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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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Original poster
treedelivery · 19/06/2009 21:55

Oh yes the campervan. Have just got back from 10 days in 'Dougal'. Mavellous and was sorry to give him back. DH trying to lok at cheap loans and cheap campers. Some hope!

5 in October yes, but wasn't on the due sept 04 thread as wasn't addict about then.

HAve updated my thread in camping with news of the Cornwall camper van experience - t'was class.

Sigh.

It's good you can defer, such a difference between him and my dd1 in terms of age. I have a dd2 to plug the gap. Only 5 months so a long time until Playschool and free time for mamma!

OP posts:
pigswithfludontfly · 19/06/2009 22:03

Actually you're right about M&S polo shirts - he had them for nursery and they're tiny!
But their trousers seem very long to me. Will get him to try stuff on though and factor in a bit of growth...

Hadn't thought about it before reading this thread as I was always just focusing on the classroom bit but the idea of my little chap negotiating the school canteen/ finding a table etc. is quite an alarming one.

LupusinaLlamasuit · 19/06/2009 22:10

In our school the reception staff and TAs help out the littlies at lunchtime, canteen staff are usually lovely and helpful and kind, and for the first few days, they have a 'buddy' to show them round etc.. I'm sure if you ask about this at orientation days, they will reassure you.

Reception staff are good at dealing with toilet stuff, emotional fallout etc too.

swissmiss · 19/06/2009 22:12

Those "Taggits" Tree posted the link for look fab. I've had iron-on ones for pre-school but they're useless on fleece material as I discovered. So this time I'm ordering woven tapes, nothing to do with PFB. Don't fancy melting any more gloves/hats/coats etc.... and I hate sewing.

Am I being really unreasonable to order one set of tapes with all 3 DC's initials plus our last name? Then I can just cut off as required. I can get away with it for the DDs as DD2's middle name has the same letter as DD1's first name, so they'd read "C. S. Lastname D." What do you reckon?

PortAndLemon · 19/06/2009 22:17

That sounds very sensible.

Original poster
treedelivery · 19/06/2009 22:21

Good idea!

OP posts:
swissmiss · 19/06/2009 22:23

Thanks, off to order!

beautifulgirls · 19/06/2009 22:47

Me too - Have PFB due to start in September. We were very lucky and someone offered lots of uniform on our local freecycle so I have some already at no cost. Another local friend of mine suggested primark for some of the grey bits - she reckons the quality is quite acceptable and it is cheaper than M&S
We have a special meeting set up with the school and her nursery worker + speech therapist as DD has some speech issues that may affect her learning so hopefully that will go well and the school will be there for any additional needs she may have above the other children re her learning, and then we have 2 settling/meeting sessions for her in July. She seems very excited by it all though so I am pleased for her despite being nervous for her!

Sycamoretreeisvile · 19/06/2009 23:03

Hello ladies - I'm a bit late to join, but may I?

DD, PFB is like SMITHAGAIN's DC, only turning 4 in August and I'm quite anxious.

We have a meeting at the school in a couple of weeks but we will stupidly miss the hour in a reception class they've offered as we'll be on holiday...

Right - am going back to read the whole thread now

Sycamoretreeisvile · 19/06/2009 23:04

Hello ladies - I'm a bit late to join, but may I?

DD, PFB is like SMITHAGAIN's DC, only turning 4 in August and I'm quite anxious.

We have a meeting at the school in a couple of weeks but we will stupidly miss the hour in a reception class they've offered as we'll be on holiday...

Right - am going back to read the whole thread now

Sycamoretreeisvile · 19/06/2009 23:05

Sorry, slow computer/impatient poster double send

Original poster
treedelivery · 19/06/2009 23:07

Your not late Sycamoretreeisvile- we have until September

AM thinking purchasing will have to happen after the inducion on the 2nd. Will herald a special visit to nearest city [50 miles or so] so will go on train and have tea in Betty's York.

All for my benefit obviously

May as well enjoy it all.

Am, tbh, most gutted about sad curtailment of holidays and cheap breaks to centre parks etc. Its all getting a bit serious now isn't it.

