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Primary education

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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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dotty2 · 09/07/2009 20:14

Thank you, Acinonyx - will overcome fear of seeming overly fussy and call tomorrow. Trying on sounds fun, if unproductive. Have gone down the boring M&S online route myself. Shopping is never as much fun as I anticpate, because DD can't ever choose - choosing seems to make her anxious, even when it's something lovely. (We have just come back from a seaside holiday with a fab icecream parlour with 70+ flavours and she had strawberry everytime we went!).

Acinonyx · 09/07/2009 20:52

Funny you should say that dotty - sometimes dd goes into this really excuciaing tailspin when trying to make a choice - even something like which side of a samdwhich to hold Does freak me out sometimes.

I though I had made life easy by going online but all three stores involved returns/exchanges due to fit/size. May as well just have gone to town - although at least we did get to try most of it on at home. Most of our stuff is M & S - they must make a fortune from schoolwear.

TeaMonster · 10/07/2009 09:58

Oh I have to agree children like routine. I could never give DS1 a packed lunch as he would have the same thing everyday - a ham and cheese sandwich

Anyway I am feeling particularly emotinal today as it is his last day at Preschool [gulp]

Also his branded uniform has arrived - so I need to pay for that when I collect him.

We took the teachers presents in yesterday and they were very thankful this morning. I am glad that they understand just how much we appreicate the speical time they have made preschool.

Phew - if I am like this now what am I going to be like on his first day. I am determined to hold it all toegther in front of him, but I suspect I will be a blubbering wreck once he is on the door

simpson · 10/07/2009 11:53

Its DS's last day at pre school/nursery too

Have got pressies to take in when I pick him up.

Also one of the teachers is going to have a quick meeting with me to go through stuff for school as I will miss the new parents meeting next wk (on holiday)

I hope that the same teachers will be in the nursery when DD (only 17mths) goes there

TeaMonster · 10/07/2009 12:33

Simpson I am a blubbering wreck. Can not believe that this is it. Although I will be back at the same preschool and possibly the same teacher with DS2 in september.

DS1 brought home his name tag, picture from his peg and a lovlet picture he drew with his new teacher on Wednesday all nicely mounted.

I took my camera and took a piture of him with his teachers for his scrap book.

I just hope that DS2 has just a happy time there as DS1 has. They have made the whole first time away bfrom mummy such a breeze for him

simpson · 10/07/2009 16:23

OMG they are expected to carry trays!!

When they have school dinners they have 3 meal choices and have to carry tray to table

pigswithfludontfly · 10/07/2009 16:25

LOL ds is so going to just stand there at the three choices and not know what to do.

I can't even manage a tray with food and a drink so heaven help most 4 year olds (although I guess my ds is probably more likely to cope than me with that bizarrely as he's super careful unlike his clumsy mum!)

MrsMattie · 10/07/2009 17:09

Hi all. My PFB starts reception in Sept, too, so am coming to hold hands...

TeaMonster · 10/07/2009 17:39

its not just the choosing, its the cutting up of his own food

It is only the food he has to carry on the tray and the water is in a jog on the table - phew

I best start on the using a knife and cutting it up yourself thing over the summer

Original poster
treedelivery · 10/07/2009 18:20

Hi all.

When I think of dd carrying a tray and trying to find a seat and managing to pull out a chair......I go all wibbly. Its my stress point. It really worries me.

She only ate a tiny butter sandwich [a new thing for her she refuses sandwiches] at preschool as she couldn't get the teachers attention to help her open a tube of squeezy fruit, she had 2 and left them both. There are 10 kids and 2 teachers. What chance has she in a hall??

omg omg......breathe.........

On a positive, tomorrow is uniform buying day. We are leaving baby sis with dh [1st time-eek] and taking the train 1.5 hrs to Leeds for girlie day. Will head to Harvey Nicks and get someone to pop some clear lip gloss on us and generally girlie ourselves out Am excited!

