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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

Original poster

Wondered if hand holding for Sept newbies would be nice?

990 replies

treedelivery · 19/06/2009 16:50

Just that really. Like an antenatal thread but for parents of children starting primary in Sept.

We have our taster afternoon in a couple of weeks - it all feels so alien. Haven't felt this out of it since I bought my 1st pack of nappies and got the giggles at the checkout!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
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lolster · 30/06/2009 14:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

eandh · 30/06/2009 17:50

treedelivery my dd1 only had a 1 hour session today and another 1 hour session tomorrow and thats it! She loved it today breezed in full of confidence and told me I could go!

Had a one to one meeting with her teacher this afternoon (whilst she was at preschool) he asked general health/family/what she likes to do questions but preschool had written a lovely 2 page report on her behaviour at preschool so he has borrowed it and will give it back to me tomorrow. I loved the preschool report as it really did praise her imagination and the fact she can engage 5 or 6 other children into a game she has made up (apaprently the other day she was in a empty box pretending it was a plane and within 20 minutes she had 4 other children playing along and they were flying to america to have lunch with hannah montana )

I didnt realise how big her school was (they have 3 classes per year) and a fab outdoor play area that has a cover on it and another huge wooden play ara on the field so she is going to love the space and freedom there!!!

blametheparents · 30/06/2009 18:55

DD also only has 1 two hour session at school before she starts in Spetember.
TBH I am not too concerned. I guess the classroom might be a bit familiar to her, but other than that I am not expecting these sessions to 'get her ready for school' IMO that is what the first few weeks of school are for up to (and possibly beyond) October half term. The summer break is so long for the little ones anyway that I am not sure how much they are going to remember about their settling in sessions regardless of how many they have had.

blametheparents · 30/06/2009 18:56

DD told me today that they have been practicsing their end of term concert at pre-school today. Apparantly it is 'brilliant' and I'm 'going to love it'

Original poster
treedelivery · 30/06/2009 21:03

Thanks for that - that's encouraging. Also very true that 6 weeks holiday are a life when you are 4.

Excited about Thursday! Hello to Lobster and Rita.

Where is the register? It must need a mega update by now!

OP posts:
mrsmortenharket · 01/07/2009 10:45

my pfb is going to school in sept not sure if [excited]or

mrsmortenharket · 01/07/2009 10:47

and we are meeting everyone this afternoon from half 1, wish me luck.

oh and dd too

Curlylox · 01/07/2009 15:57

My DD start September too and have the impression it is full time, she also turns 5 in September too. Hadn't really given a thought about uniform but will now as can't possibly pass up an offer (m&s). But have one question what are the best labels, can sew but would rather not. What are they called and where do I buy them from please included shoe labels??

lollyheart · 01/07/2009 16:07

My dd is only pt for two weeks then goes ft.

Ive just bought some great labels from here, i got the ones you sew but they do do iron on ones.

Hope the meeting went well mrsmortenharket

lollyheart · 01/07/2009 16:12

here

lollyheart · 01/07/2009 16:16

I ordered them yesterday and they came today

fuzzypeach · 01/07/2009 16:55

Hello, please can I join this thread?

My DD1 is 5 on 13th Sept, and starting school on the 7th. We haven't had any induction sessions or anything yet - got a letter a couple of weeks ago inviting us to a parents information evening tomorrow night, and then 2 hour visit followed by school lunch (lunch is with parents, but not sure about the visit before hand?) next wednesday - but that is it!! have had a read back over a few pages and it seems a lot of you have had quite a few sessions, and some just a couple. Strange how it differs so much everywhere.

Im quite concerned about DD1 starting school as she is quite badly behaved - we have been on parenting courses and had "home help" (!!!) to try and help but she is very bright and outwits me and Dh with her behaviour all the time whateve techniques we use.
She is very independant but the only thing she struggles with is going to the toilet on her own, and she never wipes her bum properly so bit worried about that too!!!

mckenzie · 01/07/2009 19:27

please may i join too?
DD was 4 in March and she has had 2 one hour stay and play sessions this month and we parents had a great evening meeting where we were given lots of information, met some of the teachers and nursery assistants etc and were shown round the school. I have a DS in year 3 at the same school but things have changed a bit since he was in reception (for the better) so it was nice to be shown round again.

Fuzypeach - I think bum wiping issues are fairly common but it is something i will be spending quite a lot of time on during the summer months!

I'm just wondering if anyone else has noticed their DC change their sleeping habits during the introduction sessions etc? Although DD ells me she's really looking forward to starting school and gets really excited when we look at uniform, shoes etc, she has in the last few weeks started to have disturbed sleep and I'm wondering if it's playing on her mind. Anyone?
TIA

simpson · 01/07/2009 21:50

finally got round to trying DS in his age 3 M&S trousers and even they are a bit big

But TBH I think they will be ok if he does some growing

Also got letter giving date for meeting at his school but as expected am away on holiday. Grrr...

fruitful · 01/07/2009 22:41

We've got the "new starters" meeting on Monday, so we'll find out who the teacher is and when they start. Ds1 is in the nursery class at the same school so it is not so big a thing for him. (just for me, sob). "Moving up day" is next Thursday - everybody spends the morning in next year's classroom with their new teacher, so I assume ds1 will be in his reception class for that morning.

He keeps coming out with new reasons why he doesn't want to go to "Ception".

"Mummy I don't like the children in Ception!". That threw me for a moment. Then I explained that those children won't be there, they're moving up too.

"Mummy I can't eat school dinners". I've caved and said he can have a packed lunch.

"Mummy I don't want to stay all day". But they only play in the afternoons anyway ...

