Supporting your school

It might not be a fundraiser , but hosting a teddy bears ’ picnic for new starters coming to your primary school is a great way to strengthen your school community , and it gives parents an insight to the work your PTA does . You never know , you may even end the day with a few new volunteers ! Here ’ s everything you need to welcome the little ones ( and their cuddly friends ) before the summer break Getting things off to a beary good start

The best time to hold your teddy bears ’ picnic is the afternoon of your school ’ s induction day . Ask your school at least six to eight weeks before the date if they ’ d be happy to fit it into the itinerary . And when the school sends the induction information to new parents , include an invite to the picnic .

While planning your picnic , you might be envisioning a grassy meadow in the sunshine with blankets and baskets and cake . An outdoor space would certainly be a lovely setting . But that ’ s not available to everyone – and what if the weather turns ?

If you don ’ t have a picturesque field at hand or it looks like rain ( and let ’ s face it , with the British weather it ’ s good to plan for a downpour ), a hall or an empty classroom would work just as well . If you have a large intake , you may even need several empty classrooms to accommodate everyone .

All cuddly friends are welcome

Not every child ’ s favourite cuddly toy is an actual bear , so let new starters know that the invite is open to non-bears too !

18 PARENTKIND . ORG SUMMER 2024