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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

List of names in class

68 replies

NGC2017 · 16/12/2018 23:26

So my son started reception in September. He loves it but there is no way he can name all the children in his class. He names a handful but then gets stuck. He will just call them his friends if he don't know them by name.
As he has been so excited by getting Christmas cards I have decided he can send some too. I just think its a lovely thing to do and is a good way to practice his writing.
Anyway with GDPR every where now I am guessing school isn't allowed to give me a list of the kids names in his class? I don't want the whole name, just the first.
Whilst on the subject I think it would be useful to know birthdays too. We like to send a card sending our wishes. Will this not be allowed either?
Maybe if the teachers ask for all parents consent and then get one compiled of who is happy to take part. Is this something I could suggest?
I really would like to address each child if I can, than sending a card with just his name on. Unfortunately I am not around of a morning to be able to start recognising faces and names.

Thanks

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RaggieDolls · 16/12/2018 23:31

Our school just gives a list of first names for Christmas cards and birthday invites.

Original poster

NGC2017 · 16/12/2018 23:38

I'm going to ask tomorrow. I feel I will be told no but its worth asking. Its a way of my child learning everyone's name also

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Allthatglittersisgold · 16/12/2018 23:39

If you can't get a list of names do you have a class photo he could look at to help him remember names? That's what we always did.

ASqueakingInTheShrubbery · 16/12/2018 23:42

Our school wouldn't give out a list of first names for party invitations or cards, but the whole class's first names and surnames were on the nativity programme.

BubblesBuddy · 16/12/2018 23:45

Well he needs to put a face to a name to learn who his friends are! I don’t think many state schools give out name lists and certainly not birthdays. You won’t want to send cards to everyone. Will you want addresses for the August birthdays, or are they just ignored?

When he’s a bit older, he will know who his friends are and develop relationships with these children. Just wait and let him choose who to send cards to. Normally it’s just if you are invited to a birthday party. I would have thought it odd and bewildering to receive a card from a random child my child didn’t really know. Just hold off for a bit.

BackforGood · 17/12/2018 00:25

According to other MN threads, there are schools that do this, but I think it shouldn't happen.
In essence, if he can't remember their names then they aren't really that close. He can get along with them and play with them at times, but just get him to write a card for the 4, or 5, or 6 children he wants to / he can name.
Starting to give out dates of birth would be an even bigger no no n terms of identifying children. I hope a school wouldn't even consider this.

junebirthdaygirl · 17/12/2018 07:43

While teaching smaller ones over the years l often found they invited children to their party that they never played with and left out children they played with every day. When the dps asked them who they would like to invite they remembered the outgoing children and completely forgot the little quiet guy they played constantly with. So don't presume they will name their real friends. Good idea about the names on the Nativity play programme or the class photo.
Every school will be different so just ask and accept the answer. No birth dates though. That won't happen.

Original poster

NGC2017 · 17/12/2018 08:30

thanks all. I get the birth dates, so thats not a problem.
I am going to ask about the names though as its only their first names. If they can name kids in programmes, and newsletters etc then I cant see how first names can be a breach as there is no other data about them being collected.
It may seem unnecessary to send a card to everyone in his class, but he is only in Reception. I think its a nice thing to do. Friendship groups haven't fully formed yet and I dont want any child to feel left out.

OP posts:

GoldenSyrupLion · 17/12/2018 09:12

Our DPO has told us not to do this. A name is identifiable data. As for asking for permission and drawing up lists: we've got enough to do already.

LetsSplashMummy · 17/12/2018 09:21

Our school has a class rep system, where the rep collects the names and distributes it to the people in the list. It's the only way to do whole class parties or to be able to spell some names. There are two boys in my DDs class of Chinese descent, and the way she says the name bears very little relation to either the spelling or correct pronunciation. Similarly, there is a unique spelling of a standard name, so best not to guess.

Original poster

NGC2017 · 17/12/2018 09:31

I am little shocked by some of the negativity surrounding this, like people dont have the time to do it. This post has come purely out of trying to do something nice and include his whole class. I get the whole data protection thing but some comments have been a little rude

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Fatted · 17/12/2018 09:37

The role of the teacher is to teach our children, not waste their time asking parents permission for their children's names and dates of birth to be given out to all and sundry.

Just sign enough cards for the class with no names on and ask DC to give one to everyone.

ApocalypseNowt · 17/12/2018 10:05

Do they have names on their coat pegs OP?

Our school will give a list of first names. Unless a name really is one of a kind a first name is not identifiable data.

halcyondays · 17/12/2018 10:11

Ours gave me a list of first names years ago. I don't think they would (or should) give out birthdays though.

