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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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golgi · 20/06/2009 23:05

Has anyone else had much information from the school? He's had one settling in session but I have had no information at all about uniform, meals, what equipment he needs, I don't even know the school hours or the name of the teacher.....
My problem is I can't do drop-offs and pick ups - I work full time, grandma/grandad/daddy do the nursery run. I must train them to be more forthcoming with useful information! So I'm a bit clueless really.

pigswithfludontfly · 20/06/2009 23:13

Irritatingly they seem to be insisting on proper shirts rather than polos which strikes me as very silly for reception.

Poor ds isn't going to be very comfortable in a proper collared shirt buttoned up and proper trousers.

DwayneDibbley · 20/06/2009 23:19

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DwayneDibbley · 20/06/2009 23:21

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pigswithfludontfly · 20/06/2009 23:21

I know. I'm going to double check but it seems like they do have to wear them. Sounds like they are just creating more work for the teachers because they will be the ones having to help them all at PE time.
And it's not even a private school (which ime are more likely to be sticklers for a more formal uniform earlier on).

PortAndLemon · 20/06/2009 23:35

Boys like shoes with those annoying lighty-up bits in the heels and the sides, though.

Original poster
treedelivery · 20/06/2009 23:52

Our school gives quite a bit of choice it sems. DD can have polo shirts, or a blouse, or even a blouse and a tie! I'll probably get one tie for the 1st day then it will never be seen again.

No induction or info of anykind until July 2nd for us either. And then it's 2 hours total. Not much of an induction really. I hoped they would be able to go along for school dinner one day like other schools around here do.

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ChippyMinton · 21/06/2009 06:23

pigs the taggit has tow parts, one like a plastic drawing pin that pokes through the garment label, the other goes onto the pin from the other side, then you break off the point. Good for outerwear, bags etc but not for shirts where it would lie next to the skin. But excellent if you are in a hurry

eandh · 21/06/2009 06:47

my dd1 starts in september too (her first day is her 5th birthday and she thinks starting school is a birthday treay ) bought all her uniform already as although she will be 5 she needed 6-7 skirts with adjustable waist (she is only a 3-4 waist but has very very long legs and 5-6 skirt wanst going to last long!)school open evening this wednesday but we go on holiday tomorrow so will miss that but 2 other children from her preschool going to same school (was our 2nd choice but 1st choice school only takes 30 and had 19 siblings this year) so their mums will fill me in.

Luckily classes been allocated (school has an intake of 90 children) and dd1 is in same class as her friends from preschool and has a male teacher (she had a male worker at preschool so unfazed by that) and her taster days at the end of them month.

DD2 starts preschool in september so I'll be child free for 2 mornings a week (actually I wont till October as dd1 is doing 2 weeks of afternoons at school then 3rd week is mornings and lunch then full time from 28th Sept)

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

Bit [green] at childfree days - although I have had 1.5 years of playschool before dd2 landed in Jan so can't complain.

Am looking forward to totally guilt free play time with dd2. And totally guilt free after school play and weekends devoted to dd1.

It wioll be nice for them to have their own 'window' with mama. Although actually dd1 just wants to sit and cuddle dd2 so the 4.5 year gap as worked briliantly so far.

Is this how early we will have to be up and happening in Sept? Lordy.

So......er.......

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

[green]??

!

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eandh · 21/06/2009 07:11

Lol at the [green] dd2 wakes by 6am every day so am used to it now dd2 used to having me to herself as dd1 been going to preschool since dd2 was 4 months old but tbh she just potters about at home in that time or we end up doing mundane jobs that are easier with one child than 2

I thought dd1 had to wear uniform to induction but apparently normal clothes and I only have to drop her off/pick her up so will go for smart dark blue jeans and a nice casual but smart top! I have to go and have a 10minute chat with her teacher week after next (dd1 will be at preschool but dd2 will have to come with me ) he has sent a form asking her favourite things, names of brothers/sisters etc but I need to tell him about her hearing (currently under hospital as she constantly has ear infections/blocked ears from october to april) am hoping it may get sorted during holidays as have appt early august and thankfully I have private medical care from work so if they decide to operate I can get it booked within a week.

Fayrazzled · 21/06/2009 07:20

Can I join in too, please? My son will be 4 n August, then starts school in September, but will be part-time for the first 5 weeks. I've got his basic uniform from M&S on the 3 for 2, but will need to go to the outfitters n town for his logo-ed stuff.

