Preparing for School

As your child approaches the transition to school, we will do everything that we can in setting to help them to be prepared. There are also a number of ways you can support them at home. It's very important to remember that the Reception year also falls under the Early Years Foundation Stage so your child is already following this curriculum and every child is different and starts school with different abilities. 

What does school readiness look like for most children?

  • I can settle happily without my parent or carer
  • I can tell friends and grown-ups what I need
  • I can take turns and share when I am playing
  • I can go to the toilet on my own and wash my hands
  • I can put on my own coat and shoes and feed myself
  • I can tell a grown up if I am happy, sad or cross
  • I know that what I do and say can make others happy or unhappy
  • I am curious and want to learn and play
  • I can stop what I am doing, listen and follow simple instructions
  • I enjoy sharing books with grown ups

What will we do in setting?

  • We will introduce PE once a week to encourage independence and physical development. This is great practice for Reception and gives your children the opportunities to dress and undress themselves in a similar way to school.
  • We will encourage children to put any items from home into their bag or on their peg, mirroring the expectations at school. 
  • In the mornings we will introduce 'Wake and Shake' as many local schools have this as part of their daily routine. It's a great way to have an active start to the day and children really enjoy it. 
  • We will work on social and personal skills such as confidence, expressing and managing feelings and the ability to resolve conflicts and will continue to develop these. 

If you have any questions or concerns about school readiness or would like specific advice, our team are always happy to speak with you. Please speak to the Manager or your child's key person.

What can you do at home?

Personal Hygiene

  • Encourage independent toilet training where possible.
  • Practice hand washing: scrubbing, rinsing, and drying properly.
  • Practice asking: "Please may I go to the toilet?" instead of "I want a poo!"
  • Encourage them to blow their own nose and put the used tissue in the bin.

Social Skills

  • Encourage children to say please, thank you, excuse me, and sorry.
  • Practice taking turns and sharing toys with other children.
  • Encourage them to help with tidying up, especially with their own toys.
  • Practice following simple instructions like "Can you find your hat? I think it's on the chair"
  • Establish a good routine: get dressed in the mornings and go to bed at set times.
  • Practice opening packets for lunch boxes.

Getting Dressed

  • Encourage your child to put on their own coat and zip it up.
  • Practice with any buttons or fastenings their school uniform will have.
  • Choose shoes and socks that they can put on/off by themselves.

Reading

Give plenty of opportunities for your child to look at and enjoy books. Read and share stories often and ask what they think might happen next.

  • Follow the words with your finger as you read to them.
  • Encourage them to retell well-known stories.
  • Help them recognise their own name to prevent lost clothes.
  • There is no requirement to start looking at phonics, but if you would like to, find out which system the school uses, you can then find videos on YouTube.

Mark Making and Other Skills

The more opportunities your child has for mark making, the better.

  • Model writing to them (e.g., writing a shopping list).
  • Provide tools (pencils, pens) and encourage them.
  • Help your child understand how to use scissors safely.

Maths and Science

  • Encourage mathematical language: bigger, smaller, longest, none, heavy, full.
  • Encourage counting during everyday activities (e.g. shopping and putting things in the trolley).
  • Talk about shapes and compare objects (e.g. "your plate is round like a wheel").
  • Listen carefully to sounds while out and talk about what they are.

Be a Role Model

"If your child sees that you are happy and confident to leave them, they will be happy and confident to be left."