OP posts:
Sycamoretreeisvile · 19/06/2009 23:14

Was not even thinking about buying uniform yet!

What an old novice I am. Right, starters orders - see you all at the M&S scrum - that will be my elbow in your eye

LupusinaLlamasuit · 19/06/2009 23:15

Yes. Good point on holidays. Start saving, like, last year.

swissmiss · 20/06/2009 00:01

Yikes, am feeling all efficient.

Have just ordered trousers x2 and polo shirt multipack (ordered in a larger size!) with 3 for 2, free delivery and 10% off voucher that was in my email inbox from M&S. Was going to trek into town next week but with all those offers it seemed daft to, if anything doesn't fit I'll just have to return and exchange. Plus sorted the name tags too from Wovina.

Bar socks and shoes and logo stuff ordered from school, still to arrive, I think we're good to go.

msdevine · 20/06/2009 00:30

my little dd starting in september as well. She is already at the nursery two and a half hours in the afternoon.

Every time i go to do drop off/pick up i watch all the children in the playground she will be in, it really scares me.
There is so many of them all running so fast loud and probably something she can not wait to do. She will only be 4.6 and she is so accident prone.

She is soooooooo excited and i am quite excited about uniform I got a lovely pinifore and some sweet shirts in Mothercare (buy one get one half price)

cant wait to get her bright red shoes to match her uniform.xxxx

pigswithfludontfly · 20/06/2009 08:58

Anyone got the 10% off code for M&S uniform?

LadyIsabella · 20/06/2009 09:03

Morning! Was thinking about this thread last night (while watching rubbish TV) - does anyone else feel their DS/DD is really ready for school? My DS will be quite old (Nov born)and for the last few months I have been thinking longingly about Sept and being able to spend more time with DS2. DS1 is really ready for more stimulation and structure I think

norksinmywaistband · 20/06/2009 09:09

LI I do think my dd is ready - mainly by the fact that she wakes every morning asking if it is september yet.

My only concern is her toiletting, she has chronic constipation and goes from one extreme to the other, and cannot wipe her own bottom yet.

In every other respect she is very independent and keen to go.

LadyIsabella · 20/06/2009 09:48

My ds is very reluctant to dress himself, wipe his bottom etc even though he is perfectly capable - I really hope things improve in September. I have been telling him about PE lessons and having to be quick getting ready etc etc. Do they have PE lessons in reception? I hope so!

Acinonyx · 20/06/2009 09:55

Dd is very excited about going to school but she also has chronic constipation and is not good at toiletting. Not really brilliant at dressing either. Or feeding herself. She's very ready for school in other ways, but in these ways, and emotionally, she's a bit of a baby still (and not 4 until July).

We are going to get the PE kit and practise putting it on and off over the summer. That's the plan any way.

She's so shy, which is a worry, but my bigger fear is that she will poo in her knickers

Smithagain · 20/06/2009 10:53

OK - practical issues. Can we have a roll call:

How many of you are confident that your DD/DS can wipe their own bum?

(Having a running battle with DD at the moment, who refuses to try).

EldonAve · 20/06/2009 11:03

Hello everyone

I'm contemplating name tapes at the moment, I used fabric marker for nursery but think I should probably switch to sew in name tapes for school
Sewing is slightly preferable to ironing for me

DS can dress and undress although putting on tops is tricky

Boco · 20/06/2009 11:06

dd can dress herself TOO MUCH. She's on her third clothes change this morning, she averages about 27 changes a day at the moment it's driving me nuts. She's currently wearing a party dress, a feather boa, pumps and some of my lipstick. She's like a tiny little Pat Butcher.

Smithagain · 20/06/2009 11:09

Some words of experience on the PE/dressing front.

Before you buy PE kit, ask the teachers when they do PE. In DD1's case, she didn't do PE until January, because she was part time and they do it in the afternoon . And she didn't use her first set of plimsolls at all, because they do PE indoors until easter, in bare feet. By Easter, she needed bigger ones .

And by all accounts, PE lessons in Reception consist of about 45 minutes of dressing and undressing, with about 10 minutes haring around in the hall in the middle. I reckon the dressing and undressing is physical education at that age .