTea · 07/08/2017 15:52

Thanks for all the tips! These are great... I need to sit with a list and note these down :)

The school had an induction day for DS where they were also selling all school supplies. When I went to buy the book bag, they told me I really don't need to as I could buy any other design that DS likes and it helps them keep it separate. However, I will check of I need to stick with a book bag type of bag or he can have a backpack.

He does have a separate PE kit bag and he does need separate PE shoes... It says so ink their letter.
No mention of extra clothes.. will check if I need to send these.

Also, great tip about making sure DS can dress himself when everything is tangled up! He dresses himself pretty well when everything is laid out neatly.

Thanks :)

OP posts:

user789653241 · 07/08/2017 17:21

Our school didn't mention about spare close, but it was definitely worth having one in pe kit or something.
Even perfectly toilet trained children can have accidents in early days. Also it was very handy when my ds stumbled into the muddy puddle in the playground!

BikeRunSki · 07/08/2017 18:52

at the DC's school. they just get changed into PE kit if anything happens to their clothes during the day. The Reception teacher has a stash of spare pants, socks and tights.

user789653241 · 07/08/2017 19:07

Yes, same here, but my ds just didn't fancy walking around school in PE shorts!

BananaSandwichesEveryDay · 08/08/2017 09:16

There are some great ideas here. When mine were starting school I bought something similar to this I just had it made with our surname so I could use it for both dcs. Of course, that would only work for surnames that are not especially common, but otherwise I would have used just dcs first and last names. It was very easy to have it to hand when I was ironing so I could restamp as the ink faded. I can't imagine how much time it saved me over the years, especially once they went to secondary school and I had multitude items of sports kit, science coats etc to label. It lasted both dcs all through school from reception until they left at the end of year 13! I was clearing out a few weeks ago and came across it. Amazingly it still worked!

MiaowTheCat · 08/08/2017 09:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

RatOnnaStick · 08/08/2017 10:08

DS1 once came home in cycling shorts and girls school trousers from the spares cupboard. It was all they had left on the day.

I donated DS1's old pants to Reception after a particularly sad plea from the teacher at storytime for parents to please return spares once they had been washed. She started the year in September with a couple of dozen pairs and every single one was out by mid-November.

Paddington68 · 08/08/2017 10:49

Label everything!

biddy4 · 09/08/2017 12:07

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Starlight2345 · 09/08/2017 12:30

Only skim read however..Get them to practise carrying lunch on a tray and pouring water..

I do remember going in when my DS was in reception on antibitocis..He was in lunch and asked me to pour his water. I asked him what he did when I wasn't there ,he replied I often pour water on my cake...So we did lots of practise at home.

Natsku · 09/08/2017 12:40

DD had her first day of school today (live abroad - summer is over already :( ) and what I'm glad we did beforehand was practice the school run so we know how long it takes and the best way there.

Find out if you are allowed to keep a pair of wellies and a raincoat there (depends on space in the cloakroom of course) for unexpected rain.

Important lesson learnt from today is make sure they go to the loo before leaving school - had to make a stop for a wee in the bushes on the way home! Have told DD that she has to go before home time from now on.

Original poster

MumNeedsTea · 09/08/2017 21:57

Thanks all!! All very useful tips!

Going a bit off topic.. any recommendations for best place to buy school shoes? We need black shoes with black sole and also black plimsolls for PE. Also, I only need one pair right of each right?

OP posts:

APaperMe · 09/08/2017 22:19

I work in reception. Water bottle a must, we encourage the children to drink throughout the day, especially if hot, the school can't afford to provide disposable cups apart from the odd occasion when a child forgets their bottle and we don't have the time to be washing cups everyday (which get knocked over anyway).

No rucksack needed, just bookbag, it goes in a drawer and we put all newsletters, work etc. straight in them. Rucksacks just take up space we don't have.

Sun hat for sunny days, raincoat for wet, we go out in all weathers and it always amazes me how many children don't have these.

And yes, label everything, the amount of times I have parents complaining about lost jumpers, 'oh, I think the name washed off/tag fell out/hadn't got round to sewing it in'. We have 60 4 yr olds all taking off their jumpers, of course it will go home with the wrong child if not named.

Also, I took 20 pairs of pants in to use as spares last year, by christmas we had none left, so please do return any your child comes home in.

I also have 3 dcs of my own, M&S are great for shoes, lasted twice as long as far more expensive shoes on my dc and they say they're really comfy.

APaperMe · 09/08/2017 22:21

Our school also like the children to have wellies in school at all times, but that probably depends on the school.

APaperMe · 09/08/2017 22:24

I would also agree trainers rather than pumps, but again might depend on the school.

Starlight2345 · 09/08/2017 22:37

I would also say my DS in reception had name tags with pictures on as well as his name.. I got them off ebay..Much easier for them to find their jumper before they can read.

Also do check your school policy..My DS has had the same Ikea cup all the way through school with his name written on it. Our school no pumps ( trainers for outdoors, barefoot indoors) so check your own uniform policy.

Another thing I discovered last year ..I don't know how common this is in different schools but the children in my sons school do top to top, then bottom to bottom..Meaning they change their top first so they aren't just in their pants.( I only discovered this as he was laughing with his mate the teacher had had to remind him again) . so it may not be a case of taking off uniform and putting pe kit on..

Anything you can do will help.

Original poster

MumNeedsTea · 09/08/2017 22:38

Thanks APaperMe ! We do have to send in we,lies to be kept in the school when they have forest school. The school has said no to trainers, so will have to stick with pumps. Will check out MnS

OP posts:

gillybeanz · 09/08/2017 22:42

Remember that no2 on your list "Label all clothes" if you are inexperienced will take you much longer than you plan.
WTF does it take so long, and you can always find something you forgot.

MiaowTheCat · 10/08/2017 07:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Llareggub · 10/08/2017 07:53

Buy a nit comb and treatment now. It is a pain when you discover the little buggers on a Sunday night.

Resign yourself to sending ££££s to school every week at short notice.

metalmum15 · 10/08/2017 08:24

I've bought M&s shoes, cheaper than Clarks and they still fit well and last well. Most supermarkets or places who sell uniform do black pumps, the cheapest ones are fine as they're often only worn from the classroom to the gym hall and back! You may need to get trainers later on in the year, dd primary do outdoor pe right from reception which means a separate kit to indoor.

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