Starting primary school - what are your top tips?

[Afiwo]

Hi guys,
My son starts reception this September and I wondered if anyone had an top tips/advice they could share. I’m thinking less the obvious stuff that is shared by the school or listed in the ‘starting school’ section of mumsnet and more the stuff you wish you had known, hadn’t thought of, or the little gems you’ve discovered since your child/ren started school. Send them my way!!
TIA!

Buy 12 dozen sew in labels,label everything, it disappears otherwise. Spare trousers /skirt and underwear in the pe bag, accidents happen when you are 4 and busy. Mine napped after school.

@sleepismysuperpower1 that would not be a good bag for our school as the homework folders are a4, so they don't fit in those tiny little bags. School doesn't tell parents this until they hand out the folders though!

School does not tire all children out, my dgs came out revved up from the strain of being good all day. He has a mad half hour when he comes out of school - loud, running everywhere, and just generally silly/naughty. It was so unexpected at first, now I know to let him let off steam (within reason)
DD and I were surprised (and a bit worried) that he didn't know the names of the other dc on his table until just before half-term, he mentioned some names but generally he just said he played with everybody. According to his teacher this is quite common (not to remember names) and he did in fact play with everyone (as did a number of others)
Spare water bottles. The dc are supposed to bring them home everyday - but dgs either forgot his bottle or bought home someone elses on a fairly regular basis.
The tip about teaching him to put hisuniform in a pile to minimise things going missing at PE times is a good one. Dgs school taught them to put their uniform back in their PE bags - the uniform was all scrunched and wrinkly but at least it all came back.

@Invisimamma oh, my ds's school gave out smaller wallets. i should probably check that hasn't changed before my twins start, thankyou!

Huge gratitude all, I've got a great list going!

Just to add, there should be second hand uniform sales going throughout the year so make sure you get plenty of spare jumpers etc!

If you keep your clothes well, buy name labels that can't be ripped off by someone who accidentally takes your item home and decides yours is better (think school jumpers), I draw a smiley face on the insole of my dd shoes so she matches the face to know her shoes are on the right feet, practise putting on and taking off their uniform so that they can do it independently for PE, don't rely on party invites in book bags - someone is always missed off by accident, buy one nice shirt for the photo day and then for other days just buy what's affordable xx

Oh also, I staple party invites to the calendar in the relevant month, they get so many it's hard to keep track. After Christmas I buy things in the sal and have a ready made present bag that we can choose from to keep the budget and panicked present buying to a minimum.

At pick up time, approach child gingerly with a flapjack on the end of a long pole. Make no sudden movements; do not look them in the eye.

That really made me laugh!!

Wish I’d asked this question a year ago! You discover so much in that first term - for me, little things like telling your dc that it’s ok to go to the toilet during assembly/playtime. Find out what the teacher prefers- hands up to ask or just leave the hall and chat to your DC about it. In the first term my DS and several friends had toilet accidents as they weren’t sure or hadn’t factored in getting back from playground to toilet.
If you have chance over the summer, go to a cafe with self service, where you need a tray- let your DC hold the tray, push it along, ask for things and take to table. This helps them get used to the lunch hall setup. You might have had lunch at the school on an induction day, but your little one might need some extra practice juggling a tray of things or asking for their choice of food (and wobbling their way back to table!) Good luck OP, I promise by this time next year you’ll know all the tricks, but school life just takes some getting used to.

Get a stamp from Stamptastic (surname only if more than one child) and label everything.
Don't plan any after-school activities until you see how tired they are going to be.
Start to amass a large dressing up box for the inevitable 'tomorrow I have to wear spots/dress as a roman soldier/be the big bad wolf' and a jar full of coins for the '50p for xyz'
If you can, try and get involved - my last child has just completed Reception and I've been able to go in and read with them, go to Forest School and on their trips - lovely to get to know the children and they have such a lot of fun.

Keep an eye on how much water they're drinking and how often they are weeing/pooing - it's far too common for reception children to avoid the toilets, drink too little and get badly constipated/impacted as a result. We're still dealing with the consequences of this after year R is over :(

Read the info given. I was in an R class who were constantly saying they'd not been aware of 'event' which had widely communicated.

But then moaning there's not enough information given out, when they don't read what they are given.

Following for tips - my DS is only starting school nursery but it feels overwhelming already!

Before buying uniform, find out how many days they will need PE kit vs normal uniform so you can gauge how much of everything to buy.
Easy2name is good for clothes labels and stickers for water bottles etc.
Sharpie laundry pen good for naming white socks.
Agree with the PP who mentioned diarising everything!

Label everything, always have the ingredients in for a cake as you can guarantee that the dc will only tell you the night before that they need to take one in. Be prepared for world book day, do not think you can leave it until the last minute. Read all letters, do not think you can leave them until tomorrow. Do not fret about the lunch box, there will always be the mum who only puts in carrots and oatcakes, most kids will have crisps and a sarnie. Oh and make it fun, this is a fabulous new adventure!!!

Scour charity shops and start a stash of plain neutral coloured leggings and t shirts, collarless shirts, interesting hats, waistcoats, ankle boots, head bands etc. These will form the basis of umpteen dressing up costumes over the next few years. Waistcoats are particularly useful. Headbands (Alice band or BjornBorg style) can transform a child into almost anything with the addition of the appropriate cardboard ears.

Have a jar of £1 coins handy for constant fundraising.

Have a black Sharpie available at all times to label the most unlikely thing you’d ever expect to label.

If you child has a “uniform” book bag, then so will everybody else. Make yours distinctive with a key ring.

Sharpie your phone number into your child’s coat and bookbag.

If you have a DD who likes to wear skirts, get her trousers for PE days, unless she is really good at putting on tights by herself.

Check out different shops for different styles of pinafore. Some have zip up fronts, some button on the shoulder, some pull over like jumpers. Find a style your dd can our in by herself.

DS has just left primary. The only water bottle I have ever found that doesn’t leak, even when upside down in a bookbag, or break when you drop it is a Camelbak. Pricey, but my dc have had theirs for 4 years.

When you get sticky name labels, get ones you can put your phone number on too.

BikeRunSki I’ve tried lots, too, and the only ones that don’t leak for me are the One Green Bottle ones with the quench lid. My kids’ bags only have room for a small bottle, annoyingly, so the 350ml ones work well and they can always refill them at the sink in the classroom.

Label everything
Empty bookbag every night and read letters, noting down any events or info you will need, don't rely on remembering it.
Ensure you return all forms asap, don't be that mum.
Label everything
Update your contact details with the office as needed.
Let office know if your child has any medical conditions (even hayfever)
Put spare undies/skirt/trousers in bag
Label everything
Always make sure they have a jacket, even if getting picked up/dropped off by car

Maybe a silly question but if they have a book bag do they need another school bag? Ds will be having school dinners so doesn't need to carry a packed lunch. If he does then what goes in there?

Mine have book bags (also called reading folders), PE bags and swimming bags but no school bag. I expect it varies from school to school though.

I have getting ready alarms in my phone that work is back from leaving at 8.40, coats and shoes at 8.35, reading at 8.10, teeth 8.05 etc etc

It's great to keep is on track plus it's the phone that's nagging us, not me

I chose different tunes for each task and kids quickly learnt what each sound meant so now automatically jump up to get toothbrushes etc at that alarm.

Honestly, these are great, love the alarm idea and I might just label EVERYTHING 😂

Don't buy a coat with a detachable hood. It will get lost within days.