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!

I had trouble finding out names and numbers of nursery staff as I rarely pick up and drop off - I think there are three of them and one might be called Mrs Banana. That can't be right, can it?
Anyway, went looking today and bought 3 "very hungry caterpillar" mugs - not cheap, but I couldn't resist.

Uniform - so far we have 3 pairs of trousers, 2 school sweatshirts and 2 polo shirts. Need more polo shirts but all reception sizes seem to be sold out here at the moment. Have got blue shorts for PE but still need white t-shirts. And shoes. Arrrghh!

at Mrs Banana

What is everyone getting for gym/PE?

We are told navy shorts, but I have only seen the M&S ones. The age 3 fell straight down and also looked like a puffball skirt on dd.

The M&S plimsoles would have fit another foot in tbh, she is a d fitting so this might be tricky.....

Mine is scared of hand-driers too. Good to know that's par for the course.

Our major current bugbear is sleeping, though. Since we started doing school visits, DD1 has been very anxious at night and can't settle without us (usually do jobs upstairs and keep popping in), and has been waking regularly at night for the first time for at least 18m. Anyone else?

Ah yes, nursery presents. Am liking the case of wine idea. Good thought.

We got very cheap navy shorts in ASDA.

Oh, we have bought little M&S lip balm things in little spotty tins. Buy one get one half price, which was good as needed 8. Will wrap them in tissue paper I think. Was going to do wine too, but couldn't afford this year.

treedelivery - good idea re lipbalms - my dd is d fitting too, which makes things tricky!! did you have a good girlie day? (it was you, wasnt it?)

our pe kit is any shorts/t-shirts they want, no uniform, which is a bit easier as i havent seen any nice school-type ones around!!

T'was me!

We had a great day. I really miss hanging out with my dd [dd2 has been a mega full on baby] and I'd forgotten what good company she is. Got lots of uniform - she enjoyed trying it all on. I wasn't to help, just pass it under the curtain and await her 'show'. It took her about 10 mins to do the blouse up, and she couldn't get the polo shirts off as they are quite trim fitting. But apart from that was ok!

Seeing her fumble with the buttons though...and the thought of her in school trying to get dressed and please teacher and not cause a problem...and struggle with a dinner tray....

I need a drink.

our little gifts

I was going to do little bunches of flowers each, like a litle posy, but dd spotted these and there was no going back!

ahhhh peace! have had the urchins underfoot for last 2 weeks as they're on hols already (long irish summers) but have packed them off to summer camp now.... there was a fire engine there for a demo this morning so i'd say they'll be uber hyper when i go to collect them

my Cash's labels came..... they're absolutely divine can't wait to get sewing now!

fuzzy, i got;
2 pinafores
2 skirts
3 polos
3 shirts
1 trousers
1 cardigan
and i will buy a jumper and some more polos if i can find any in her size... dd is very rough on clothes and can't get 2 days out of anything so i don't want to be stuck in feb with one torn skirt and a stained shirt and not be able to buy anymore!

Treedelivery-the M&S plimsolls are very very wide. My ds is beyond a H fitting and they actually fit him fine (with a bit of room to spare with is a rarity lol!) so can well imagine they would be huge on your dd! Hope you find some narrower ones.

My ds had his second taster session this afternoon. The last one was 2 weeks ago and a bit of a nightmare to be honest-30 4 year olds who were all a bit scared was not a good combination! My ds (who is not normally a wobbly child!) had a huge wobble when he went in last time and burst into tears.This time they had 2 sessions a morning one and a afternoon one so I picked the afternoon one and there was only 4 of them plus the current reception children so was much better. He went in as happy as anything and sat down with the others and apparently was writing his name on the wipe board all afternoon so had a very proud mummy moment when I went to pick him up!! Strange child loves writing but hates drawing with a passion...its like he sees a blank piece of paper and doesn't know what to do with it lol!!

Anyway just thought Id share cause was getting very worried about the whole thing. I had serious doubts about whether Id made the right choice of school but after today Im sure I have!!

Am very jealous of the girly shopping trip-I bet it was great fun!! I have to almost bribe ds to try anything on lol!

Glad your second taster went better, norfolklass! How strange that they started off by having all 30 of them at once.

Does anyone know what sort of information the nursery will be sending on to the school?

I too am jealous of the girly shopping trip - dd is a real daddys girl and she doesnt really like spending time with me and if we ever try to do anything on our own it ends in real disaster/tears/tantrums from both os us

Thanks everyone the shopping trip was magic actually. Its a good hour and half to Leeds but worth it for the bigger shops and 'trip to the big smoke' feeling.

I forgot we were going to have a big trip to Rose and Co for a Mason and Pearson brush for her - excuse to go another day. Hurrah!

Norfolklass - am glad for you both about the taster day. Relief!

