Getting Ready 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 playgroup?

We have already introduce PE once a week to encourage independence and physical development. This is also great practice for Reception and gives them opportunity to dress and undress themselves in a similar way to school. Please can you make sure that your child has a named PE kit in a non-drawstring bag. This should include suitable clothes and shoes for the sessions. We would like these to be kept at playgroup.
We will begin to encourage children to put any items from home into their bag or on their peg. This mirrors 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 the children really enjoy it.
We work on social and personal skills such as confidence, expressing and managing feelings and ability to resolve conflicts and will continue to develop these.
If you have any questions or concerns about school readiness or would like some specific advice our staff are always happy to speak with you. Please speak to the Manager or your child's key person.

What can you do at home?

The following are suggestions of small things that you can do over the next few months to help your child to practice the skills that they will need.

Personal Hygiene

Children need to be toilet trained where possible and encouraged to go to the toilet independently including wiping themselves properly, flushing and washing their hands.

Practice with them asking 'please may I go to the toilet' instead of 'I want/need a poo/wee'.

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 e.g. "Can you find your hat? I think it's on the chair"

As the start of term approaches get into a good routine. Encourage your child to get themselves dressed in the morning 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, including over the summer!

Practice with any buttons or other fastenings that their school uniform will have.

Choose shoes and socks that they put on and take off by themselves.

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.

Reading

Give plenty of opportunities for your child to look at and enjoy books. Read and share stories with them and ask what they think might happen. Follow the words with your finger as you read to them. Them to retell well known stories.

Recognising their own name will be helpful in school and mean that you are less likely to lose clothes and equipment!

There's no requirement for you to start looking at phonics with your child but if you want to, you need to find out which system the school uses. Some use Jolly Phonics and some Read Write Inc. You can look for these on YouTube.

Mark making and other skills

The more opportunities your child has for mark making the better. Model writing to them (e.g. a shopping list), give them the tools to do it (pencils, pens) and encourage them. Marks don't need to be recognisable writing.

Help your child to understand how to use scissors safely and give them to opportunity to practice.

Maths and Science

Encourage your child to use mathematical language e.g. bigger, smaller, longest, none, heavy, full.

Encourage counting as you do everyday activities e.g. counting things into a trolley, slices of apple.

Talk about shapes and compare objects e.g. your plate is round like a wheel.

Listen carefully when you are out and about and talk about the sounds, asking your child what they think it could be.