OP posts:
pigswithfludontfly · 10/07/2009 19:15

Waves at MrsM - I think you are local to me....

golgi · 10/07/2009 20:46

Had a meeting at the school today and finally have some information! Yay!
The school dinners leaflet tells me a lot about healthy eating but not a) How much they cost or b) how to let school know you want them.
I think we might go with sandwiches to start with!
Son can carry a tray but only if he goes really reaaa.....lll...yy sloowwwwww.....lly
There are only going to be 16 children in reception, not a split class this year. He knows most of them already from nursery. So we're feeling pretty positive here at the moment.

Aranea · 10/07/2009 21:28

I can't get dd to bother with a knife at all. Do your dcs all use a knife & fork? Mine will just pick up big stuff with her fork and bite as much off as she can!

We saw another child today who'll be in the same class - she said to my dd, 'You're going to be in my class!'

DD responded, 'Actually, you're going to be in my class.'

golgi · 10/07/2009 22:14

Mine eats with his fingers. Even soup and yoghurt.
The more I think about it, the more I'm leaning towards packed lunches to start with!

bigchris · 10/07/2009 22:16

(is it ok to come on here and reassure you re school dinners as that was my major worry when ds started sch last sept?)

they put yr 6 children on each reception table, so 2 yr6 kids on all reception tables and to start with they don't carry there own trays and the yr 6 kids help them out a lot

paisleyleaf · 10/07/2009 22:24

Last day preschool here today too
have got a party thing next week though....that's when I'll feel more emotional although I'm doing the facepainting so won't have time to be booing too much. (must remember sunglasses)

These trays are bothering me too. Apparently they do have monitors helping.
Phewy eh?

Aranea, I've never really bothered about DD using a knife and fork properly....she can use them but I wouldn't say 'correctly' by any means. I'll maybe work on that a bit over the summer, she mostly eats like your DD.

Treedelivery, your uniform shopping sounds fun

Aranea · 10/07/2009 22:28

Soup with his fingers golgi? He must really like soup to go to all that trouble.

golgi · 10/07/2009 22:42

I do try to encourage cutlery use. However it's more like feeding time at the zoo.

I'm adding it to my list of summer training along with dressing, putting shoes on, wiping bum......

roundabout1 · 11/07/2009 19:59

Golgi - I've got summer holiday training to do of - wiping bum, undoing buttons, putting shoes on & conquering dd's fear of hand dryers!

pigswithfludontfly · 11/07/2009 20:16

Roundabout - have exactly the same with ds - he hates handdryers and I don't know how he'll manage. There are some at nursery but they're really quiet and I don't know what the school ones are like

He will hate it if they're loud.

golgi · 11/07/2009 20:17

Ah, hand drier fear. We had this until very recently, he's getting over it now though - even tried an Airblade the other day and I find those a bit worrying.

fuzzypeach · 11/07/2009 21:08

They are expected to carry trays at ours as well DD had enough trouble doing it while I was helping her the other day as they had filled the cup right to the top with juice, so god knows how she is going to manage on her own!!

Can I ask what presents you are buying/have bought for nursery staff? I cant think what to get other than chocolates, which they probably get a lot of!!

I have now got all uniform apart from shoes & pumps (DD has insoles for her flat feet and we cant find any shoes to fit at the moment, so just waiting for another appointment to see if she can get some better ones)
have got..

  • 2 summer dresses - purple and soo hard to find a nice one! but got in sale at BHS in the end £6 for 2!
  • 2 pinafores
  • 3 skirts
  • 2 logo polos
  • 2 logo jumpers
  • 3 plain polos
  • grey tights
  • white socks

Im not sure if I have got too much or not enough?! How much has everyone else got?

fuzzypeach · 11/07/2009 21:12

Oh, my DD cant use a knife either.... and also has a fear of hand dryers!

Aranea · 11/07/2009 22:07

Ooh, yes, I was beginning to wonder about presents for nursery staff. I don't know what would be appropriate at all. Has anyone had any inspired ideas?

Aranea · 11/07/2009 22:08

I just asked dh, who suggested a case of wine. Might do that.