I'm anxious about the same thngs as some of the other mums: will he manage the toilet on his own (he has something of a fear of unfamilar loos); how will he cope with school dinners; how will he manage gettng dressed and undressed for PE. And he@s not interested n holding a pencil either.

he's too little for all this.

Fayrazzled · 21/06/2009 07:22

Also meant to say, he has to wear proper shirts too. Have no idea how I'm going to get him to do the buttons- it's hard enough getting him to put his own t-shirt on!

Original poster
treedelivery · 21/06/2009 07:23

welcome Fayrazzled.

No Jan intake for him? They don't have to go as soon as they can go if you feel strongly he isn't ready yet.

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Fayrazzled · 21/06/2009 07:44

Thanks for the welcome treedelivery. No Jan intake for children in my area unfortunately. I have agonised over whether to defer school entry for him, but have decded to proceed at the moment. f it's too much I'll insist he goes part-tme for longer.

lockets · 21/06/2009 07:53

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FabBakerGirlIsBack · 21/06/2009 08:32

All mine have been amongst the youngest so I am used to three trips to school a day from Sept-Jan.

Reception uniform is the same as years 1 and 2 except it is a sweatshirt and not a jumper. Polo tshirts and a skirt/trousers/shorts. Proper shirts/blouses and a tie for years 3-6 and the teachers help where needed.

eandh · 21/06/2009 08:37

lockets your dd2 sounds like my dd1 - one of the mums at preschool (she is the mum of the other girl to be in dd1 class and her dd is only child so fairly quiet and reserved) did say that her teacher will know dd1 is there (she is a tad loud because of hearing issues but also very ummmm testing and as her preschool leader says a 'natural leader' which we laughed about as she is very bossy am hoping the shock of lots of new children/new routine may calm her down as she's very opionated (sp) at preschool because she is the oldest one there )

golgi · 21/06/2009 08:44

Fayrazzle - my second son will be starting next year at the age of four and about a day as his birthday is the end of August - we don't have the option of Jan intake either. Or half days - it's straight in full days. And if you defer, they start in year 1 and miss out reception - not sure that would help much with being behind the rest of the class!
He'll be starting nursery this Sept at the age of only just 3.

lucykate · 21/06/2009 09:10

ds starts school in sept, he will be doing 3 weeks of part time before going full time (all the children do this), it's going to be a real faff!, he'd be fine going full time straight away, already does 3 full days at pre-school.

there is a running joke in the school playground that amongst the mums who's youngest child has just started school, every year someone gets caught out and ends up pg again, accidently!

it is NOT going to be me!

saramoon · 21/06/2009 09:10

I am so envious of yours going into school

on full days. My dd has been going to

nursery full days 3 days a week since she

was a baby. She loves it and is very ready

for school. The school have informed us that

there are 5 weeks for alternate days (monday

morning, tuesday afternoon etc). Now if

parents work - as do we, p/t or f/t - this is

an absolute nightmare. AND dd has to wear a

tie!!!!!!! And this is just a normal state

primary.

lucykate · 21/06/2009 09:15

i wish ds was going full time straight away too. i'm self employed, and coupled with the summer holidays, will have to put my business on hold for 9 weeks altogether, not good.

DontCallMeBaby · 21/06/2009 09:18

Hello. I'm kind of embarrassed about this, but I got it into my head to write a blog last year about DD starting school, and it might have some bits and pieces in it that are useful to this year's newbies. It starts here.

If you don't read it, here anyway are my golden nuggets of wisdom -

  • don't tumble M&S polo shirts, they shrink
  • easy2name shoe labels stay in all year
  • even a child who has managed to keep the same pair of trainers for over a year will be astonishingly hard on school shoes (get one of those instant shine thingies)

Anecdata - DD's class is very young (she is a March birthday, but very few children are older than her, most have summer birthdays) but all seem to have coped just fine. However even some who were used to several full days at nursery had astonishing meltdowns in the autumn term, it's a completely different sort of day. That said, some kids sail through it - DD has never really been tired, even with two after school activities each week and occasional playdates.

she STILL can't/won't wipe her bottom, but fortunately her digestive system demands that she poo two minutes after we've sat down for dinner each day, she never goes at school

DontCallMeBaby · 21/06/2009 09:21

saramoon, have a good look at the prospectus/website/anywhere else there are photos of the kids, and/or stalk the schoolgates and have a look at the kids - our school stipulates a tie, investigation before DD started school revealed that very few of the younger children actually wear it.

And our school had five weeks' alternating mornings/afternoons, I was lucky enough to have lots of leave saved, and an accommodating employer, so I just took the full month off work. But it was a pain for lots of others.