SOME PRACTICAL TIPS TO PREPARE CHILDREN FOR STARTING SCHOOL

What can we do as parents to specifically prepare our children for the start of school?It obviously depends on the age of a child. However, for a child to feel able to learn, they have to feel secure. It therefore makes sense to invest time and thought into some simple steps we could take, in the run up to school starting, and for the term ahead:

·      Read books together about what school may be like

·      Have play dates with friends

·      Meet up with other children who are going to start school at the same time

·      Walk/drive the route to school – potentially, make a map of the route to school with a child

·      Try on the school uniform (if relevant) – and talk through what a child will need to take to school. Make sure to wear new shoes out and about before the start of term!

·      Get photos of the staff and put together a board of adults who will be around our children – if they have a key worker, see if we can find things out about them in advance, such as their favourite food or colour or what they like to do when they have any spare time

·      Talk about the routine of the day and have a visual timetable up of what a child may do at school

·      Have a visual timetable up of the home routine of what will need to be done before/after school

·      Talk about how we are feeling, name those emotions and where we feel them in our bodies

·      Talk about how we felt about school and our experiences of school – try to be as excited as possible for a child – the more a child views the start of school through a positive lens the better

·      Talk about and role play potential scenarios.  What should/could we do if for example we needed to go the loo in circle time or if we feel unsure about something. The more children realise that however/whatever they are feeling is ok, the more reassured they will feel and the more likely it is that they will talk to us and/or teachers about things

·      Think about something the child could take in that would make them feel safe

·      Look at the letters of a child’s name together – play games/trace/clap the sound of the name etc – so that they are able to recognise their name

·      Talk about the similarities, as well as the potential differences, between home and school

·      Pack up a bag together of what to take to school

·      Make a packed lunch together and think of ideas of what they may like to take in

·      Think about what snacks a child may like a parent/carer to bring at pick up time

BOOKS TO CONSIDER READING WITH CHILDREN

All are welcome                            -   Alexandra Penfold

First day critter jitters                   -   Jory John

The invisible string                       -   Patrice Karst

I don’t want to go to school        -   Lula Bell

School’s first day of school         -   Adam Rex

First day jitters                               -   Julie Danneberg

BOOKS FOR ADULTS TO CONSIDER READING

The starting school book – Sarah Ockwell-Smith

SUPPORTIVE RESOURCES FOR CHILDREN STARTING SCHOOL

 A book for parents to do with their child before the start of school:

https://www.talesofmebooks.com/products/the-tale-of-starting-school-book

Labels for school uniform and school supplies (Naming pretty much everything a child takes in is a huge help for school and home!):

https://www.nametags4u.co.uk/schools-and-nurseries

https://www.labels4school.co.uk/collections/pre-school

https://www.petit-fernand.co.uk/personalised-sticky-name-labels-for-school-supplies

Labels to help a child recognise their own shoes as well as their left and right:

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1285379187/personalised-shoe-labels-shoe-labels

https://www.easy2name.com/bright-brilliant-shoe-labels

Support for little ones and original home of the Love Notes:

@olive.and.pip