What does a reception child need ?

[Jakethekid]

My son starts school in September. He's the first born so I have never done this before. He was given a school which we attended a meeting for however he was then given a place at the school we had nominated higher on the application list. This school aren't doing child and parents meeting the teacher meetings until the week before he starts and that's for a 'garden visit' ( I don't really know what that will be) so I am at a complete loss as to what he will need for school and I can't leave it until then to buy stuff because everyone will be buying last minute too.

Does a reception child have a back pack and a book bag or just one or the other ? Do they take bottles of water ?

What do you / will you send your reception age child in with?
Is there anything else I should know or prepare myself for? Help I am a planner because I am a worrier, incase that's not already obvious

Thank you everyone. I have just ordered some sticky name labels for bottles etc. Its all a bit of a minefield for me but at least by the time my second child starts I will be more mentally prepared, i hope

This is the list of what we have to get for school. Obviously uniform will vary but it gives you an idea

Also need to buy a water bottle and sticky labels.

School provide puddle suits.

One thing I need to check is if I can provide a spare set of clothes to keep at school for any accidents (a friends school does this instead of putting them in the spares the school has)

DS has just finished reception. Other than uniform, he needed a bag with a full change of clothes and waterproofs and wellies for forest school - all of these lived at school and just came back at the end of each term. He also needed a lunch bag as he’s a fusspot with food. They all had their water bottles and then a book bag, which in our case was provided by the Friends of the school.

Don’t worry - it will be fine! Until you’ve actually been there and done that it’s easy to feel overwhelmed but it really is fine. DS has loved reception, and is now looking forward to being in year one already. It will fly by before you know it 😊

My daughter will be given a backpack with a the school logo and book bag on her first day.

She’s a bit sad because she wanted to go and pick her own first school bag.

I have to say, I’m not a huge fan of this whole uniform thing. Especially at such a young age. Just my opinion though.

2-3 sets of uniform, pe kit, book bag, water bottle. Check the school website

We were given a book bag by the first school when we went for the meeting ( which we obviously don't need now so will return) but the second school has made no mention of wether they provide the children with one or whether we have to pay for them ourselves.

On the print off of the uniform available to buy it is litterally everything that has a school logo on ( sun hats, beanies, coats , fleece, all sorts! )for all the school years so wasn't all that helpful. Thank god for mumsnet! I hadn't thought about keeping an extra set for school so thanks for that. I'll make a list of questions for this garden session ( even though that's only 2 days before official start date) when I go but you have all made me feel a bit more prepared. Thank you

Have they said how strict they are about the logoed uniform?

The school my older DC started at was very keen on logos, and there’d be a fuss made if kids were sent to school in an item without a logo if there was an item with a logo available to buy.

Their current school, on the other hand (the one DC3 will be starting at in September) doesn’t care whether kids wear logoed uniform or not. There’s a variety of stuff with logos available to buy, but they make it clear on the website that this is optional.

We can get logoed everything, but the school aren’t bothered if you don’t have it. As long as they are wearing the correct colours plain jumpers and polo shorts are fine, and as long as they have a warm hat and gloves in winter, sunhat in summer and so on, that’s what matters. DS does have a logoed winter hat that someone gave to us, but that’s the only extra bit he has with a logo.

A water bottle that they can drink out of without unscrewing the lid and one that isn’t from the nearest supermarket to reduce the chances of others having the same one.

It's worth having a look on Facebook and Twitter to see whether the PTA have their own Facebook page? There might well be a local residents Facebook group as well with someone who might be able to help?

When my ds started reception he just needed a water bottle, and book bag but there was a mix with some kids just having backpacks and some having the school.

If you do get your own, make sure it's fairly big as at ours they had to take pe stuff in it for the first couple of terms. I'd also add don't bother getting school pumps unless they're mandatory, ours just all wore blue trainers.

Make sure you put name tags on absolutely every label possible, and a couple on water bottles.

Depending on if logo'ed stuff is mandatory as well, we just got one logoed sweatshirt for school performances, photos, first days then plain coloured the rest of the time.

