School policy on pencil cases

[Esptea]

What's the policy on pencil cases at your children's schools? Apparently, all writing materials are provided for children at DD's school at both KS1 and 2 and children aren't able to bring in their own.

I thought this was probably quite normal at KS1 but was fairly shocked that a year 6 wasn't allowed to take in their own things.

Why would you be shocked? I don’t understand why a year 6 would take their own things in. I can see why a school wouldn’t be keen - too much oneupmanship over fancy pencil cases and nice felt tip pens. Donate a set to the class if you want.

None of our pupils including year six are supposed to bring any equipment to school. It’s been the same at all schools I’ve worked and my DCs primary school.

Totally normal.

Same policy at DD’s school.

Ours doesn't have a policy. Take your own if you want

I’m pretty sure this is the same at ours. Avoids unnecessary distractions I guess.

Totally normal policy. Things get lost/stolen/broken and teachers don’t have time to deal with it.

It's definitely the case up to year 4 at DD's school. I dont know any children in year 5 or 6, but assuming it's the case then too. Less stuff for me to provide so fine by me! As PP said, it's a way for kids to feel pressure to keep up with others. Those that can afford smiggle, and those that can only afford poundland stuff.

No pencil cases at my kids school too. The school provides everything, saves the arguments over smiggle pencil cases

I think, I just think it's nice for them to have their own things and to learn to take some responsibility. Isn't writing a more pleasurable experience when you have a pen that you like rather than a chewed up, scratchy biro from the shared pot?

But then what if someone takes someone else’s favourite pen? Or it gets lost? The teacher has to use valuable class time dealing with it.

Mini compromise in my classroom (y6) - they can bring in a pencil case up to a maximum size that means they fit neatly in their trays. Then they can bring in a few personal colours/gel pens etc and keep them safely in their trays. It doesn't clutter up their places, prevents things being out on desks to be fiddled with and removes most of the problems to do with 'someone's got my x,y or z' (usually unlabelled)

Because things get lost or stolen.
Because they faff with them,show off ,mine's cooler than yours.
Because common sense goes out the window and some kids have pencil cases bigger than their trays.
Because the biros from school might've been chosen for a reason. For example at ours the kids test several and then together we decide which is better,helps have the best handwriting, have a better grip etc.
Because glittery ink and turquoise instead of blue is not acceptable. Neither are pompoms,characters and whatever else.
Because no one has time to check bags,trays and question kids when something does go missing, console the ones that lost/broken/had theirs stolen and try to placate irate parents because "it's the third pencil case this month and that pen was from smiggle and was £15".

DD's school allows it (to cut down on costs rather than responsibility bla bla bla) and I'm an awful parent because I only agreed to a plain,small as possible pencil case with normal glue,erasers,pencils,pens etc.

We are only allowed to use a certain brand of pen when writing in books. It's a pita when things go missing, and they are usually smiggle, so cost a bloody fortune and we spend ages looking for them. I don't see the need to bring in oensil cases if everything is provided.

We provide a basic pencil case for every child with a pen, pencil, ruler, coloured pencils.

Dc are provided with everything until Y3, and carry books in book bag.

Privilege of Y4 is that they are allowed (expected) to bring their own pencil cases and have backpacks.

This was the policy ad dc's primary school.

Wish it were the case at ours. Year 3 and Smiggle obsession has kicked in 🙄 apparently mine is the only one without one 🙄🙄

I've always had to provide a pencil case and stock it up with pencils, colouring pencils, writing pens, rules, glue stick, rubbers, sharpeners, protractor set once in y7, calculator... they give us a list. Since y3 I think. Private school. My daughter keeps hers neat and sharp and asks for replacements as needed; my son started off with complete equipment at start of term but is usually down to one pen and pencil by half term.
There is no 'one upmanship'. No one cares. They only get annoyed if you always borrow something and never return it! That would be my son doing the borrowing...

Of course there is no 'oneupmanship' - it's a private school, there aren't any kids whose parents can't afford to buy them a pencil case and things to put in it!

School provides everything usually at primary though my kids old school now apparently asks parents to donate supplies to a central pot. Saves loads of issues of loosing them, theft, jealously and inappropriate contents

Kids can bring their own from y2 but no smiggle or anything with buttons etc allowed. To be honest it makes no difference and having a no pencil case rule probably saves the effort of arguments over whether fluffy pens or musical rulers are allowed.

God I wish that was the policy - I'm in Ireland right now, and we have to provide everything, then check it's OK throughout the year.. Really makes me appreciate UK schools!

Ours has the same policy.

Pencil cases used to be allowed but the staff got fed up with the endless bickering about them and the complaints about things going missing.

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@Pipandmum Mine is also at a private school and We havr to provide everything. I wish we didn't! I don't know how many pencil cases we now have and don't get me started on smiggle! And my daughter is like your son - the pencil case (and her bag) are total disasters and everything gets lost in the black hole that us ger school desk.

It's standard not to have pencil cases in primary.
It's just another thing to bicker over and to complain over when inevitably someone claims someone else touched their own/stole their unicorn rubber.