Reception class - how are yours settling in?

[Misty9]

I thought it might be nice to have a thread for those of us with reception starters to share how they're getting on. And mine isn't even my pfb! But he was older and fine...

Dd is struggling a bit and getting upset and saying she wants to stay home with me (I'm not working much currently). She's finding the lunch time daunting as it's in a big hall. Big brother is there too but quite separate from reception at first.

I know they'll get used to it but this is hard and they're so little.

[DailyMailFail101]

I opened my sons packed lunch yesterday to discover he hadn’t eaten or drank anything, well maybe one bite of his wrap, how has this even happened? They are quick enough to tell me what I can and can’t put in his lunch but not bothered If he eats!

Also we got told the children have free rein of inside and outside which is why’s we chose the school but according to my son he only goes outside for a little bit after lunch. What do other schools do?

I’m really not happy at all, is it just early days or shall I be ‘that Mum’ and say somthing?

[GreeboIsMySpiritAnimal]

Never got updates or little chats with my son's pre-school staff unless I made an appointment, and it was a fantastic pre-school.

They also encouraged us to drop them off at the entrance and let them get their own coats and bags off and hung up before going in for the whole of the last term, so DS is used to it now.

Can't comment on lunches, DS won't start saying for lunch till next week and will have school dinners. His sister seems to eat and enjoy them, though, so here's hoping.

[purpleme12]

Our school definitely don't do free rein outside and inside. I don't know any schools that do that. I think it would be hard cos they'd need someone supervising all the time wouldn't they. Not sure how much time they spend outside at ours.

[QueenOfMyWorld]

I wonder how long til the tiredness subsides? Hopefully in the next couple of weeks when they get more used to it all

[GreeboIsMySpiritAnimal]

With my eldest it got worse as the term went on I'm afraid! It's a looooong, very full on term, and a massive adjustment - even the older kids in the class will be struggling towards the end.

DD is winter born and never cried when left at nursery or school, not once, even on her first day at just 2. But one day towards the end of her first term at school, I got called back by one of the other mums because she was crying - it hadn't even occurred to me the crying I could hear might be her! But she was shattered and it had just all got too much for her.

I recommend taking it as easy as possible outside of school this term..

[SoyDora]

Mine started full time from day one and is into her third week now. First 2 weeks were great, this week has been emotional! She’s got a bit of a cold and is waking in the night coughing so is shattered. She says she likes the actual school bit (she’s really into reading and writing etc) but that she’s got no one to play with at break times and just walks around on her own .

[Heavystream]

Hi all, my Arthur started last week. He’s been doing okay, made a few friends but does complain about missing me a lot. I cry every time he goes in and count down the hours until picking him up again. He was sent home yesterday for being sick and has been sick today, so will have to keep him off until Friday to make sure it’s been 48 hours since his last episode of sickness. It’s such a shame for him

[Misty9]

soydora your poor dd I’d mention that to the teacher as they should be monitoring that kind of thing too.

I always find that term lasts one week too long as ds has always been shattered by then - and he loves school!

Dd seemed a bit happier when I picked her up today. i am cheating by getting dh to do drop offs though!

Hope everyone’s dc had a good day

[SoyDora]

The thing is she has friends from pre school in the same class, I think she’s just got a bit overwhelmed with the number of children and has taken herself off to the side a bit. I think she’ll get more involved as her confidence improves, but I might mention it to the teacher anyway.

[LexieLulu]

We actually received something from school today saying how our kids are adjusting and who they are playing with/what they are doing.

I'm grateful of it as I can at least ask leading questions to find out what DS has done.

He came out so made up today cause he got an award. I'm made up for him tbh as his confidence is sky high right now

[afrikat]

I've been so pleasantly surprised by how well my DS has taken it. First day he went straight in and ignored us within a minute. Came out full of beans and told us more than I expected. Days two and three included breakfast and after school club, neither of which have any kids from his class, they are all older, so we were worried about that but again he seems absolutely fine and says he enjoys it. Hoping it continues like this, he's a bit speech delayed so we've been pretty worried about how he would adapt to it all

[purpleme12]

I really miss my time with my daughter. Makes me feel not as close to her now or maybe that's just me being silly. Even out of school she just wants to play with her friend in the street who is also in reception. So I feel like I don't have any time with her

[GreenMeerkat]

DD seems fine going in and seems to enjoy it. I do worry about her making friends though, she has come from the nursery and the majority of her class were in nursery with her and have formed friendships which she hasn't. I suppose there is time. Her younger sister is now in nursery though and they share a playground and they come home and just tell me they have played with each other, which is nice, but worry it'll get in the way of developing their own friendships.

