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Original poster

Lack of information from Reception.

56 replies

LiLi2015 · 15/09/2021 15:50

My DD4 started school last week and seems to be getting on well, no major issues settling in so far (touch wood) However I am a little concerned about the lack of info for parents. I have no idea what her school days look like, what she eats (if anything at all!) or if she's generally getting on ok. I don't expect a full rundown of her day as I know that's impossible for 30 children however is a basic school routine and dinner menu too much to ask?

She has come home today with a full water bottle and said she hasn't drank anything apart from her milk at snack time.

Covid means I haven't even been able to set foot in the school and I just feel totally in the dark. I hand her over in the morning to strangers and I have no idea what she does all day 🤷🏻‍♀️ it's making my anxiety horrible.

Am I being crazy? Is this normal?

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Orangejuicemarathoner · 15/09/2021 15:52

why would you worry about not drinking? Its just a modern fad invented by the bottled water industry- we never drank anything during the school day

MamaTutu2 · 15/09/2021 15:52

Timetable should be available on the website and dinner menu can usually be found by Googling the area I.e. Area council school dinners. Do they use class dojo or tapestry? If so could you pop the teacher a message and ask?

Shitfuckcommaetc · 15/09/2021 15:55

Have you checked the schools website?
Do they definitely have your email address to send newsletter out etc?

Original poster
LiLi2015 · 15/09/2021 15:55

@MamaTutu2

Timetable should be available on the website and dinner menu can usually be found by Googling the area I.e. Area council school dinners. Do they use class dojo or tapestry? If so could you pop the teacher a message and ask?
The timetable for dinners online is out of date and doesn't tally up with what she mentions she has eaten so I have no idea.

And no we don't have any online systems like tapestry unless that's being introduced after they've settle in.

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Original poster
LiLi2015 · 15/09/2021 15:56

@Orangejuicemarathoner

why would you worry about not drinking? Its just a modern fad invented by the bottled water industry- we never drank anything during the school day
That may well be but I think 9am-3pm is a long time for a 4 he old to not have a drink of water. Maybe that's just me 🤷🏻‍♀️
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Original poster
LiLi2015 · 15/09/2021 15:57

@Shitfuckcommaetc

Have you checked the schools website? Do they definitely have your email address to send newsletter out etc?
I check the website regularly but nothing on there since before the summer. And yes they have my email address but no communication as yet.
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Orangejuicemarathoner · 15/09/2021 15:59

no, 9-3 is not a long time not to have a drink of water, on a normal day. Like I said, just a modern fad invented by the bottled water industry

TokyoSushi · 15/09/2021 16:00

Honestly, that's not really how school works. Has she been at nursery? It's very different where you get a minute-by-minute run down almost.

At school, the onus is much more on you to find out the information like looking on the school website or for the child to tell you what they have eaten, etc.

It's much more of a no news is good news type of relationship. Are you definitely signed up for any email etc?

gamerchick · 15/09/2021 16:01

@Orangejuicemarathoner

why would you worry about not drinking? Its just a modern fad invented by the bottled water industry- we never drank anything during the school day
We didn't either. No such thing as water bottles.

The lunch time table should be knocking about somewhere. We used to get a paper sheet sent home in primary.

JasonMomoasgirlfriend · 15/09/2021 16:01

@Orangejuicemarathoner

no, 9-3 is not a long time not to have a drink of water, on a normal day. Like I said, just a modern fad invented by the bottled water industry
Wtf err I drink all day long and I don't buy bottled water 🤷 I drink because im thirsty.
BananaPB · 15/09/2021 16:02

Doesn't she get a drink with lunch ?

HereWeGoAgain24 · 15/09/2021 16:03

@Orangejuicemarathoner

Christ, your piss must be dark brown. Confused

Original poster
LiLi2015 · 15/09/2021 16:03

@BananaPB

Doesn't she get a drink with lunch ?
I don't know 😂🤷🏻‍♀️
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BananaPB · 15/09/2021 16:03

She had milk at break (10:30 ish?) So not 9-3
Did she want a drink when she got home ?

