School drop off/pick up etiquette

[JoshandJamie]

So my son will start school in Sept. He's my first child so am completely unsure what the school drop off/pick up protocol is. Do you drop them at the school gate? Go into the classroom? Wait outside? What's the drill?

Going to bed now but if anyone has any insight, please share and I'll see you in the morning.

ta

ask the school!

at our school you go in the classroom with them for the first term, then the teacher gently suggested they could be left at the classroom door, and in the third term they lined up in the reception playground and went in together.

Will you have any meet-the-teacher events before Sept?

I would go into the playground. Expect the children will all be playing. Usually the bell/whistle goes and they line up, say their goodbyes and off they toddle!!

Not sure if all primaries are like that but all the ones we have attended have been.

Arrive on the day,don't be late, but don't be drastically early...walk confidently into the playground with him and watch for all the other mothers or ask the teacher!If you leave him in the playground, loiter inconspicuously to check he's ok.(another reason for not being too early, else time to get cold feet!). Do you know any other kids starting or already at the school? Most of all make it relaxed, big smile, big hug and 'have fun' ...no tears or over hugging! Ask the school beforehand (ring the office) what they need to bring in terms of lunch/fruit for snack and bag etc so he doesn't feel awkward. Enjoy and best of luck!

Agree, phone the school and ask. They won't mind!

Agree with others - the only way to know is to ask the school (or parents of children already attending).

Each school works differently. In dd's first school, the parents were welcomed and encouraged into the classroom.
In her present school, parents are allowed on the playground and take the children up to the door but don't go into the classroom.
The school down the road don't even let parents onto the playground! The children are collected at the gate and brought back out to the gate at the end of the school day!

Wear sunglasses for when you cry.

Right. Thanks for the tips. Am seeing the school today and will ask them. Just didn't want to come over as an overly concerned/stupid mother but if you've never done it, it's not something you know