Reception starters September '08 -- anyone want to chat?

[flack]

Is there a thread already?
DS not even 4 yet, so bit mind-boggling to think of him off to school soon.

flack thank you
Can I just say as a reception teacher expecting a class of 30 in September (and my nursery nurse goes on maternity leave the second week) I would be more than grateful if they can all wipe their own bums.....pleeeeeeeease

DD2 is off to year R, the last of my brood! And, mrz, I will be putting the bliddy flags out (are you going to be DD2s teacher?) Just to warn you if so, no, she can't always wipe her bum, and as the LEA have only given her 15 hours 1-1, I send you my best wishes if she needs the bog at any other time
i'll cry anyway, but then i'll go home and run round the house whooping
long time coming!

Romy7 who knows anything is possible if not I hope she enjoys her new class and that you don't spend too long crying you've got flags to raise!

I will be completely bereft on the first day of term, as it is dd's first day at school and ds' first day at nursery. When I was wailing about this last night I told dh that it was "the beginning of the end" , to which he was a bit .

And MrZ, I am trying to get dd to wipe her own bum, but its a struggle, so that, and opening a sandwich wrapped in clingfilm, are going to be our main things to learn this summer. I can't wait... Obviously there will be washing of hands in between the two tasks!

Oh gosh, thought it was just me!
DS1 starts in September.
I went to his new school "open evening" thing and, even though I had been warned, was really worried by how stern and cold the reception teacher was. There was no warmth there, such a change from his preschool leaders.
Am panicking and worried about various things such as:
packed lunch or school meals?
If packed lunch how will he open Organix crisp bags/flapjack bars (only mention brand so no-one thinks I will be sending junk in, and we have been warned by school not to send in rubbish!)
Bum wiping
Getting changed after gym
His new glasses

He is my PFB, even though I know he is ready in lots of ways, he is still so young!

DD is off to reception in September, she will be 5 in December. For me it will be two down one to go, the youngest starts in 2010. I know she will be ok as she attends nursery at the school so is familiar with it and will be spending lots of time with her new teacher after half term, but I will be so sad.
Oh well, I still have another manky at home.

I'm starting Reception myself in September. Have only been a TA at KS1 before and am having doubts about whether I'm going to like it!

Knowing I've got to get the entire contents of the classroom out every day then put it all away. Just like at home! Cleaning up paint and glue. Eurgh.

And of course 'accidents'. Last year in year 1 we only had about two. What's the average mrz? Break it to me gently

Seriously, I'm doing a bit of reading up on the curriculum and I'm sure I'm going to like it really.

To make my life easier mums :-

dress your child in buttonless clothes as far as possible on PE days.

NO tights. I HATE putting my hands in sweaty tights to sort them out.

Don't stress about reading scheme books. It will be me giving out the books BUT it is not up to me what level your child is on, so don't accuse me in Tesco of holding your child back.

If you have a problem see the teacher don't just discuss it in the playground and get more wound up.

Don't fuss about at 9.00am Your child will be able to sort out his bag and coat etc on his own if you stay at the door. (Not first day of course)!

At some point your child will come home and say nobody would play with me today/xxxx was being mean to me today. Take it on the chin and talk about how to deal with it. Don't bustle into school demanding to see their bullying policy.

Lastly, chocs are my present of choice at Christmas

Thanks WTH, it is nice to see it from the other viewpoint.
Do you open crisp bags?

wheresthehamster well I know one of my class for September has a daily accident (and she's only in half a day at nursery) but (trying to convince myself ) she may be toilet trained by September! Last year I had a boy who pooed his trousers at least once a day (no medical reason) for two whole terms but this year has been quite a good one with very few accidents.
You need to train the children to set up and put away in continuous provision areas and it makes life so much easier, my class are really good.
I take turns with my Nursery Nurse washing paint pots and glue sticks (we save those plastic containers that hold shop bought cakes for pva glue then throw them away at the end of the day)
good luck I can't think of anywhere I would rather work reception is amazing!

WTH post has made me smile!

Am looking forward to next stage of my life although unsure what to do with it!

DS2 is really looking forward to starting school and is always looking at his uniform hanging in his wardrobe.

He is having one visit a week from now untill the end of term as part of his settling in process. He has a severe speech problem and is fairly deaf. He will have a full time 1 to 1 which the school have recently been interviewing for and I'm itching to know who it is.

Oh riven, do you really think you will have to go in? Will they not have additional support for this?

My DS2 has his one to one over the lunch period as well as he will not be able to communicate effectively what he would like to eat etc.

I was worried when DS1 started but this feels totally different as he simply will be unable to tell me about his day.

riven, have you met your 1-1 yet? we met ours last week (jobshare mornings and afternoons) and they both seem lovely - they are attending all of her settling in visits this term too, so i'm fairly calm...

Bloody hell I bet you will!

Who can blame her for wanting that element of control though, I like the sound of the fighting spirit , although tough on you and your DH.

Good luck with all the meetings with school!

MRZ, I was wondering, as you are a teacher in reception (my dream job btw!) when schools are likely to start advertising for Nursery Nurse positions? DD starts Yr R in Sept and I will have a 3 month old but I intend to finish my degree and go on to do PGCE or GTP. Firstly though, I would like to work in school, reception definately, to gain classroom experience before applying for the PGCE/GTP but obviously would need something fitting around my kids (like most of the mums on here!).

I am Level 3 qualified and have a Foundation Degree in Early Years so technically only 2 years off teaching now, but I was just wondering when the best time to apply would be or how to go about making enquiries into this.

Lazylou are you able to access your LEA /County Council web site as jobs for Nursery Nurses and TAs are usually advertised there first so it gives a head start to people already employed by the LEA. Jobs are advertised all year round in my area. Another option would be to pop into local schools and leave a CV possible to get supply work to get known .Good Luck

WTH, I feel vindicated - we have had a booklet from the school, written by a parent, which says 'please try to put your child in a proper shirt unless they can really only cope with a polo shirt, please have them wear the tie unless you really think they can't cope with it ...' and I just thought bog OFF, she is 4, I'm not going to be guilt-tripped into putting her into proper shirts and a tie. She's having long socks for winter as well, no tights, I'm not so cruel as to make a child who puts her knickers on upside-down deal with tights.

Oh dear, I hope this isn't the start of me developing a Bad Attitude towards school.

It's going to be a strange time - settling in period is so long and complex that I'm just taking the whole 6.5 weeks off work. It'll be weird, the most time I'll have spent with DD since she was under six months old.

Oh, can I join this thread? Dd1 starts in September and I haven't really come to terms with it yet.

We're going to miss our meeting as well, as we'll be on our last ever good value term-time holiday.

romy Thats great you've met the one to one's, I'm desperate to find out who has the job for DS2! Good your feeling calm, I am at the moment just not sure how long it will last!

riven at telling them class will revolve around DD!

I just need to figure out what I'm going to do with me though when September comes. DS2 has been such a project over the last four years I shall feel lost!

Riven have you had an opportunity to have a look around her classroom and check that there are resources available for her needs? Will she have a work chair and a wheelchair? Standing frame etc? As you know each child is different so has needs peculiar to them. Good Luck

All my 30 will be full time from day one this year

My DD2 starts in September too, with a statement. I'm not worried about how she'll cope (she adores her fantastic nursery) I'm more worried about how they'll cope with her. She has no speech and has some OCD traits, I just hope she gets allocated a lovely 1-1 who gets to know her quickly!

The school is really experienced though with kids with disabilities and special needs so I am sure she'll be fine. They also have an integrated Language Unit so she'll get loads of SALT

It'll be me fretting at home. She'll be having a ball!