Finishing yr 6 starting yr 7 - useful to know (a year on).

jellyhead

gingin wrote: »

I wrote his timetable out and stuck it inside a cupboard door and made sure it had the room numbers on - it helped in the first month, so first thing in the morning he could easily get his head around where he had to go and when.

We do this too. They write their timetable on a page in their homework diary - but mine loses his homework diary regularly. When it's not lost, it's closed, inside his bag. It's much quicker for him to look at his wardrobe door to see the timetable for the day.

I'd say buy an extra tie, because when theirs goes missing (how??!) when they are getting dressed after PE they will get detention every day until their new school tie turns up from the only supplier, which posts them to the school every so often.

Check with an older pupil about anything on the uniform list you're not sure about - my son has NEVER worn his football socks, shin pads or football boots despite them being listed as essential in the uniform list. He's also never worn the white shorts (for rugby, apparently) - I think they boys worry that their underwear can be seen through them, so if they must wear white shorts buy some white underwear

Spendless

I've also done a copy of son's timetable but it's on a spreadsheet, but good idea to have a printed copy somewhere just in case PC isn't working on day they can't find their timetable.

School sports stuff is for losers is what caused my friend to not have the school rugby shirt. At the time we ordered her DS was very 'sweet' on a girl in his class who had a lot older sister and had finished school. She told him that it wasn't cool (cos it wasn't when her older sister attended) so he refused to go and try sizes on when we ordered kit saying he'd have the shirt from the shops instead. In the interim though the school PE kit had changed, girls didn't have the same shirt anyway and my friend couldn't get the equivalent on the high st. So always worth checking with someone with an older child still at the school. Sometimes you also have to know what to ask. I have loads of mates with kids older than DS attending and not one had warned me about the £30 stationery bill. Sometimes you need to know what to ask too.

Hope the thread is helping.

Seanymph

learn your way around the school website - sometimes it's the only way you find stuff out.

flightinfo

Get a strong bag. They have to carry so much stuff with them as it won't all fit in the lockers or they don't have time to go to the lockers to get the books. My child went through 2 bags in a very short space of time. I then bought a much stronger bag which is still in good condition three years later. It cost me about double what I'd normally spend on a school bag but has definitely been worth it.

flightinfo

Just thought of something else. As well as a copy of the timetable, I had a printout of a monthly calendar which the homework could be written on. Most secondary schools work on a 2 week timetable which is very confusing when they first start at school. My child wrote down when homework was due which helped to organise the work and they can check they've done everything when it should be done and have got everything they need when packing their bags. They do write it in their homework diaries but having the timetable and the homework schedule together helped in our house.

Lunar_Eclipse

I think it's essential to ensure your child goes off to school with some emergency money (my daughter has a £5 note put away somewhere), a charged mobile phone daily which contains emergency phone numbers, a bus/train timetable if applicable, multiple copies of their timetable (master copy kept at home where their books are kept) and water/snacks. A house key is also a good idea.

It's also advisable for girls to carry a small toiletry bag containing essential sanitary items, a change of underwear and possibly some paracetamol, depending if school policy allows it.

I've also given DD1 money to buy a photocopying card so she can copy the occasional page out of a school library (text) book instead of lugging the whole book home, when she needs extra info for homework projects.

A dictionary in all languages being studied also goes without saying, in my opinion.

I'm surprised by the comments about football boots and socks not being worn. We've had the opposite problem whereby we really need duplicate items as one is not enough for daily sport!

JC9297

Lunar_Eclipse wrote: »

I think it's essential to ensure your child goes off to school with some emergency money (my daughter has a £5 note put away somewhere), a charged mobile phone daily which contains emergency phone numbers, a bus/train timetable if applicable, multiple copies of their timetable (master copy kept at home where their books are kept) and water/snacks. A house key is also a good idea.

It's also advisable for girls to carry a small toiletry bag containing essential sanitary items, a change of underwear and possibly some paracetamol, depending if school policy allows it.

I've also given DD1 money to buy a photocopying card so she can copy the occasional page out of a school library (text) book instead of lugging the whole book home, when she needs extra info for homework projects.

A dictionary in all languages being studied also goes without saying, in my opinion.

I'm surprised by the comments about football boots and socks not being worn. We've had the opposite problem whereby we really need duplicate items as one is not enough for daily sport!

Are there really secondary schools that can fit daily sports lessons into the time-table?

elfen

Also, if they're getting the bus or get more than one, get them used to the numbers, the times they go and where and when they have to change

CH27

If they get a school bus make sure they know how to get home if the bus breaks down or doesn't turn up.
Ensure the have enough emergancy money to enable them to get home of the above happens.

Lunar_Eclipse

JC9297 wrote: »

Are there really secondary schools that can fit daily sports lessons into the time-table?

Yes there are plenty, but my daughter doesn't have daily sports lessons that are timetabled. She has either PE, a lunchtime sports club and/or after school match every day of the week. Sometimes she has all 3. There are also practice sessions before school every day for those who are super keen (or in the A teams higher up the school.)

I'm fairly sure that most secondary schools have sport available every day to those who are interested. Our school has a daily early morning running club and lunch time daily swimming available to all year groups for example (she does neither of those and as we're not morning people, she doesn't participate in any of the 7.30am clubs! I mean seriously! :rotfl:)