Things you need to know / do if you have DC starting Reception this year

[Toadsrevisited]

I sailed through my eldest going to reception last year courtesy of MN advice, so thought I should pass it on....

Your kid doesn’t need to be able to read and write, but it’s handy if they can recognise their own name written down. That’s how they’ll know which tray/peg/book bag etc is theirs

A lot above about how you can prep. But also be prepared for your child being exhausted/emotional - at end of day and especially towards the end of term. Don’t plan too much for your first half term as they may just need a brain break!

I’d say the key thing to instil is resilience / keep trying. Lots of kids can’t do xyz when they start, so focus over summer on the trying to do it and doing their best, and keeping practising - whether it be clothes or toilet or phonics. That skill will help them a lot more than being academically ahead when they start. Also have them practising to ask for help. If they try, practise, and can ask for help when they fail they’ll do just fine

My top three:

independence on the loo (including bum wiping!)

being able to get changed into their PE kit and back again.. so maybe practice putting clothes taken off into a PE bag

being used to saying goodbye to parents

@Camomila I have a summer born boy, he had no interest in drawing, writing, painting etc. Loved (still loves) being read to and sharing chats about the books. Still doesn’t enjoy writing or drawing, but at 14 I’m guessing that won’t change now! However, he was fine and is on course for an entirely respectable set of GCSEs.

Other tips: make sure the DC know how to take turns and how to ask for things.

Remember that there are 25(ish) children in the class, all of whom have parents with the same need and right to talk to staff as you do. I’ve been the parent desperately trying to see a teacher, but unable to get near them as the same parent monopolises their time; I’ve also been the teacher dreading another chat with the parent who pops in every day, while really wanting to catch someone else.

A useful quote I’ve seen in some places is: “Don’t believe everything your child says happens at school and we’ll try to not believe everything they say happens at home.” There are very few secrets in a primary classroom- children are very open and often share things from their own, unique point of view!

I'd add that if your child is struggling going in, but is fine once you leave, then it's best to leave quickly. My daughter was fine to start with and then from about October to feb got upset but I knew she was ok as soon as we left, trying to stay and calm her just didn't help as the anxiety about when we were going to leave persisted . In fact, it all got better when she started going into the classroom on her own.

It's really hard but often staying just doesn't help, it makes it unclear.

My other tip would be that if your child is tall but young in the year it doesn't hurt to occasionally remind the teacher that they are summer born. In a busy class it's easy to think taller=older.

Stickers! Every day was a different sticker for good work, or a clean plate at lunch or first aid. And to a 4 or 5 year old they are a precious commodity that must not be thrown away.
So grab a cheap scrapbook next time you are in a craft shop and save yourself from stickers all over a door or bed frame.

Just adding:

• save some shoeboxes, they get asked for fairly regularly
• on our school photos you can only see the edge of their collar/jumper so personally I wouldn't bother saving a top.
• my 2 never wore indoor PE pumps, just used the outdoor ones for everything - maybe buy to start 1st term and see if they're needed
• buy a couple of plain white t-shirts when on offer, useful for decorating when stuck for fancy dress or children in need day etc - can use as PJs afterwards
• don't worry about the goddamn blank marker marks that don't come off!

Following - thank you! X

Some great tips here! Sew/stick/iron an extra name label in the pocket of anything expensive eg school coat/logo cardigan. Then if the garment care tags showing DC name get mysteriously snipped out you’ve still got another place to look!

Nuns? Do you mean cakes?

I’m wondering what the nuns are as well.

Get a printed family photo, just a normal photo size.
Try not to feel too overwhelmed with all the things going on in the first term.
Copy dates into calendar as soon as they are made available. Preferably shared with partner so it’s not all wifework.
Respond to party invitations, a hasty text is better than not responding until the last minute.
Point out letters and words casually when out and about but try to make reading actual books fun. The books for learning to read are incredibly tedious so try to keep the fun part of reading stories intact.

Don't underestimate how tired they get near the end of terms. My ds's behaviour noticeably worsens, we move from proper chapter books back to picture books at bedtimes. He went to nursery so threw me a bit the first few times. Now I expect it and just give him more quiet time.

