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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!

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littlelamb · 02/07/2009 22:40

My dd took a packed lunch today and said that she sat next to her friend who had a school dinner. She said it smelled lovely but looked disgusting so she's said she wants to stick with packed lunch. From what I saw I think the majority of the children had lunch boxes. What really impressed me today was that the children all had water bottles that they kept in the class room and could help themselves to a drink whenever they wanted- it must be sweltering in there atm

lollyheart · 02/07/2009 22:41

My dd will be having packed lunch, she is a very fussy and slow eater.

golgi · 02/07/2009 22:58

My boy is having another staying for lunch session tomorrow (he's already at the nursery attached to the school).

I think we'll go for the school dinner option as mornings are busy enough as it is, also he prefers a cooked meal to sandwiches and is happy to try new things.

Simpson - enjoy the IOW - we're going later in the month. Not so exciting for me as I'm an IOWer by birth (we're known as Caulkheads)

Original poster
treedelivery · 02/07/2009 23:09

Crap I forgot to ask about drinking water and access to it.

Enjoy holiday simpson, am very . Although now we have a start date 2 weeks into Sept, maybe we can squeeze a cheapie away in early sept. Maybe the prices will be normal then.

On a totally different note - if anyone wants a free box of little nibbles through the letter box, go here and use code 67RLMZVA for a free trial box of nibbles, and I think I get a pound off too. I get one on a Tuesday, as dd1 is all day preschool so I have this as a treat. Yum. I do actually rate these, and there is no catch or I wouldn't dream of offering you the code. Just some nice nuts etc for free!

OP posts:
simpson · 02/07/2009 23:12

golgi - let me know how you get on with the lunch

Think I am going the school dinner route too just want to find out how many of his friends will be having it.

DS also goes to nursery within the school.

Yes can't wait for IOW hoping weather nice and we can do lots of walking etc

golgi · 02/07/2009 23:26

tree I was assuming that all primary schools still came fitted with those fountain thingies in the playground. We send the boy with a bottle of water to nursery but he usually brings it back full - he's a bit of a camel and won't think to drink unless it's offered (they are there 2 and a half hours but get given a drink halfway through anyway).

Simpson it's a packed lunch tomorrow as they haven't arranged school dinners for just the try out. I hadn't considered the friends option, but I'm sure he can make some more who eat dinner. We'll see. I'm basically lazy and if I can get someone else to make his lunch I will.

mrsmortenharket · 03/07/2009 09:49

fruitful - lol at pirate ship!

lollyheart - the 'meeting' went very well thanks, dd hung round for abit and then she disappeared. she was playing with the reception kids! and they were playing with her!! she even sat on the carpet with the children when the teacher was talking to them. do you thinki could get her home afterwards? not a bit of it, had to keep explaining that she was going in september nad it was just a visit bless her.

fuzzypeach - am having the same probs with dd, cue lots of practice over summer.

golgi - how did it go?

we have new parents meal next wednesday i hate meeting new people so am kind of dreading it.

mrsmortenharket · 03/07/2009 10:00

dd also having trouble geting to sleep, just put it down to weather as very warm in her room atm. never thought about it being cos of school

Oblomov · 03/07/2009 10:17

Saw this thread. having a little laugh to myself, re all your anxious questions. I was the same. But ds1 is now coming to the end of Reception and yes, we got here, without too many scuffs or scrapes. Please try not to worry. You will all be fine

Wheelybug · 03/07/2009 11:48

DD had her trial session thing yesterday morning - 1 hour and had a whale of a time. Obv helps she is with about 10 others from her nursery so kind of home from home.

Water - at our school, you have to send them in with a water bottle. I have jsut ordered dd a HSM bottle at her request (sigh... kids grow up so young these days...).

I think I'm done with purchases until it all starts and I find out what I Should have bought instead . Oh and she'll need a lunch box come christmas.

Yesterday we were told that all children will have the option to go full time from september as of 2011 so that means if dd2 turns out as enthusiastic as dd1 she'll be able to go full time (She is March, dd1 is January so just misses out).

Next stop for us - teddy bears picnic at school on 14th (my birthday incidentally - what a treat for me !).

Wheelybug · 03/07/2009 11:52

Thanks for the code tree - have ordered some !

mumnosbest · 03/07/2009 15:00

Just seen this thread, can I join too. Sorry I haven't read it all, it goes on for ever!
Me and DS start reception in September, him in one class, me teaching next door, so I'm doubly anxious

fuzzypeach · 03/07/2009 17:37

I'm not sure what to do about packed lunch/school dinners - DD1 is a very fussy and slow eater also - so packed lunch might be easier, but i would prefer her to have school dinners as it will make my life easier, I am very scatty and no doubt will forget on many occassions to get things for her to eat!

