Ready For School

Changes

• From playgroup or nursery to school
• Being independent and cared for at school
• Dinner time
• What will your feelings be?
• How will your child react?
• What parent/carers need to know about the school
• Once in school
• Further information on general matters

Changes

From playgroup or nursery to school

Full-time school is different from attending a playgroup or a nursery.

• Reception class children attend daily, and lunch is provided if parents wish. As a rule, play groups and nursery classes are parttime.

• The reception class will have more children supervised by one teacher, occasionally with a classroom assistant. Playgroups and nurseries have fewer children.

• There will be the same broad range of activities in both nursery and reception class. In the reception class the emphasis will be on talking and listening, reading, writing, mathematical skills and social development.

• Children in most preschools and playgroups, and in nursery and reception classes, all follow the same Foundation Stage Curriculum.

• In all these settings, children will be learning through a wide range of structured play and taught activities.

• The children will be included in all the activities of the school and will spend playtimes and dinner times with the older children. In nursery, they would use a separate outdoor area.

• However, in both nursery and reception class the teacher will be concerned with the children's overall development and provide activities to meet their needs.

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Being independent and cared for at school

Children need to begin developing independence before they start school. You can help prepare them for school in the following ways:

• Practise being apart for short periods with the child, perhaps, at a friend's house.
  Stay with Emma's mummy now and I will be back in an hour.

• Prepare the child with talk and books for what school will be like and for the structure of the day.
  I'll meet you at the gate when the teacher says you may go.

• It is very important that all adults emphasise that, at home time, you return to your teacher if you can't see the person collecting you.

• Teach your child to take off outdoor clothes and hang them up, and prepare the child for undressing for physical education lessons and dressing again. Children will be more confident if they have easy fastenings on clothes and shoes.

• Expect your child to look after belongings and put things away

• Name all your child's clothes and shoes clearly and make sure the child knows where the labels are.

• Encourage your child to wear overalls, to accept that we get dirty sometimes for a good reason, and that we clear up the mess we make and clean ourselves afterwards.

• Teach your child to go to the toilet independently, to be accustomed to different toilets when you are out, to use toilet paper, flush the lavatory and wash their hands.

• Accustom your child to playing with others in large spaces and explain that there are grown-ups in the school playground who will help them.

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Dinner time

This may be bewildering at school. There will be a different set of grown ups in the dining room from those in the class.

Children who are having a cooked school meal select from a range of food. If parents prefer, children may bring a packed lunch to school.

Accustom your child to:

• choosing food and accepting some guidance

• carrying a tray

• sitting down to eat

• using a knife and fork

• undoing a lunch box and the packets inside

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What will your feelings be?

You may feel quite emotional on your child's first day at school.

It can be difficult to hand over your child for the whole day, although any activity planned will help with your child's development. Your child will benefit from the continuing partnership of trust and cooperation between you and the school.

• If you do not understand what is going on, arrange to see the teacher.

• Try to avoid your child being aware of comparison with any other child. This undermines a child's confidence. All children are different and learn at different rates.

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How will your child react?

Children react in a variety of ways.

Sometimes children behave quite differently on starting school. This is a period when they are learning to deal with larger groups and do not have the undivided attention of an adult. They may experience feelings and frustrations that they do not understand and may not be able to express in words. This phase usually passes quickly.

• If your child appears distressed or unhappy, talk it over with the teacher and together you will get to the root of the problem.

• If you demand a report on the day's happenings immediately on meeting your child, you will often hear "I played all day". Bide your time!

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What parents/carers need to know about the school

Find out as much as you can about the school, and talk to your child about it.

• The school brochure, available directly from the school, is an important document which will contain much of the information you will need. Please read and talk about the useful parts of this with your child.

• Try to attend the meetings which will be informative for new parents.

• Informal visits to the school, for example, to the summer fete, will help your child become familiar with the place and people.

• Knowing which style of letter formation the school teaches will help you prepare your child.

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Once in school

Build your relationship with the staff and the community

• Tell the head or class teacher of any health related problems affecting your child.

• If there has been a change in family circumstances, for example, separation or a bereavement, this may affect your child. Tell the head or class teacher who will keep it in confidence.

• Be sure to read all letters and return any necessary replies.

• It is important that you first see the class teacher if you are concerned about any aspects of your child's wellbeing. Bearing in mind that schools are busy places it is considerate to make an appointment.

• Try to follow any policy for helping your child at home.

• Always show an interest in your child's learning, both at home and in school. Schools make an effort to tell parents at the start of the year or term what projects classes will study and are grateful if you contribute where you can. For example, you can provide coloured objects for a "colour table" or empty boxes for modelling.

• If the school has a policy on parental involvement for cooking, sewing or general classroom activities, do get involved. Parent helpers make an invaluable contribution to school life.

• Make sure that your child has plenty of rest. School is hard work. A regular, early bedtime helps everyone.

• Giving your child your undivided attention for some part of the day will be beneficial to you both.

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Further information on general matters

• The head teacher or school secretary can usually provide you with general information on school's admission procedures or transfer to other schools.

• If you are anxious about any issue regarding admissions in Bexley, the Admissions Section at Education & Community Services can help you.

• The Pupil Services section at the Directorate can offer advice on free school meals entitlement, on available grants and on matters relating to special educational needs provision.