"Mummy we have better toys in Nursery". Yes but you get to play on the big playground, they've got a pirate ship. That swung it, he wants to go now. .

littlelamb · 01/07/2009 22:45

I've been meaning to join this thread Dd is starting year 1 in September, having not been at school this year as we were waiting for a place. She is going for a full days visit tomorrow when the children have a day with their new teacher. We've bought her a little school dress and cheapy plimsols to wear (no way am I buying clarks for one day ) and I'm going to be sooooo proud to see her off tomorrow. Worried I will forget something though, like her lunch She knows lots of children in her class already so that's good, and when we went for a quick look around last week she seemed really keen to join in so I hope she enjoys it

Original poster
treedelivery · 01/07/2009 22:51

Hi all. AM just so pleased with this thread It's ace

Welcome newbies. Haven't time for proper answers now - dd2 up and about for boob.

Induction afternoon tomorrow - having to stop self bringing a list of questions and a note pad and pen. Will look a barmy bird as it is I'm sure.

Drove past alternative school today and was to see them out playing with no hats on. Then passed again and it was sports day - no hats again. As my profile shows, hats are important in dd1's life due to fair skin! As is factor 50 sunblock so will be asking about that.

fuzzypeach - maybe dd will be 'better' or just different when she is the swing of school? If she is bright and out witting you [mine does this, she comes up with perfectly good reasons as to why she shouldn't do what I say and I'm left stood with my mouth open going ] then maybe a teacher and some rules will suit her. I'm thinking this for dd1 anyway

simpson - bummer about missing the induction. Still though, holiday...... Anywhere nice?

Hello McKenzie.

OP posts:
golgi · 01/07/2009 22:53

Fruitful - my son is the same, he doesn't realise all the children move up together. He was warning his younger brother about who the "naughty" ones were in nursery as he'll be starting in September, and looked a bit crestfallen when I explained that these children would be in Reception with him!

Littlelamb - I'm considering not sending son 2 until year 1 age - he's a very late August birthday and there is no provision for half days or staggered start here, so he'll be starting full time at only-just-four. Do you think joining at this stage will be easy? You sound very positive....

littlelamb · 01/07/2009 23:15

golgi, she just had her 5th birthday a week ago, so she'll be one of the youngest ones. I was torn about what to do for the best tbh, the school we were originally offered is under Ofsted special measures, in a bad area and just too far for us to get to. The school we waited for is 2 minutes away, a great school and full of children she has known pretty much since birth so it seemed best to wait. Bloody stressful though I think she'll be fine. She went to a brilliant nursery which has given her a head start in her phonics, though no doubt she'll still need to catch up. In truth, it's been lovely to have her home with me while I've been on maternity leave. She is very confident so I think she'll be fine.

wolfnipplechips · 02/07/2009 08:12

Littlelamb, good luck for today i bet she'll love it.

Tree have you tried ultrasun suncream, somebody on mn recommended it to me for very fair children and its a godsend. Its a once only application with very high protection and it leaves a lovely shimmery shine on their skin. Mine had it on at 8 yesterday morning and spent the day outside and they haven't changed colour at all.

Hello everyone else.

LadyIsabella · 02/07/2009 09:48

Morning everyone,haven't posted for a while as I have been waiting for our first meeting at school, which was last night. It went well, DS's teacher seemed nice, but [old fogey emoticon] very young. There is no uniform at the school, and they don't need any PE kit in reception either, so not much for me to do! We take DS in next week for a 1 hour session - only thing that worries me is that all his nursery friends seem to be in the other reception class.

3rdnparty · 02/07/2009 10:55

hello, my pfb due to start sep as well at my 2nd choice (need to get over it but struggling)..ds will be 4.2
As an intro we get 1 hour at the classroom for
parents/kids to look around, and pick up forms. Then a parents induction session to hand back forms, thats it til sep...have a list of questions as long as my arm so may have to sit on my hands at the parents session (today)
...really worried re the sun thing as they have no shade and when I mentioned it at the look round the TA said yes been moaning about that for years.... possibly my expectations are too high!

littlelamb · 02/07/2009 16:28

Well it all went really well She is very tired but has had a great day, and her teacher has given me a little workbook for her to practice her writing in over the summer. I was that mum taking pictures by the gate, I've put one on my profile. I'm so proud of her today

Original poster
treedelivery · 02/07/2009 19:57

Littlelamb - pic lovely am pleased today went well for you and DD.

We had our induction today. Hmm. I'm not feeling any less worried tbh and dd wasn't impressed either. She was a bit odd about it all really, and nearly cried in the car after. Though she couldn't say why. Maybe it was just too mega mega hot, and I like a fool had no sun block on her. So we were both fluffing about trying to stay in the shade. There was none. As an elder one she wont start till the 15th Sept, which seems ages and ages away. It will be a long summer.

On more positive notes, the school luch/packed lunch debate was made easier as they can opt in and out on a weekly basis I think, depending on what they do and don't like from the menu. The teacher will help her put sunscreen on too, as long as we send some in.

Still feel none the wiser though, I had to ask another mum where we actually drop them off in the morning for example. Another mum told me they eat lunch in the classroom at first, sometimes.

Maybe next week, I'll ring or email the school and ask a dew more questions. I can always say dd asked to avoid looking bonkers!

OP posts:
simpson · 02/07/2009 21:52

tree - at least you have a while to boost school in DD's eyes iyswim. I find Topsy & Tim start school seems to be helping here

Going on holiday to the isle of wight for a wk on 11th July. Can't wait!!

Ds's pre school/nursery teacher said she would have a chat with me after nursery one day next week to fill me in on what I will miss in the meeting which is on 13th July.

Is everyone giving their Dcs packed lunch or are some having school dinners?

Just wondering...

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