[Nousernameforme]

Ds is on his second week of half days. Full days start next week and he is ready for them. He is excited to go but getting very tired and clingy at home. Ime this usually lasts until the first half term. They quickly get used to it.

[starfish8]

First full time day today after 4 half days since last Friday.

Going in absolutely fine and seems to like the teacher.

I'm the one having the wobble, feel really emotional today that I've lost my baby! (And I'm not like that at all usually!) Having only one child won't help this feeling.

[purpleme12]

I don't think mine's bothered about me anymore she comes out and not bothered about seeing me. More bothered about her friends even after school. At least at pre-school she was still bothered. Makes me feel like I've lost her.

[SoyDora]

purpleme12 that’s a good thing, trust me. Mine comes out crying that she missed me because she had no one to play with and was sat on her own. I wish she was coming out telling me all about her fun with her friends.

[Batmanthedude]

Ds started today, he cried as he went off but seemed to enjoy it although keeps saying that none of the children talk to him or want to play with him, which breaks my heart but keep thinking only first day. It's the main thing I was worried about, him not making friends of being bullied, feeling worried about tomorrow

[pitterpatterrain]

DD seems to be enjoying it, goes straight in when go for drop off. CM or after school club, seems to be enjoying the after school club at the moment.

Very tired though, and emotions are through the roof

[Misty9]

soydora that's what I'm getting too - dd was upset again at bedtime and said she misses me. She also said she sat alone at lunch time and I've realised that dd hasn't been invited to a party that lots of other girls have been invited to (including my friend's dd who has no idea who this child is). It's made me a bit sad for her but it's still early I know.

I'd love to keep her off tomorrow but she's got to go at some point and isn't showing distress at school so they wouldn't support it

[Lindorballs]

So good to find this thread! My DD started this week but has only done 2 half days so far. Really enjoyed the first day but said she “felt sad all the time” on the second half day
She’s not got any of her close nursery friends at this school and only knows 3 or 4 other children there a little bit so it’s a big change for her. Luckily I’m off work on maternity leave with her baby DS at the moment which is making the settling in a bit less stressful. Although we’re all used to 3 full days a week at nursery and we’re climbing the walls with all the extra days at home to fill (especially with no money to do anything on mat leave). Her behaviour is really bad at the moment too which I’m sure is anxiety because of the all the change.

[SoyDora]

Misty9 heartbreaking isn’t it? We had a bit of an emotional meltdown last night, poor thing is overwhelmed. She’s been so ready for school for the past year, I just underestimated the emotional impact I think. Doesn’t help that I’m pregnant and emotional too! I let her sleep in my bed when she woke in the night last night which is usually a definite no.

[123bananas]

Hello everyone. Sorry to hear that some of your little ones have been having a tough week. For those with children struggling to make friends, talk to the teacher who can find them buddies to help them.

Dc3 is on day 3 of full days after half day starts and seemed slightly tired today, they do let him sleep if he is tired at school which is good. On the whole though I am very happy with how he has coped as he has ASD and significant sensory issues around noise and food. I think what made the difference was all the transition work we did with him at the end of last term (in the school nursery) and over the holidays showing him pictures of his class and talking about it.

I know that as term goes on he will likely find it harder though as he gets tired and his coping mechanisms and behaviour will deteriorate. It is such a long term.

[TheFifthKey]

DD cried on the first day but since then has been in full days, with before and after school club, and seems to be loving it! She didn't want to leave after school club the other day. She's made some friends, loves school dinners and regularly clears her plate, and apart from sparking out some evenings, seems fine with the whole thing. She's been in full-time nursery for years though so I suppose she's quite used to it, and has an older sibling there already, which helps.

We even had a reading book home yesterday, which she powered through (after a little bit of whinging). They start phonics next week apparently.

[SoyDora]

We’re already on our 6th reading book home and DD has been moved up 6 reading bands! I imagine she pesters them though, she loves reading and has been reading on her own for around a year.
That’s her favourite part of school so far I think!