Grand daughter starting secondary school

Just an afterthought. When I was clearing out a drawer, I found a very good calculator which I bought for DS1 37 years ago. It's still working, never having had a battery change. and, as far as I know, has all the relevant functions. Children will be expected to have their own calculators, so buy them a good one - it could work for their grandchildren!

Also with eight g.children and myself a limited income, I do try to treat them all the same. I have a set list of WELL DONE pressies. Whilst they are in primary school a nice shiny one pound coin for any special achievement. Ten pound Note when they move up to Secondary school. Any really special achievement there gets them a fiver. Two of them in different areas both achieved pupil of the year at the end of their year 7.

Reasonable GCSE results (and that is obviously individual), £25.00. Similar for A levels or equivalent (£50). These are not rewards for high grades but a recognition of their having really put the work in. The Grades they achieve are individual.

One hundred pounds upon graduation (or achieving their work qualification).

However, with inflation soaring I am thinking I may have to revise some of these.

for a gift, what about premium bonds.

gel rollerball pens require no pressure either and are easier to use, produce just as good a result and are cheaper than fountain pens.
there are many different types. i like them, esp indian made ones from poundland, linc safron max gel, blue or black.

I m sorry that blooming ‘pen license business’ which I ve never heard of makes me cringe, all the more ‘them and us’ what else should we do to make our kids feel inadequate they should all be using them at the same time something to look forward to when you go up into a,b,c
There’s all sorts of reasons you may not be a brilliant writer, eyesight, dexterity, lefthandedness (although my left handed dad had beautiful writing) dyslexia, dyspraxia, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t been encouraged to try

Yes my gs got his pen licence at end of yr 4. It made me smile.

Just to add about fountain pens - primary school pupils have to earn their 'pen licence' for good writing before they can progress from using a pencil for writing.

I think there's a bit of a misconception where fountain opens are concerned. They are actually quite comfortable to use when progressing from pencils at school. Fountain pens actually require much less effort in writing than ballpoint pens because no pressure is required. The Stabilo range is recommended at school and to be honest the prices are not exorbitant. I think WHSmith has a good selection, if not John Lewis allows the children try them out before buying.

I buy my dgd something every new school year. It might just be a part of uniform. I got her shoes one year , a cardigan the next and always some undies and socks. I never thought of not doing this. Btw I’ve never even heard of fountain pens for the last 30 years. I don’t think you can get them apart from in calligraphy sets

BlueBelle I couldn't agree more. My eldest GD goes up to senior school in September. I hadn't even thought of buying her anything in particular, but will probably get her a maths set (protractor etc) and some nice pens

I am amazed the pupils might even use a fountain pen or that a school would want them to My kids are 48 and 44 and they didn’t have fountain pens on their school list, just rollerball pens.

I currently have grandchildren at high school and they take the minimum to school in their bags due to things being lost or taken. The definitely do not have fountain pens.

I haven’t brought any of my GC gifts for starting at a new school and I don’t know of anyone who does, not amongst my friends anyway. With six grandchildren all at different ages it’s hard enough thinking of birthday & Christmas gifts never mind new school presents. If their parents were struggling financially I’d happily help out with uniform, coats, shoes etc but thankfully at the moment they are all ok.
If you really want to buy a little something what about a really nice water bottle, they seem to use these all the time now and like to have the latest style, there are some lovely ones in the shops at various prices.

I think my grandchildren would have told me if it was a thing
? They don’t miss a trick.
I would help with the uniforms but my son in law loves buying them.

When I was at school you had a leather satchel or a briefcase for high school. DGD has a bag with butterflies on and a Frozen lunchbox to start school. Her brother is 8 and moved onto a Nike type bag. Glad their school does not insist on expensive things. Most of the uniform is from Sainsburys/Asda though little madam had specific ideas on dresses, pinafore, socks and shoes. First time in her life she has got patent shoes which I reckon will last a day before getting scraped! Her brother couldn't care less about clothes!

I sewed on vast numbers of name tapes for each GC moving up to secondary school. I supplied the name tapes, choosing the largest font in green so that it would be easy to identify their belongings. Long ago as a boarding house master’s wife I noticed that almost all name tapes were red or blue and in small script.

Apart from buying uniform stationary stuff etc etc never ever thought it was a thing to buy presents for going up to a school
So this mother/ grandmother didn’t buy any children or grandchildren ‘presents’ for going up to school, going to college, or up to Uni Plenty of money to help on various projects and helped out with uniform or books but presents no I believe it’s just something that happens like going up a year
I m afraid I think this is a bit over the top in my opinion and
I m with the “Its just a normal step in a child’s life” grans

I also hate seeing nursery children graduating with mortar boards A friend put photos on FB recently oh so so silly

Nanny (me) is buying the first secondary school blazer for my DGS

baubles that is so lovely! Lucky girl

We have always bought a school blazer for our GC as they have progressed to senior school. Something helpful for the parents - our GD is moving on in September and DS and DDiL have spent over £300 so far on necessary uniform, exclusive of sports wear. This is a local comprehensive, a good school, but not Benenden - how do some parents cope?

Buy her some shares and they will hopefully give her dividends for her life. Much better than gifts that wear out. Also it will teach the child that money can make money.

My eldest GD is also moving up to high school. She’s dyslexic and sometimes struggles but she loved her primary school and is excited and terrified in equal measures about the forthcoming change. She has a little charm bracelet so I’ve bought her a four leaf clover charm engraved with the words ‘luck’ and ‘courage’.

Zoejory , if you are evil grandparents then so are we! Moving to secondary is simply that a move ! and a natural course of progression. I fail to understand why every day events must be celebrated, no wonder some children are growing up thinking they are the be all and end all and the most important members of society!!! For goodness sake of course they are leaving primary education and moving to high school,
that is the way our society works. My GS moves to hight school this year and we have bought his new school uniform as we did for his elder siblings. He was delighted with the gesture - as were his parents!!! but that's it - no gifts to mark the occasion. It is a big change I recognize that but moving on is life .

Me neither Bijou although if handknitted jumpers count then I have knitted a few.
There were at least 2 school trips my own DC didn't go on because we just could not afford it.

Back in 80s, P7 children went to a holiday camp in the Trossachs for 2 weeks. I don't remember it costing anything or very little. Happy memories were made of this. I believe the camps are now commercially run.
Everything changes but it doesn't always improve.

Nor me Bijou.

I have never heard about giving children presents when changing schools. One of my .great grandsons joins his brother in secondary school in September.