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.

All schools have their own policy for starting reception children. My class will all start full time on the first day of term because I find it easier for the children, the parents and the staff but some schools have long induction periods where children only attend for a few hours. I once had a child transfer into my class in February and he was still on half days so full days came as a big shock.

My ds (pfb!) is also due to start in September. His settling in sessions consist of two 1 hour visits to the reception class, in July. The whole class is starting full-time, although the head did indicate that if any children struggle this can be reviewed and is flexible. My mum was a reception teacher and holds VERY strong views on starting full-time immediately (my ds will be 5 in December btw, so possibly one of the older ones) . She has made a point of saying how awful it is that I am considering letting my ds start full-time, as expected, and has let it be known that she believes that I should tell the head that I want my ds to be part-time initially. My ds is not going to know anyone at all at his school, and I don't want to disadvantage him by collecting him at lunchtime everyday when everyone else may be staying and making friends in his absence...But then, the guilt-factor kicks in and I hear my mum saying 'but he is just not ready, he'll be shattered, it's too much to expect' etc etc...In addition, I don't know any of my friends' children who are starting full time in September, all are being introduced gradually...

My instinct is to let him start full time and see how he gets on...What do you all think??!!

My baby started school today! Ok it was only for the afternoon but it was still emotional.

For the next 6 weeks they go in to school for one afternoon a week and on the last day have school dinner with the rest of school and mum/dad.

He looked soo tiny in his uniform (he did not have to wear that today but wanted to be like his big brother!)

He has been at a childminders sine he was a baby so I did not expect it to bother me today but when I dressed him in his little shorts and jumper I got a little tear in my eye

DS will go full time at school in September. The way his school organises it is that the term after they are 4, they start going just mornings in a mixed nursery and reception class. So he will be in the same class as he has been since January, just staying there past 11:30 .

He is very excited about being able to take his lunchbox and I'm pretty sure there won't be any problems. It will feel a bit odd to have him out of the house for the full day, but it will cut down on the going backwards and forwards.

Our school is having an open afternoon on 3rd July to discuss all of these things with parents and to introduce the children to their teachers etc. All I know is that they start full time at the same time as the rest of the school. I am hoping to find out about everything else during the open afternoon.

TBH the starting full time from the off was one of the deciding factors for DH and I when choosing a school for DD (she is also PFB) but that was before we knew about DS coming (5 days over now ). Now I'm worried that she will think she is being shipped off to school because we've got a new baby to look after so it is something I will be watching very closely. We have been doing the 'big sister' routine and am hoping that introducing her to school will come under that heading of 'things only big sisters get to do'.

We had the 'parents meeting' today, so I now know a little more about what's what.

Settling period is 2 weeks of mornings, then full time (with a flexible approach for those that need it, so if you want to extend just mornings for longer, or do a 4 day week or something, they are happy to cater to individual children's needs). So that's all great. We found out which class (of 2) they are in, although it sounds as if they mix them up a fair bit anyway over the year.

The newbies get to visit for about 8 afternoon sessions in June and July, including the whole of the last week of term, if you want, so that's great too.

Both Reception teachers seemed lovely, and the Head was ok, if a little Blairish in his spin style talk about how fantastic the school is (without actually saying anything particularly concrete) but I can live with that.

Have bought a couple of school sweatshirts, a book bag and a fleecy jacket thing so I'm feeling a little more organised.

How are you all going to approach labelling clothes - indelible pen, iron on names or sewing them in like my mum? That's the next bit of ordering I need to do.....

Fluffybubble - if you think he'll probably cope with full time, but are sure that the school will be flexible if he struggles, then I think you might as well go for it. HTH

Thanks gladbag - just panic setting in I think, must get a grip... .

Re. labels, I ordered the sew-in ones and took them round to my mum with the uniform I have already bought and a bunch of flowers...The labels magically attached themselves . My friend used the iron-on ones for her ds's and they began to peel off...

Fluffy, you have a magic nametag fairy too! The label on DD's winter coat mysteriously sewed itself on properly (I'd thoroughly botched it) after she spent the day with my parents. Very strange.

I have a ton of sew-in AND iron-on labels, ordered when DD started nursery (at 6mo!) I intend to use sew-in for the stuff that I might be able to sell on (pinafores, summer dresses, maybe cardigan) and iron-on for the stuff that will no doubt get trashed and just go for recycling (polo shirts, PE kit).

You have uniforms already? Wow.

Mind you dd2 is my 3rd and our first choice school for her had no uniform, so it's going to be all a bit last minute. But I should probably get some summer dresses now, shouldn't I, as they'll all be sold out come July.