I too wonder what they send on, report wise. Must remember to ask tomorrow. We are going on the pre school leavers do, to a country house on a coach. DH has takent he day off so its packed luches and anoraks all round. Exciting! Will weep at idea of her leaving no doubt, and again on Fri when its the leavers Teddy Bears Picnic at the pre school. Sob!

aranea here we have a transition form which is basically a summary of the EYFS development stages that your child has been observed to meet (about 10 A4 pages) where the carer marks on the scale how far along your child has got plus a brief comment per topic and a very short comment from the parent about what your child enjoyed and what challenges they faced at preschool. DS goes to 2 different settings and it was actually surprising how different some of his progress was, to me it also showed up the strengths of each setting (or not!)

tree sounds like a lovely trip. schuks, you'll have to go again for the M&P brush, what hardship

Has anyone tried this Startrite's Click'n'Fit . I was just about to buy both measuring guages for £12 when I spotted it. I've printed it out and I'll give it a go tomorrow. See what it reckons, got DS's feet measured last week as apart from wellies he had NOTHING that fitted anymore to I got some trainers and spiderman mock crocs in the sale.

Does any one have the like for the cheap on line shoe store. This is a long, long tread to trawl thru TIA.

Had parents meeting this am. Important dates and starting info etc. plus a dap bag (v. cute). Last session before the holiday so they stayed for lunch. He ate everything except his crusts, which is fairly typical. The head is really chilled about what they have in their lunch boxes, she'd prefer they ate something than were hungry. Only rule is no chocs/sweets/cakes otherwise anything goes.

My Mummy stress level went right down today wrt DS starting. Just as I was leaving (having spent a few moments watching him in class without him noticing) his TA stopped me and said how well he'd settled in and was getting on. OTH, mummy's stress level shot sky high later on at home. Was putting laundry away and turned to go downstairs and found DD2 (9 mths) half way up the stairs standing up looking about all on her own . No starting on just one or two steps!!! Issued instructions to DH that bottom stair gate use is now obligatory.

Now need to start planning how to keep DC's occupied and me sane over the next 7wks. Been tidying up paperwork and tearing out free entry coupons this evening. Seems that we'll be visiting one local soft play about once a week at this rate! They've very generous with their free adult entry vouchers.

Swiss - how interesting as my ds goes to two as well and now I'm intrigued as to how similar or different their views will be. Both have been happy places for him to attend but have been utterly rubbish in terms of teaching anything (which I know is fine as they're meant to be playing but other nurseries manage to do playful learning okay iyswim!)

I have a feeling the reports will bear little ressemblance to each other and little to the ds we know at home....we'll see.

Went to the uniform shop today. Was quiet and so we got through my list quite quickly.
They tried (and failed) to flog me grey trousers and shorts - do they think I've never heard of M&S and supermarkets etc.?!?

Not sure I got the right sizes as some of it looks MASSIVE.

Quick note on the non-sewing Tagits. DS hates having them on his collar label, even with the smoother side uppermost. "It scratches, Mummy!" So this afternoon I've snipped them out and put them in on the wash label in the side seam.

Hmm, seems our town have sold out of reception size polo shirts (well, none in M+S or ASDA, I bought the last two they had in the uniform shop). Assuming they might get some in before September? Or is that hopelessly optimistic of me? Am reluctant to buy online as sizes can vary wildly.

Got pre-school report back today - they won't need to send anything on as such as the nursery is attached to the school.

I was pleased with son's report - they seem to know him pretty well. "Drives us mad with endless questions" - well they didn't actually write that, I'm reading between the lines a bit.

Whole of t'interweb sold out of blue gingham dresses from what I can see.

WHY?????? Why not just have enough of this stuff? It's crazy!

And as for polo shirts - they really annoyed me. They are so trim fitting, that dd can't actually pull them up over her head. They look funky and style wise are a hit, but if they can't get them off what's the point? I am going to get dd a baggy boys one for PE days.

I am also going to make millions of ponds producing school shirts and blouses with dummy buttons, that are actually closed by strong magnets, so they will just click together. So that's ok. Feel calmer now

Fab idea about the polo shirts closing with magnets...I'll keep you in business lol!

I know there are no reception size polo shirts anywhere Ive been either...My DS is quite a chunky chap so Ive managed to get him age 6-7 ones and they actually fit fine (still can't get them undone and over his head though lol!)but its crazy because surely the shops know its those sizes which most people will need. Grrrr

We got polo shirts! In Debenhams.
Now just need a PE kit bag but I think Granny is going to make one for him.

swissmiss i didnt think of that re the taggits - I clicked them all onto the washing labels rather than in the collar, but I didnt do it seamside...will see how much she moans first i think!!

I haven't heard anything about nursery reports.... Is this the norm everywhere or is it dependant on the school? Or only when the nursery is attached? I will have to ask at the nursery tomorrow when I take DD1 in.

fuzzy the moaning is what made me change them (he's been wearing new uniform to pre-school).

Transition/Nursery reports are on LEA/County Council forms here. Understand they are a 'requirement' but that could still only be a local thing (going by how admissions policy varies). Nothing to do with attached nursery or not.