Wondered if hand holding for Sept newbies would be nice?

[treedelivery]

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!

Mcdreamy - I have got all stuff from M&S. Their polo shirts seem on the small side which might be good for you!!

Acinonyx - glad she has settled down ok.

Have a cuppa instead

Oh, Acinonyx, poor you. Dunno about wine.... how about chocolate?

How long till you collect her?

63 minutes. Not that I'm counting.

I hope she's looking all happy and relaxed when you go to collect her.

I do feel for you. I have a feeling my dd will be the one sobbing at drop-off time too. It's the worst feeling.

Well DS loved his taster session. Little wobble of lips when we left him but the school had worked it really well in that they only let one child in a a time and the teacher had them all sitting down quietly and she could say hello to each child in a quiet, calm environment. beats the way they did it at the first meeting where all thje kids were running around and making themselves 'at home' by screaming at the top of their lungs. He came running out at the end saying 'guess what mummy, they are all my friends'.
However, in a careful attempt to place him in the upper end of the social spectrum and to show he has a completely yummy mummy I had dressed him in his one and only Boden t-shirt and he came out saying his absolute best friend was the child with a replica football strip and a shaved head .
I also let the side down by inadvertently ordering 5 PE T-shirts instead of polo shirts so had to go back to the school to amend my order..
I have- 4 polo shirts, 1 fleece 1 (now) PE T-shirt, 1 pe bag and 1 book bag. How many trousers?
I have ordered name tapes, and a waterproof coat (mine can be any colour), he has lunch box stuff (although not Ben 10 so I hope it's OK) OOh yes, TK Maxx have some good lunchbags at the moment- they unzip all the way round to form a place mat.
Acinonyx- hope your LO enjoyed herself in the end. When I taught kindergarten I noticed some children just take longer to settle in, doesn't mean they never do.
Right essay over....

I am amazed and impressed that so many of you are almost there with your uniform/equipment purchasing! I have not even looked yet and wasn't going to start buying until the summer holidays! Am I leaving it too late?

I already have a daughter in Y1 (Year 2 in Sept) but lived abroad until Nov last year so have never done the school uniform shop in this country! Will all the sizes I want be gone if leave it too much longer?

Am on the M&S site now!!!!

Mcdreamy - I wouldn't leave it too long TBH. All the sizes I wanted from asda were gone.

I still have to buy PE top (getting next Monday) socks and maybe coat (need to check if they can wear any old coat!!)and school shoes which i will get nearer the time....

Have started ordering - think you are all wise

Has anyone bought the £3.50 trousers from M&S? What are they like? Is is worth buying more expensive ones?

I have got the £3.50 ones...

They seem ok to me, no buttons, zip etc just pull up.

My DS has got 3 age 3 ones (3for2)

having said that don't know how they wash yet!!

That's what I've just ordered. And 3 short sleeved shirts. PE shorts and plimsols.

Need jumpers, bookbag, pe shirt, and tie from the school shop.

He has a bag. Need a sandwich box (which he can choose) and some socks! I think his coat from last year will fit him (as he is so small and hasn't grown much)

Not sure if it's any use but I use these labels and have done for ages now. They're really good and fun! Have bought some luggage labels for DD and DS's book bags as DD always says it's hard to find her bag as they all look the same.

Going to get coloured keyrings to go on book bag.

have got most of the rest of her unifrom now. she still has a nice winter coat, so that will do

needs school cardi and tie which will get soon, and some shoes and that is it.

got everything else from M&S on 3 for 2

Ooh yes shoes! They both need shoes but will leave that for a bit. Don't mind DS growing out of a pair of £3.50 trousers but a £30 pair of shoes is another thing!!!

Can I join? DS1 starts in September (at 4.5). Very excited and had a good taster day two weeks ago. Doing really well with his reading (ORT 3) but not keen on drawing and writing. Bit of a sensitive soul so could have some problems there. Also tiny and so we are going to be struggling with the trousers. Anyone found Charcoal grey trousers with adjustable waist?

Love the bag tip. Will be buying one of those bag tags!

scaredofthegarden - I got adjustable waist shorts in tescos.

Maybe they do the trousers like that too??

Have just ordered the age 3 £3.50 M&S trousers but realised afterwards they're not adjustable waisted Will have to see what they're like when they arrive!

waist is 52cms and height 98cms mcDreamy if this helps

Thanks Simpson, I will get the tape measure out!

Was in M+S earlier. They had helpfully positioned the school uniform stuff just by the escalators so all the old ladies were trying to walk past. Only size polo shirts they had were 3, 4 and 10 or above. Hmmm.
I refuse to believe I've "left it too late" before the schools even break up - particularly as I have heard nothing from the school about what I need to buy yet.

Scared - M&S do grey adjustable waist trousers.

OK gals, what are the starting dates and arrangements you've all been given for the dcs? Ds's school is starting the youngest kids first with the staggered start which is really wise as they are the ones who'll need more one on one time imho.

But they go part time for so bleeding long...a right pain the bum for working parents.

pigswithfludon'tfly - not been given full info yet but youngest kids start last.

June-Aug babies start 17th Sept (is a thursday) and do 4 days 9-12, then 4 or 5 days 9-1.30 (will have lunch there) then go all day.

We're all in, all day from day 1. Easiest for me re work so I'm not complaining!

M&S have let me down unfortunately trouserwise since I need charcoal grey rather than normal grey. Adjustable waist essential. Have put on one of those email alerts so that they let me know when they are back in stcok but three weeks on I haven't heard back from them.

dd is in the first intake of staggered start, which I'm pleased about. She's not keen on large crowds of children, so I think she'll find this easier.

They gradually build up to full days full time by the 4th week. It seems like a reasonably gentle build-up. I hope.