And also, you need a family calendar to add all the parties, assemblies, early finishes, non uinform days, plays, sports days to. If you work, be prepared you don't always get a lot of notice.

I love this idea for shoes as you are bound to have the same shoes as some other child. Also help with their left and right.
Another tip wash hair in tee tree shampoo it keeps the nit away!

At tea time when we eat together we always have two questions 1. Name two things good that happened today at school and then 2. Name two not so good things - isn't always an answer but you get an glimpse at what happened today at school with out bombarding them with questions

My nursery teachers were all (lovely old) nuns. Whenever I see a nun in the street I get a warm fuzzy feeling

Following! DD starting in Jan 2020

Label everything; love stamptastic for this. Dd's stamp is 4 years old still going strong, first ink pad has only just dried up.

Holding a pen is often about motor skills not really writing. Cutting and sticking, Lego, crafty stuff, playdough, anything that works those little fingers is good for summer borns who haven't picked up a pencil yet, also plenty of playing in the park on the equipment to build shoulder strength, but don't worry. It'll come. Can they dress themselves and go to the toilet are the main priorities.

As a mum but also a Reception TA, it is really helpful if they can get clothes the right way out and dress themselves or at least have a good try. We have some children who literally just stand there waiting for us to dress them after PE and obviously have no clue where to even start. We're happy to help obviously, especially with fiddly bits, buttons, tights etc but if they can make a start by themselves it's really useful. If they can pull the sleeves of their coat back through the right way too that's great.

Our school gave lots of colouring in homework in reception. It’s useful to get some fat crayons (makes colouring in large areas so much quicker) and some finer ones for more precise work - it saved us a lot of time when ds3 would come home from school exhausted (& not at all keen on colouring in.)

Take photos of important letters on your phone. You'll never lose a school letter again!! Very handy for looking back and checking details etc.

Look for a school facebook or twitter feed. Sometimes last minute info can be put on there (especially late running coaches coming back from school trips!).

Agree that if your DC can put their clothes on (even if inside out and back to front) it's a bonus. At least they'll come home with everything on .

Label everything, consider adding something to the outside of their book bag to make it obvious it's theirs. Same with identical PE bags.

Secondhand school coats and school jumpers are perfect. You won't feel so awful when they go missing or get damaged if you've only paid a small amount. Check out school for uniform donations and some schools sell unnamed lost property at the end of the term/year.

The thing I still do now is photograph every invite and letter. This means it's all saved on my Google photos if I need a phone number at work, or a letter I can grab it immediately. If the CM or my DM needs something I can share it. I still attach the actual letters to the fridge. But photograph them before they have a chance to disappear.

Treat paperwork/letters/emails like a job, otherwise it will overwhelm you. This was the main difference between private nursery and school, and continues into secondary school.

Check the book bag as soon as you get home, fill in any slips that need to go back to school straight away before you forget. Keep a supply of cheap envelopes.

All dates straight into your diary.

Reply to party invites as soon as you get them.

Keep a separate inbox for school emails so you can find them quickly.

Find a space on a shelf or table for school stuff - library book, reading book etc. Pack book bag the night before.

Biggest tip is not to stress.
Amazon prime is your friend.
And if you have an SEN (or suspected) child, please don't get in to a tiz (like me!) about all these things that schools would like your child to do. My son was one of the oldest in class, and couldn't read/write/hold a pencil. Could recognise his name. Couldn't dress himself at all. Nor bottom wipe.
I fretted endlessly. These kinds of threads whipped me up in to a right state at times.
Anyway, he is now a super dooper reader and writer, excels in maths. Still can't dress or wipe his bum properly! He learns in a different way, and at a different time. School have been wonderful with him. He's about to go in to yr2 now, and his younger brother will start reception. He's a summer born, but no SEN. He can do all the stuff school want like dreasing etc. I am relaxed about it all. He will likely struggle with phonics and reading for a while as one of the youngest. But that's fine with me.