I know this isnt specifically what you asked but I think important.

Independence skills are useful before starting.

Practise getting dressed and undressed in uniform by himself .

Managing the toilet by himself

Managing ok at lunch whether packed or school dinner and using cutlery.

I know a lot of reception children have issues with this. I thought one of mine with asd would go in nappies. Still needed help going to loo and getting changed in y2 from INA.

If you know anyone else whose child is going try and meet for a couple of playdates.

You need to get the kit lost off your school really as it can be so variable Eg we have to provide wellies but the school provides waterproof trousers but other schools might not require that. For pe you might want trainers rather than plimsoles if they do a lot of PE outside. Ours has been strictly no backpacks and book bags only.

A free tip! If the uniform says polo shirts then no problem. However, if they want school shirts then whatever you do don’t buy the long sleeved ones! Short sleeved shirts will not get grubby, painty cuffs, won’t get chewed, won’t be an awkward length if you have bought “large” to allow for growth, won’t get uncomfortably stuck inside cardigans/ sweatshirts.

I couldnt find any Facebook page linked to the school, only their official twitter. I cant help but think back to when I was in school and none of these things existed !

Luckily its polo shirts at the school but thank you for the tip. I'm looking at getting 3 sets I'd uniform. I'm hoping that will be enough but I have no idea. When I was younger I only ever remember having 1 set of uniform at a time, grim when I think about it now

Reception staff here - please please please, if you want it back, name everything, all through the year, including snack boxes, wellies, and hats! Shoes, water bottles, snack boxes that they are able to do up / open themselves are great, as is the ability to wipe their bottoms. Being able to sit and listen /concentrate for 10 minutes is a big plus, but don’t worry if they are not there yet. It is a special year - I hope it goes really well for your child!

A sharpie pen is your new best friend. Sticky shoe labels too. Put their name on everything.I hold the sharpie and look at the child...could I label them? Hmm...

He needs a PE kit which is usually black shorts and a white top but check on the school website. PE Joggers and trainers, pumps/plimsolls and PE bag.

He will needs wellies for forest school and a rainsuit. Most reception teachers ask for a set of spare clothes in case of accidents.

Aldi has lots of stuff in at the moment and is ridiculously cheap - 1.75 for a pair of 5-6 boys school trousers, 1.75 for 5-6 boys polos in white or blue. Marks' uniform is the best for quality and keeping it's look but don't expect much change from £40..

A lovely book I've been reading my daughter is Starting School by Janet & Allan Ahlberg - a little girl in the book has the same name and it gives her an idea of what is coming.

I'm teaching her to learn her TA and teacher's names.

We needed a pair of wellies and a pair of trainers which both had to be left at school.
Ridiculous and costly.

You need to make sure they can dress and undress themselves - make sure the uniform is suitable - like pull on trousers Velcro shoes etc
Sun cream - labeled - look at the solid sticks they can do themselves
Water bottles - named - metal ones keep the water cool
PE bag kept in school as a change of clothes are essential
Sun hat
In winter they need gloves and hat as they go outside regardless

Some resilience when things go wrong
Some patience as 30:1 ratio is difficult for some children
Speaking up when they need the toilet
Using knifes and forks
Toilet trained
Manners

@Noshowwithoutpunch

We needed a pair of wellies and a pair of trainers which both had to be left at school. Ridiculous and costly.

Not if u go to shoezone and aldi for trainers.

@Jakethekid

I bought some name labels to sew into all his clothes. I'm way ahead on that ! I have read on here so many times people telling to label everything so I had a good research to find out which is the best option. It will just take me bloody ages to see it all in now !

Bitter experience here - sharpie the name somewhere as well as sewing in the labels - people nick 'em and cut them out

@CoffeeWithCheese had that happen!

The things people will nick!

Sticky clothes labels are great ( around 50 will last you the year) ....schools round here provide book bags for reception....so just need a water bottle and uniform

We put a laminated picture of us as a family in their bags, and a small teddy that had been 'preloaded' with a hug from us if they ever felt lonely. But they quickly settled and didn't need them any more. Rucksack, water bottle yes.