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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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BackforGood · 17/12/2018 17:41

or you can ask the teacher to write names on them.

Because, of course the teacher has nothing better to do than write 29 dcs' names on cards for each of the 30 children..........

Aragog · 17/12/2018 17:52

Some schools do issue first name lists, but some don't. There are also often other ways to obtain them - peg labels, trays, password-protected class learning blogs, etc. though some involve you being in the school building at drop off.

In many schools there is a class rep or a class Whats-App/Facebook group and they are distributed that way, via the parents themselves.

BubblesBuddy · 17/12/2018 18:01

He really will learn the names of his friends! I’m surprised he doesn’t have a good idea already. If the cards go in book bags, just wait until he receives cards! Other children might have more grasp of names.

kenandbarbie · 17/12/2018 18:15

I think it's a bit to near Christmas for school to compile it. Top tip - i always take photos of the coat pegs on the first day of term.

ShowOfHands · 17/12/2018 18:26

My DC's school gives out a list of first names. And we write a card to every child too. The whole class does afaik.

Original poster

NGC2017 · 17/12/2018 18:58

He does have a good grasp of names, however he has enough to learn at school. I can't really expect him to know all 30 children just yet. He talks about 10 or so each day to me so I assume those are who he interacts with more.
The cards being sent home in book bags say 'from (child's name)', so this is what we have done.
Some posters may think I'm making too much of a deal but as it's his first Christmas at school where he is able to write his own cards, I think it's nice for him to partake, and also good handwriting practice. He genuinely loves receiving his cards so I won't take that away from him just yet. I imagine kids in his class will feel the same.
I get that we possibly won't send cards to every one in his class in future years, but for his first I think it's just nice to do. But to me it's just a card, it's not like we are inviting the whole class to a party. It's a very small gesture. Whether my DS plays with 3 or 30 of the kids in his class, it's nice for him to include them all

OP posts:

MeOldChina · 17/12/2018 19:09

I think just 30 blank cards with "merry Christmas from X" should be sufficient and easy to give out

slappinthebass · 17/12/2018 19:22

Ours gave us a list of class names (first only) before September. It's been really useful.

Original poster

NGC2017 · 17/12/2018 22:03

It seems that there is no definitive answer here, as some do and some don't. I'd personally find a list useful and I'd like to think other parents would for the same reasons. Unfortunately my DS school happens to be one of the ones that doesn't. Its a shame as I am sure the majority if not all would opt in.
I've heard about WhatsApp groups mentioned on here but we don't have one. The school isn't even on social media

OP posts:

Amaaboutthis · 17/12/2018 22:06

I have full class lists, phone numbers and addresses for all my kids classes. They ask when you accept the place if you’re happy for that information to be shared and I’m not aware of anyone who hasn’t shared the info

Korvalscat · 17/12/2018 22:23

It amuses me how different the schools are. At dgs school parents are given a list of first names for Christmas cards ( at least in Nursery, Reception and Yr 1) and the nativity play programme listed first and last names of all Yr1 & Yr2 dc. Parents in Nursery and Reception have to take their dc into the classroom and do an activity but use of mobile phones is discouraged and strictly no photographs - so photographing cloakroom pegs or the birthday wall is unheard of.

HexagonalBattenburg · 18/12/2018 08:10

We get given a list of first names at the end of the previous year for the kids going to be in the same class the following year (I assume the timing helps with organising playdates etc over the holidays) - I kept it specifically for Christmas card purposes.

If you haven't got names I'd just write the cards out as "from X" with no "to" name and do the required number for the kids in the class to hand one out to everyone - or hang onto them and write them as ones are received every evening.

BubblesBuddy · 18/12/2018 09:06

We would never have given a card to every child. The school had a post box for Christmas so you did need to know the names of friends. I don’t think any child did cards did everyone. DD1 started in a hen and chickens classroom with 60 YR children. So definitely didn’t do 60 cards. Just scale down what you do. YR children don’t get offended by not receiving a card from a child they don’t really know!

Thesnobbymiddleclassone · 18/12/2018 10:32

@BubblesBuddy you're right! At 5 they don't care, they're just happy with the ones they do get. It's the parents that get offended!

BubblesBuddy · 18/12/2018 13:22

Ha!! I must be very easy going then!

JimmyGrimble · 18/12/2018 20:15

A list of first names certainly does not breach GDPR. What a load of nonsense.

MarchingFrogs · 18/12/2018 20:40

Parents in Nursery and Reception have to take their dc into the classroom and do an activity

Now, this I would find more annoying than having my DC's name on a list given to all of their classmates. What about those who only just have enough time to drop their DC off on their way to work or have to rely on a childminder / neighbour / secondary age sibling?

DriveShaft · 18/12/2018 21:20

At our school we have full names, addresses, Parents names, parents emails, parents phone numbers, child’s date of birth and siblings names and ages. BUT, parents are asked for the info at the July settling in meeting prior to starting school and then someone (usually a parent who’s been at the school a while) will put it all on a spreadsheet and email it to everyone. So everyone has given the info freely and given consent. School do not distribute it. I must say, I’ve found it really useful with my 3 to be able to suggest joint parties and text other parents to suggest play dates etc.

DriveShaft · 18/12/2018 21:24

We also have a class WhatsApp for each class.

elliejjtiny · 18/12/2018 21:34

Ds's teacher is happy to give out a list of first names. Just as well really as ds has autism and can't name any of the children in his class.

SadOtter · 19/12/2018 19:31

Just sign enough cards for the class with no names on and ask DC to give one to everyone. Please don't do that! its just a card to us but for some 4/5 years olds its just asking for tears when they can't find theirs or 2 children try to claim the same one.

OP just give out the ones he can name.

ChocolateWombat · 20/12/2018 17:42

Before starting, we had a form to fill in to say if we wanted to be in a year group contact book. You could include any or all of names of children, names of parents, address phone numbers, email. All but 2 in a large year group joined it, although one or two withheld addresses - all fine, and extremely useful. They only do it on entry.

Original poster

NGC2017 · 20/12/2018 17:56

We did enough cards for the number of children in his class. Turns out other parents had been asking the same.
In response to a comment about its the parents who get offended, my DS only has received around half the cards we sent, but I can't say I care or am offended by it. All I know is he has reacted to all his cards very lovely.
My DS school also holds alot of workshops during the school day. I drop him to breakfast club as I work from 8am until 2.50 to collect him at 3pm. I have to miss all of them due to work.
It was his nativity today. It was lovely but I felt it was most bizarre. When they were praising each child who had parts they were referred to as 'the child'. Comes to something where we can't call children to the front by name and praise them properly. 'can we all give a huge clap to (insert name) who was amazing as.....

OP posts:

qumquat · 20/12/2018 18:00

Our school gave everyone a list of first names.

minisoksmakehardwork · 20/12/2018 20:07

I asked our school for a first name only list of my youngest dc's classmates as there are some rather unusual names and spellings. Got told no due to Gdpr. At the school nativity, every child's name was listed in the programme...

Needless to say we used that to help them remember everyone and spell names correctly.

I wouldn't have minded except for the blatant hypocrisy that they couldn't give me, as a parent, a list a week earlier. Yet people who didn't have a direct connection to the school (non-parent friends and relatives) were cheerfully issued with the full list in this way instead.

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