I couldn't make the 30 min drop in session with dc to meet his new reception teacher and returned the form to say so.

Really surprised to get a message to ring, they know ds is one of 2 who won't know anyone else when he starts and to rearrange a time .

Which is the best place to get name tags and name stickers from?

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ds starts in September, too. We're all really excited and he's very ready for a move on from nursery.

Still, am already somewhat concerned as the school still hasn't sent details of the settling in visits this term, let alone a uniform list. We have had no acknowledgment that he has accepted the place - nothing direct from the school at all. I understand that this is quite normal for them. If this is indicative of the quality of the school admin, I feel pretty anxious.

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Hi all, dd is starting in september, already at nursery etc. Apparently date for ordering uniform has passed (argh) I didn't have any money then. Oh well don't suppose generic uniform for half a term will matter. It's all very surreal even though she will be one of the older ones.

DD1 will be starting in Sept (was 4 in Jan) and is soooo ready for it. Working out well for me as I'll be on maternity leave with dc3. However, I'm already feeling guilty coz I won't have the same time to spend with dcs 2 and 3 when they start school, as I'll be working then . I'm the youngest of 4, and always felt that by the time I did anything, my parents were a bit 'been there, done that', so am really conscious about doing that myself.
School have already had a parents evening, and handed out letters with visit dates this term, and schedule for settling in in Sept (over 3 weeks, so not too long).

Lol DCMB! Yes, I am truly awful at sewing and it takes my mum seconds to stitch one in, whereas it would take me HOURS!! Someone else recommended easytoname, I bought the Cash labels and they are very nice and came quickly.

From what I can gather from friends that did all this last year, we all start off fretting about clean, smart uniform and by half term that will have worn off and all we'll care about is that they are fully clothed .

Can anyone tell me if this is normal? DD's school has written asking us to give her chosen friendship group so they can write the class lists. THey've said to mention no more than 2-3 children and they'll try their best to put them together.

Well, we know noone going to the school and now I picture loads of little cliques of 2-3 children and dd on the outside (okay exaggeration I know).

My second is starting in September, he's looking forward to him and I think he'll love it. He already knows a lot of the children from pre-school as well.

Mind you he is 5 at the end of October so he had more time to get used to pre-school, he wouldn't have been ready at all last year.

hercules - I'm sure your DD will quickly make friends. DS2 was the only child in his year from his pre-school,but he settled in quickly. The children sit on named tables (caterpillars, bees etc in his case) and this serves to give them an initial friendship group. IME they quickly seek out like-minded souls.

Labels - aagghh. I use cash's sew-in and stickers from simplystuck. I like the look of easy2name's black/white transfers

My DS1 started full time reception Sept last year aged 4y 10days. They do have a half day on Wed but all the other days are full. He coped really well despite all my fears. And yes after a few weeks he was complaining that he wanted to stay and play in the after school club.
Lazylou - DS2 was born in Aug last year and DS1 didn't make any connection between the baby and starting school. He had other friends from nursery starting school at the same time (albeit in a variety of different schools) so as far as he was concerned, going to school is just what you do when you reach a certain age and you are too big for nursery.

hercules1 - I think it is fairly normal, especially if the intake is predominantly from one or two 'feeder' pre-schools so that they assume a lot of the children do know each other. It shouldn't be a problem. Having taught Reception, I've seen a fair few children start in your dd's situation, and they are always fine. Four and five year olds are usually fluid in their friendships and 'new' children just fit into the ever-changing mix. It would be worth mentioning your concerns to the teacher though, just to keep an eye on things.

I've got a different take on it in that my ds and a good friend's ds are starting school together. They neither really know any other children, but are exceptionally good friends with each other (having been neighbours and best buddies since babyhood - their friendship is probably more on a par with siblings). The school didn't ask us, and they have been put in the same class. Part of me is pleased as it will make the start much easier for them, but both me and the other mum (hello! if you're reading this) wondered if it would actually have been better to have them in different classes to ensure they mixed and made new friends. They may stay mutually exclusive!

Now the deed is done, and having given it more thought (and actually thought about it without my pfb mum head on) I know they will both branch out, and make new mutual friends and all will be well.

Oh the pitfalls and dilemmas!

My dd starts in September, she's not even 4 yet
She does 10 days till 12pm, a week till 1.15pm, then starts full time on 22nd September.
Haven't got her school uniform yet, i'm hoping she'll grwo a bit before September though as she's only in 2-3 clothes. She already knows loads of kids from pre school and she'll be in a class of 16. She can't wait to go but i'll be crying.