Starting School
Starting School
Starting school is a significant milestone in your child's life. The transition to Reception marks the beginning of their formal education, filled with new experiences, friendships, and learning opportunities. This booklet aims to guide you through this exciting journey, providing insights, tips, and resources to help you and your child thrive.
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Understanding Reception
What is Reception?
Reception is the first year of primary school, typically for children aged 4 to 5. Your child does not need to be able to read, write or solve calculations before they start school. Children start school with a range of experiences and skills and we, as their teachers, will help them progress from their individual starting point. Children experience significant growth in several key areas:
Social Skills Development: Reception year provides opportunities for children to interact with their peers, fostering essential skills of cooperation, communication, and conflict resolution. These interactions help them build friendships and learn to navigate social situations.
Early Literacy and Numeracy: This year introduces foundational concepts in reading, writing, and maths. Engaging activities encourage a love for learning and help children develop critical thinking skills that will serve them throughout their education.
Emotional Growth: Children learn to express their feelings and understand the emotions of others, which is vital for developing their emotional intelligence. They begin to develop resilience and coping strategies for the challenges they may face.
Independence and Responsibility: Reception year encourages children to take on new responsibilities, from managing personal belongings to making choices about their learning. This sense of independence boosts their confidence and prepares them for future academic settings.
Creativity and Exploration: Through play-based learning and hands-on activities, children explore their interests and develop creativity. This approach not only makes learning enjoyable but also stimulates cognitive development.
Foundation for Future Learning:
The skills and knowledge acquired during Reception year set the groundwork for future academic success. A strong start can inspire a lifelong love of learning and curiosity.
Reception is not just about academics; its about nurturing wellrounded individuals. By supporting your child's growth during this pivotal time, you’re laying the foundation for their future success, both in school and beyond. Embrace this exciting journey together!
Preparing Your Child for School
Preparing your child for this new adventure can make the transition smoother and more enjoyable. Here are some top tips to help you all get ready:
Foster Independence: Encourage your child to practice self-help skills such as dressing themselves, using the toilet independently and managing their belongings. Simple tasks like putting on shoes or packing a backpack can really boost their confidence.
Establish Routines: Create a consistent daily routine that includes regular wake-up times, meal-times and bedtime. This helps children to understand what to expect and can ease any anxiety about the new school environment.
Practice Social Skills: If your child already knows other children who will be in their class, arrange playdates or group activities to help your child interact with peers. As well as being beneficial for the children, its helpful for you to be able to chat to other parents about starting school.
Introduce School Readiness Activities: Engage your child in fun activities that promote early literacy and numeracy, such as reading together, counting objects or practicing writing their names with accurate use of capital and lowercase letters. These skills will help them feel more prepared for school tasks.
Visit the School: Take every opportunity to visit the school before the first day. Familiarity with the environment can help alleviate any fears about the unknown. At Ditcham we offer half-termly Stay and Play sessions exactly for this reason. By the time Autumn arrives, the children are excited to be going into the Reception classroom!
Talk about School : Have open conversations about what to expect at school. Discuss the fun activities they will do, the friends they will make and the teachers they will meet. Positive discussions can build excitement and greatly reduce anxiety.
Read Books About Starting School: Share stories that focus on starting school. These can help your child understand the experience and feel more comfortable with the idea.
Encourage Questions: Let your child ask questions about school and then answer them honestly and positively. This helps them feel heard and reassured. Remember that no question is a silly question!
Stay Positive: Your attitude towards school will strongly influence your child’s feeling and also their experience. Show enthusiasm about their new adventure and reassure them its okay to feel a mix of excitement and nervousness
By taking these steps, you can help your child build confidence and excitement as they embark on this new chapter. Remember, every child adjusts at their own pace, so be patient and supportive as they navigate this important transition
Communication and Making Friends Checklist:
My child can:
Play with other children and join in with games
Say please and thank you
Talk about ideas and feelings with teachers and other children
Ask an adult if they need help
Follow simple instructions
Picture books about starting school
I Am Too Absolutely Small for School (Charlie and Lola)
By Lauren Child
Starting School
By Janet and Allen Ahlberg
Topsy and Tim Starting School
By Jean and Gareth Adamson
Harry and the Dinosaurs Go to School By Ian Whybrow and Adrian Reynolds Come to School too, Blue Kangaroo!
By Emma Chichester Clark
Going to School Sticker Book
By Usborne
Self Care
Going to the toilet: Support your child to be confident about getting to the loo in time and wiping properly, using toilet paper rather than moist wipes. Do you have a different phrase for going to the toilet at home? Letting the class teacher know what this is will ensure they understand what your child is trying to ask.
Washing their hands: Chat about the importance of good handwashing with soap and water, especially after going to the toilet or handling animals. A good way of showing how germs can linger is to let your child cover their hands in paint (pretend germs!) and then try to wash it all off.