GTAlogic · 15/09/2021 16:04

Reception has pretty much the same structure as nursery but with a bit more teacher input. She'll probably have 20 mins on the carpet for register and phonics, then an hour or so free flow where they choose what they want to play with and possibly go outside for a bit, and then another 20 minutes' English input where they read a story and the teacher models a little bit of writing.

After dinner it's more or less the same but with maths instead of writing.

During free flow, she might be asked to sit with the teacher or the t.a. to do some work related to the input from carpet time.

Then it's story and home time.

If there are any problems they'll let you know but you can always have a little chat with the teacher at home time if you're worried.

Original poster
LiLi2015 · 15/09/2021 16:04

@BananaPB

She had milk at break (10:30 ish?) So not 9-3 Did she want a drink when she got home ?
Sorry you're right she did have a cup of milk at break. Yes she had a drink as soon as she was out of school.
OP posts:
BananaPB · 15/09/2021 16:05

Does she know where water bottles are kept and which one is hers? Can she open it ?

Original poster
LiLi2015 · 15/09/2021 16:05

@GTAlogic

Reception has pretty much the same structure as nursery but with a bit more teacher input. She'll probably have 20 mins on the carpet for register and phonics, then an hour or so free flow where they choose what they want to play with and possibly go outside for a bit, and then another 20 minutes' English input where they read a story and the teacher models a little bit of writing.

After dinner it's more or less the same but with maths instead of writing.

During free flow, she might be asked to sit with the teacher or the t.a. to do some work related to the input from carpet time.

Then it's story and home time.

If there are any problems they'll let you know but you can always have a little chat with the teacher at home time if you're worried.

Thank you for the helpful reply. 😊 She is my first child going to school and I'm just a little bit clueless.

I have two younger ones so I'll be well versed in school by the time they go!

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Twizbe · 15/09/2021 16:06

My son has just started reception too. We don't get the sort of info we got from nursery either. Tbf though it's similar to what we got from preschool.

I know the basic timetable of the day (it's on the website)

It seems he has pasta everyday for lunch - my guess is it's the only non dairy option so fine by me.

I don't think he drinks anything either, but mostly so he doesn't need to use the toilets.

Most I get at the gates is he was ok and looked into the toilets.

I think is just part of letting our PFBs grow up

Original poster
LiLi2015 · 15/09/2021 16:07

@Twizbe

Thank you for the helpful reply at least I know I'm not really on my own 🤦🏻‍♀️

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Original poster
LiLi2015 · 15/09/2021 16:07

@BananaPB

Yes she knows where it is and what her own after bottle is. Maybe I'm just totally overthinking.

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GTAlogic · 15/09/2021 16:07

The water bottles are usually just kept in the side in a basket or tray or whatever and the children can just get a drink whenever they choose so keeping a reliable record of when/how much they have would be near enough impossible.

Heatherington · 15/09/2021 16:08

I remember this. It’s pretty normal I think.

After getting accustomed to a blow by blow account from nursery it was a bit shocking to me too tbh, my little DD somewhere without me for 6 hours!

She’ll be exhausted at the minute but she’ll soon enough be able to fill you in. Key questions for my two ‘did you get pudding?’ ‘How many breaks did you get?’ ‘Who did you play with?’

Original poster
LiLi2015 · 15/09/2021 16:09

@Heatherington

I ask the questions and try not to interrogate her. We are still in the stage at the moment of 'nothing' and 'I don't know' 😂

OP posts:
Shakeyourface · 15/09/2021 16:10

It’s not like nursery as primary schools seem unable to master any kind of decent comms with parents. They’re hopeless. Which is a shock if you come from a working world with effective communications!

However as your child is older can’t you ask your them what they’re eating and learning?

Schools are annoying though so I get it. You’ll get in the swing of things before long.