My Last Baby Leaving Nursery And Starting School

Over the last few months it has been an anxious time for us all with changes in everything from work and life to school and nursery.

Since last December Jacob has been super excited that he will be starting big boy school with his older brother in the next September. So having to have a few months off nursery with the lockdown meant that we were unsure if Jacob would even return to his nursery before he left to start Primary School this September.

Thankfully through the hard work of the nursery it has meant that Jacob returned a few months ago and has been coming on in leaps and bounds with life in general. He is much calmer and less anxious about changes in the world to do with COVID-19. 

A couple of weeks back we finally heard from the school about what the plan was for Jacob starting school in September. Having not had any of the settling in sessions that had previously been given for all the other previous new starters.

Jacob’s new class will be split into 3 groups of 10. The oldest 10 will start school on the 2nd, with the middle group starting on the 7th and the youngest and last group starting on the 9th. Normally on the first day the children will be expected to wear their full school uniforms but with not being allowed on the school premises for months no one has been able to buy what is needed so the reception class newbies are allowed to start their first day in their own clothes and are us to visit and buy the uniform needed after school.

For Jacob being a second sibling in the school, following his brother it means we have pretty much most of the uniform needed for him to start. Which if I am honest I am pleased about. He has been so excited to start school like Joshua that I think he would have been more upset not having a uniform to start with.

The school have also altered school start and finish times across all years to keep as many people from being in one place at any one time. But also the biggest change for Jacob will be having a packed lunch everyday. Nursery had hot meals but due to the layout of the primary school the cooks and catering team would not be able to safely get hot meals to the children so all children in the school are having packed lunch. With the school providing packed lunches to those that are entitled to free school meals. 

On days that there are PE lessons the kids will be expected to arrive at school in their PE kit to eliminate the staff having to help the children get changed.

So it’s not quite the same end to nursery for Jacob with so many of his friends who haven’t returned and the annual nursery summer outing not taking place. And it certainly won’t be the same when he starts primary school but I am pleased he is happy to be going to school even if I am still in rather a lot of denial that it’s happening.

Heres to the next phase of childhood … School