I know it's early, but we need your back to school/settling into new school tips....

[carriemumsnet]

I know noone wants to think about going back yet (or maybe after a week of rainy day play you're positively looking forward to it) but we'd like to put together a collection of Mumsnetters' top tips on settling your child into nursery, primary and secondary school, as well as any general tips on making the transition from the long summer hol to school time easier. So if you've had any experience of this and have any suggestions or tips please post them here.

Thanks in advance

MNHQ

and make sure they are beautifully behaved for the TA

Any more for any more?

new to all this twins going into reception. but theya re wearing their new shoes whenever we go out, may regret buying early as they cost half a fortune and probably will only last til october or sthig.
i have been collecting things for them, name stickers , personalised pencils, a rather soppy story book about a mouse starting school and intend to wrap them up and have a little party with me and dp and them the night before
we have also played schools a few times they have written various teddy names etc on a register and we have done a registration and reading to the teddies and then done play dough
i am also reminding them how to spell their name /when their b-day is/ trying to ensure they know basic shapes etc. we have as suggested at the induction evening done a few odd one out/dot to dot activities/ 'writing'and drawing shopping lists and
we have talked about saying good morning miss/mrs and all the relevant names, only answering if you put yr hand up to answer, remeberibng to go to the toilet at break and lunch
doubtless all in vain as im sure they will be just as noisy as at home
they have to go full time form day one and are not 4 and a half............

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this is good advice cod as i will be very tempted to ascertain just precisely what has gone on. i have said that for the first week the three of us we will sit down and have a special treat and cup of tea/juice as soon as they come in ...will have to restrina myself and just see if the are at all forthcoming..unlikely but hey ho

tell them there's no option

more seriously, act nonchalant

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Make sure they can open their lunchbox and everything inside it.

I always get my children to help sort out their uniform with me.
What fits, needs replacing etc....

Then we make lists of what we need for each child!

Once all the uniform has been bought, they can then pick new pencil cases and contents and new lunch boxes.

That way, they don't moan too much and i usually get it bought fairly quickly.

Oooh roisin that's such an ace tip about dealing with letters home at once. Otherwise they just get lost and you are walking to school one Friday morning and every other child is dressed as a dinosaur - and DS1 says, mummy, didn't you see the letter I brought home?

(this scenario is actually my abiding school-related nightmare.)

On a more sensible note:
Make sure they can do up and undo coat and change shoes and clothes for PE

Also make sure they understand they are going to school to learn; apparently lots of children think it's just about play (well it is at first) but they do need to understand the overall purpose.

Keep it all low-key for first week or so - they may well be shattered.

Do not expect to hear anything about their day apart from maybe "I played with XX". Possibly not even that! The most amazing huggets of information will be revealed at random moments so stay alert.

If you are not buying a new school coat this year, then check the pockets and give it a good wash.

I just checked ds2's coat pockets and discovered some rotting crab claws he'd picked up on holiday several weeks ago ... eewwwww....