HopeGarden · 17/12/2018 10:23

I asked the school secretary for a list of first names when I was organising a party for one of my DCs - whole class party so I wanted to be sure I wasn’t missing any pupils out. The secretary gave me a list while saying “I’m not really supposed to give these out”.

But then, this term, the PTA organised the production of giant tea towels, which have self portraits of all the children in the infant school, split into classes, with names underneath, and have been marketing these as ideal Christmas presents for relatives. I’ve bought one, very handy to have the names for Christmas card lists etc. So given that I can effectively buy a list of first names of every child in the infant school in tea towel form, I don’t really see why the school secretary wasn’t supposed to hand out lists of names.

I wouldn’t ask for birthdays though, it’s surely a data protection issue handing those out to anyone who asks for them.

Original poster

NGC2017 · 17/12/2018 10:26

Yes, their names are on coat pegs, and all over the reception of the early years building. I just dont get to go inside as my DS goes to breakfast club so I dont take him into the classroom myself. We have sat with photos and he just says I dont know but he/she plays with us at school.
In response to a PP, maybe I am being naive but I just thought a list of all names is something that would be automatically created when school knew who will be attending.
All I can do is ask, as this is really just so my son can do something nice for Christmas as it's his first at school. I am not saying it will continue but for his first he has enjoyed writing his name on all the cards.

OP posts:

HopeGarden · 17/12/2018 10:31

I just thought a list of all names is something that would be automatically created when school knew who will be attending.

The school will most definitely have lists naming all the pupils in the school. The teachers wouldn’t be able to take the register in the morning without such lists, for starters.

Whether they’re willing to hand these lists out to parents is an entirely different matter.
I don’t see any harm in asking the school secretary though. Worst they can say is no because it’s against school policy or whatever.

babysharkah · 17/12/2018 10:43

We got a list of first names only and in subsequent years look at the class photo.

I have a friend with a LAC and fully support why they have to do it.

HolesinTheSoles · 17/12/2018 10:53

WE have a list of names and a big train with all the birthdays on the classroom wall. You could just take a photo of all the pegs if they have named ones?

sirfredfredgeorge · 17/12/2018 11:18

A kids first name is certainly personal information, personally I believe that a school can find a good legitimate interest grounds in sharing the first names of the class with other members of the class, I can't imagine how a school could not.

Sharing on with the parents would also generally be fine as a legitimate interest and yes the problems if it's not fine are very tricky - how do you prevent the child from sharing the data they're shared with in class - most schools do celebrate birthdays or talk about them.

Original poster

NGC2017 · 17/12/2018 11:32

I know they have birthdays all displayed on the wall, so they must celebrate these as a class. However I have decided to leave this request.
I would have thought sharing names is also a way of helping the kids learn them.
I have asked, will just have to see what they say

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onemouseplace · 17/12/2018 12:06

I have used a combination of class photos and the nativity programme in previous years to cobble together a class list for birthday invitations and cards.

We did get given a list of first names one year as DS had had a year of being that poor child who never got an invitation when they were being handed out and had had a couple of weeks of next to no cards and was incredibly upset about it. So we did cards for everyone in the class and it turned out he hadn't been the only child to be really upset by it and I had several parents thank me.

GrumbleBumble · 17/12/2018 12:18

Yes to buying the fundraising teatowel or similar tat to get a list. Also do you have a class facebook group/ Whats App group? If you don't work full time volunteering to go in and hear readers for an hour a week is a great way to get to know the class.

Thesnobbymiddleclassone · 17/12/2018 12:23

Until this year on MN I've never heard of schools giving out these lists.

I can imagine a lot of schools won't do it as all it takes is one parent to complain about data breaching and it would all be set off!

If you're that insistent that your child has to give a christmas card to everyone, just get them sign the amount with their name and they can either give one to everyone or you can ask the teacher to write names on them.

Original poster

NGC2017 · 17/12/2018 12:29

That is a great idea, but I work around my DS school hours.

His teacher has come back to me and said they are unable to disclose names, but are happy to put a card in every child's book bag so we will go down this road, and as my son gets older, names will come more easy to him. I did say to her I would understand if she couldn't, so this is fair enough. But cant help but think it wont stop our child throughout their school life coming home and mentioning children's names, lol.

And that is the reason I didnt want to leave anyone out @onemouseplace. My son has been so excited by the cards he has received so far. He thinks they are so special. I get that is probably his age, but I dont want to be the parent who hasn't made the effort and left any child out.

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