How can I help prepare my child for Year 1?

Starting Year 1 can often be an exciting but daunting time as child moves on from Reception. There’s a lot that you can do to smooth the transition to Year 1 for your child. 

These might include:

Here are a few ways you can encourage your child to be ready for Year 1:

• Encourage your child to dress/undress independently - practising with uniform and PE kit. (Can they turn their t-shirt/trousers the right way round when they have taken it off?)

• Teach your child to zip up or fasten their coat.

• Encourage your child to go to the toilet, wash and dry their hands independently.

• Teach them to blow their nose with a tissue.

• Encourage them to sit at the table properly and use a knife and fork - try to introduce different types of food.

• Teach your child that ‘no’ means no.

• Help your child to develop good listening skills and be able to focus when following instructions.

• Help your child become comfortable and confident away from you. Reassure them that there will be other adults to support and comfort them.

• Encourage your child to carry their own bag and coat when you go out and about.

Here are some learning ideas which may help your child with their learning.

• Writing activities such as writing an account of a day out.

• Working on telling the time.

• Beginning to encourage your child to count in twos, fives and 10s, and talking to them about concepts like ‘more than’ and ‘less than’.

• Doing some handwriting worksheets to improve their pencil control.

• Encouraging them to keep up with reading to you on a regular basis, for example by going to the library once a week and choosing new books.