Starting school is an exciting time for the whole family! There are lots of things you can do at home to help prepare your child for this time to ensure that they are ready for this next step on their learning journey. Have a look at some of our hints and tips below:
Try to get into a routine at bedtime which supports your child with coming into school refreshed and ready to learn. Snuggling up and reading a story is a lovely way to end the day and can aid children’s sleep.
As part of their school week, your children will have PE sessions where they will get changed into their PE kits. There will be adults on-hand to help with changing but practising getting dressed at home really helps them become more independent.
If your child is going to wear shoes with velcro to school, have lots of fun putting them on and practicing fastening and unfastening them.
Fruit time in reception is really important as it gives the whole class a chance to be sociable and enjoy what can sometimes be new tastes and textures. Whole pieces of fruit are offered to the children.
Lost jumpers etc can be upsetting for children. Please do remember to label all items of clothing so that they can get back to their rightful owner!
When you’re out and about, help your children to spot letters, words and numerals and encourage counting games. How many steps does it take to get to the end of the road? What numbers can they see on passing buses? Can you recognise shop signs? Share books and stories.
Phones, tablets and laptops offer an exciting world of learning and play but try to limit the time your children have on-screen. Time away from screens develops language and communication and will help your children to concentrate on a task for a length of time.
Help your children to have a positive start to their morning at school by ensuring you arrive in good time. This will ensure your children come into class at the same time as their friends and have a smooth start to their learning.
We will meet with all families before the children start school so that we can discuss your child as an individual and we will be available for you to contact in the lead up to children starting school.