I know it's early, but we need your back to school/settling into new school tips....

lol at cod but she has a point, as a teacher there's nothing worse than snivelling parents making fond farewells inside the classroom, children settle in much better if you send them in confidently smiling wishing them well...............then you can go and weep round the corner , i did !!

DS (7) is moving schools by transitioning from pre-prep to prep. He was given a reading list of interesting books to give him and us a bit of inspiration. He was also given a book review form with the polite suggestion that he should read at least one a week and complete a review form for each one. He was also given some handwriting practice sheets. Just to keep his hand in.

We've also arranged some playdates with some of the boys in his new form.

That would be 0livia, sorry. and of course you don't have to CAT me, being all central and august and everything. You can probably just Control Me From Afar, in fact.

I wrote something on this, based on many MNers' wisdom, a couple of years ago - CAT me if you'd like it, Carrie.

I think in the early days it helps if they learn the names of a few classmates. Ds was quite unhappy at nursery and we told him to learn another child's name - don't know why but it seemed to help. I think if they have at least one other "friend" in the early days it makes things easier.

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If your child is joining an established group of children, such as tranferring from another school or entering Reception from a non-school based nursery, try to find out if there are any others getting together before school starts so your child finds at least a few familiar faces on the first day.

Find out the policy on uniform for Autumn term - if the majority go back in summer dresses/shorts your child may feel awkward if in a pinafore and tights/long trousers !

If your child is starting school for the first time, make sure they've had chance to practise changing into their PE kit during the summer holidays.

the last week of the holidays make sure the children are up at the time needed to be up on a school morning and going to bed at the right time too....we generally let the bed time routine slip during the hols (school days they are normally in bed by 7.30 and lights out/story finished by 7.45-8pm)but during the holidays it's normally at least 30-45 mins later going to bed and of course it's then normally an hour or 90 mins later getting up, so it does take a gradual process during the last week to get them back on track!!

Buying new pencil case/pen/rubber/colouring pencils seems to make it more bearable for my dch. Takes a special trip to WH Smith & then ages to choose the right pencil case, but seems to make them strangely happy.

ooooh will be watching this with interest. DD1 starts nursery september!