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Education: Sarah St John

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My son is three and a half and is due to start school in September. We has been attending pre-school three days a week but cannot yet write his name or read. He knows some letters but not all. I am concerned that he will not be able to write his name by September and this will affect his baseline assessment. What should a four year old be able to do when they start school ? I’d like to know what to aim for without pushing him too hard.

Sarah is a primary school teacher with over eight years teaching experience. She has taught children in the Foundation Stage, Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 and has co-ordinated a range of subjects including the National Literacy Strategy, Science, PE and Design Technology. She also writes articles on primary education.

My advice is not to worry about baseline assessment too much. Have a look at the article on baseline assessment in the 'Big Issues' section, but basically it has two purposes. Firstly, it measures whether schools are providing 'value' by comparing children's baseline scores with the levels achieved at key stage one and two SATs. Secondly, it gives teachers an indication of each child's starting point and as a result he may be grouped with like children. These groups are flexible and there will be opportunities for him to change groups as and when necessary. It's also worth bearing in mind that many baseline assessment schemes now allow teachers to reassess children at the end of their reception year.

While it is useful if children can write or make an attempt at their own name, count a few objects and recite some numbers by the time they start school, it's not the end of the world if they can't. And please don't worry if he can't read, after all that's what he's going to school for. As a reception class teacher, I would much rather have a group of children who had acquired some basic self-help skills that will help them feel confident and independent, primarily because a lack of both is more likely to hamper their learning than anything. Following is a list of skills you could help you son develop, thus making the transition to reception class as smooth as possible.

· Teach him to dress and undress himself so he'll be able change for PE · Encourage him to share any concerns or worries he has, so that if something bothers him at school he'll be able to express it · Encourage him to make decisions; give him choices about what games to play, what he would like to eat etc. · Give him simple instructions, for example ask him to go and get something. Get him to repeat the instruction so you're sure he's understood it · Develop his memory skills by encouraging him to retell stories and events · Encourage him to sit at an activity, e.g. drawing a picture or doing a puzzle, for a sustained period of time, maybe 10 minutes to start with · Give him opportunities to develop his pre-writing skills and fine motor control, e.g. drawing, painting, playing with play dough, construction · Help him to recognise his name and give him opportunities to try to write it. He doesn't have to write it perfectly, but it will help his confidence if he can make an attempt if asked to do so · Get him to tidy up before bedtime and put his coat away

Remember your son will still be very young when he starts school and his teacher will be sympathetic towards this. There will be time enough to worry about SATs and other such assessments as he progresses through his school career. Enjoy this relaxed phase of his life while you can.

Sarah St. John/February 2003