Dressing and undressing: Let your child practise putting on their school clothes, taking them off and folding them neatly in preparation for PE lessons, especially if there are fiddly fastenings such as shirt buttons and zips. Clothes with elastic bands and shoes with Velcro are easier to handle for young children. Teach your child tricks such as putting labels at the back, holding cuffs to stop sleeves riding up, and wrinkling tights to put toes in first.
Using a tissue: Introduce your child to the routine of ‘catch it, bin it, kill it’ - catching their sneeze or runny nose in a tissue, putting it in the bin straight away, then washing hands to kill germs. Some children find nose-blowing difficult, so play games to practise nose control, such as blowing a feather into the air.
Tidying up: Get your child into the habit of hanging up their coat, putting their toys away, clearing the table and so on, to prepare them for doing these things at school. Why not turn it into a game? At Ditcham we use a piece of music to indicate tidy up time and to motivate the children to help. Try this at home and ask which song your child would like. The theme tune from ‘Mission Impossible’ is a good one!
Self-care Checklist:
My child can:
Use the toilet alone
Wash their hands with soap
Wipe their nose and put the tissue in the bin
Be away from home and parents for a few hours
Put their shoes and coat on
Dress themselves in their uniform
Eat with a knife, fork and spoon
Open their lunchbox and some food packages
Open and drink from their water bottle
The Building Blocks of Learning
Whilst there is no expectation that children starting in Reception can read, write and solve simple maths sums, there are some learning milestones that will help your child to get off to a great start!
Strengthening muscles:
Pinching, chopping and squeezing play dough helps develop all the muscle groups needed for writing and pencil grip
Make pictures using craft resources they will need to pick up using the thumb and index fingers, such as stickers and sequins
Get your child to help in the kitchen by ‘tickling’ a crumble topping, kneading dough and stirring cake mix (ask them to stir clockwise and anticlockwise)
Puzzles, threading and building blocks are great for strength and hand-eye coordination
Encourage your child to climb on play equipment at the park for core-strength and balance, as well as coordination
Mark Making:
Give your child a paintbrush and a bucket of water and let them ‘paint’ the garden fence or patio. Or buy some pavement chalks and let them create a large-scale masterpiece
If your child likes getting messy outdoors, they could make muddy handprints, bark and leaf rubbings, press flowers or draw in the mud using twigs
Buy rolls of large paper and encourage your child to draw roads to play on with their cars or other toys
Recognising letters and numbers:
Encourage your child to spot numbers on everyday items such as street signs, car number plates and house numbers
Help your child find the letters of their name in books, on signs and posters
Count everything, from the potatoes on their plate to the stairs up to bed
Look at different letters and discuss their shapes. Which letters are curved and which are straight?
Go on a letter hunt. Choose a letter and ask your child to find items around the home beginning with that letter
Learning Checklist:
My child can:
Recognise their own name when written
Hold a pencil
Form letters with a pencil, or is starting to learn how
Recognise some letters
Recognise some numbers
Turn a page in a book
Name colours and shapes
Sing songs and clap their hands
The First Few Weeks....
As your child embarks on their exciting journey into school, it's natural to encounter some challenges during the first few weeks. This transition period can be both thrilling and overwhelming for little ones, and understanding these challenges can help us support them effectively.
Common Challenges:
Separation Anxiety: It’s common for children to feel anxious about being away from home. They may express this through clinginess or tears. Reassuring them and establishing a goodbye routine can ease their fears.
Adjusting to Routines: School introduces a structured environment, which can be quite different from home. Your child may struggle with the new routines, such as transitioning between activities. Patience and consistency at home can help reinforce these routines.
Social Interactions: Making new friends can be daunting. Your child might experience a range of emotions—from excitement to frustration—as they navigate social dynamics. Encourage open conversations about their feelings and help them practice social skills.
Academic Expectations: The new learning environment will introduce various academic expectations. Children may feel overwhelmed by the amount of new information and tasks. Celebrate their small successes to build confidence and resilience. Fatigue: The adjustment to a full day of school can be tiring. Your child might come home feeling exhausted. Ensure they have a calm space to unwind and plenty of time for rest and play.
How You Can Help
Maintain Open Communication: Talk with your child about their day. Listen to their feelings and reassure them that it’s normal to feel a mix of emotions during this transition.
Establish Routines: Create consistent morning and evening routines at home to provide a sense of stability.
Encourage Friendships: Arrange playdates or group activities to help your child build connections with their classmates outside of school.
Be Patient: Remind your child (and yourself) that it’s okay to take time to adjust. Offer encouragement and support as they navigate this new experience.
Your Notes
And Finally.....
Remember, these initial challenges are a normal part of the transition to school. With your support and understanding, your child will gradually adapt and thrive in their new environment. Starting school in Reception is a journey filled with discovery and growth. By preparing your child emotionally and practically, fostering a supportive home environment, and engaging with the school community, you can help ensure a smooth transition. Thank you in advance for your partnership as we help them embark on this wonderful adventure!