We had a "new parents evening" last night and got an info pack - although there wasnt all that much information in it and of course I couldnt think of any questions at the time to ask, just as soon we had gone! Bought her logo'd bits of uniform (3 polo shirts, 2 jumpers and a book bag = £50 not sure if thats a normal amount or not, seemed a bit exp to me, but maybe she didnt need 3 polo shirts?!!)

She has her 1 hour visit on wednesday next week, she cant wait!

fuzzypeach · 03/07/2009 17:41

Oh, and she starts on weds 9th sept, for 2 hours each morning weds thurs and fri, and then full time from the 14th - which seems ages away!

golgi · 03/07/2009 19:31

Trying out reception went well here, by all accounts. He ate all his sandwiches but has come home with somebody else's cool pack thing in his lunchbox.

Finally I get a chance to go too, next Friday, where I might get some information.

There was also a letter saying that the school is having some building work done next year - new classroom and a hall (they don't have one at the moment).

Which means they will demolish the current reception classroom in February, at which point the reception children will share a classroom with nursery. Not too sure about this, partly because son 2 will be in nursery.

teafortwo · 03/07/2009 22:58

Oblomov - Thank you... That is a really nice thing to post! I will think of you in my most panicky moments and feel ok.

I came across this little lovely book and toy set today....

www.amazon.ca/Madeline-Book-Toy-Ludwig-Bemelmans/dp/0140348808/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=12466 57906&sr=1-12

I am VERY keen to buy it for Milk for a little end of first day at school present from DH and I. As she will be our own little ginger Parisian school girl by then... and I think it is really worth celebrating!

What do you think - nice or overkill???

golgi · 03/07/2009 23:13

I think it would be lovely, teafortwo.

DidEinsteinsMum · 03/07/2009 23:17

hello golgi - i wandered over here on your suggestion. Its a much longer thread then when i last looked, will read at some point.

I have a quick question for those with pack lunches - what type of lunch box are the kids using these days? Ds already has a basic old fashioned one with handle but have they moved on and using plain tubs?

golgi · 03/07/2009 23:20

My son has a Star Wars lunch box (blame Dad, they chose it together) - but it's more like a coolbag really, lined with silver stuff and not rigid.

lollyheart · 03/07/2009 23:31

It sounds like i have the same as golgi but a tinkerbell one

TitsalinaBumsquash · 04/07/2009 01:06

Just copied this over from a thread i just started, im getting ridiculously upset nw! My poor PFB, he has a lot of health issues to contend with and now im worrying my pants off!

DS is going up into Reception in September, he hasn't said a lot about it, i have spoken to him and he isn't really that interested.

So we all trundled along today, 2 of his friends from Nursery were there to, and out of about 30 children DS cried the second we walked in th building, im woriied now, he as also been having a few nightmares this past few weeks and im wondering if its connected?

He has NO interest about school so far where as other children seem to.

I know im comparing him but not i a bad way i just don't want him to have a hard time settling in. He is fin at Nursery, no problem at all. I think it was a bit overwhelming, i am wondering though why he found it more so than the others?

I can't sleep, im concerned. Help please.

DidEinsteinsMum · 04/07/2009 02:25

I think i answered that one

Yep definetly read it before suspect i posted.

golgi · 04/07/2009 08:39

Tits - does he have any more visits before the end of term? Maybe you could speak to the school about your concerns - I am sure they are used to these worries and should be able to reassure you a bit. Perhaps they could arrange for him to go again on his own - with 30 others I expect it probably was overwhelming for him.
Could you find a book for him about starting school for you to read together - someone else mentioned one on this thread somewhere.

teafortwo · 04/07/2009 12:13

Oh Titsalina - poor you!!!

If it is any help - lots of children do this. It is just that they are overwhelmed by the newness of everything. It isn't that they don't like it, it is that it is all so new and... overwhelming.

Don't be afraid to call the school to talk with his new teacher so you feel reassured. She would know all about children who find it all overwhelming and have some great techniques for helping your ds out. The TA will be a wonderful resource for you and him as well.... TAs are like angels without wings!

As for books... I bought this book..... and Milk and I love it perhaps you could look it up and see if your ds would like it too....

Janet and Allan Ahlberg (1988) Starting school PUFFIN BOOKS

paisleyleaf · 04/07/2009 22:17

HI there, I'd like to join you if that's okay.
My DD starts september and I am just gutted.
She had a preschool leavers party thing yesterday and her keyworker gave a little speech wishing the children all the best for going to big school, and she (the keyworker) cried, that started a few of the mums off crying too. But I was the only one who couldn't stop. I had to go to the loos, I was crying all the way home, so embarrassing. And that's not even it....got another week and a BBQ to get through.

(I'll read back through this thread now).