What do kids new to know before starting reception

[platerspinner]

Just doing school options for DS starting next Sept and it got me thinking, what does he definitely need to be able to do for himself by school starting age? He's a Nov baby so older in the year. Obviously he's toilet trained but def needs to practise cleaning himself properly after a poo, does he need to be able to tie shoe laces? Zip up coat? Get fully dressed on his own? Write his name? Use scissors etc?
Id like to use the next 9 months to makes sure he has all the skills he'll need to make his start easiest for him. He's a confident chatty child who makes friends easily so I'm hoping he'll love school as much as he's enjoys nursery.

Same as PPs, coat on, able to change their clothes for PE, put on their own shoes and recognise their name.

Pencil grip is a good one, a lot come in unable to hold them properly. Big pencils are best with little hands.

I'm a reception TA and echo most of the above! Sharing and social skills are really the most important, along with recognising their name.

Also though, don't worry if they haven't got there by the start of term! We're in December now and still quite happy to help with coats, finding their book bag etc.

I wish more children were used to hearing words like no and take turns. The meltdowns and tantrums are not great on mass.
Self care, like changing, putting shoes on, putting coat on, sharing and turn taking games like board games, lots of playdo, threading, messy play, scissors. Listening to stories, following simple instructions like tidy up time, getting their own drink. Recognising their name is a bonus.

Share toys
What to do if cross/upset
Toileting, wipe and wash hands
Zip up coat
Get changed (no need to tie own shoes yet).
Follow a simple instruction
Listen to a story
Tell adult their wants and needs

Anything else is a bonus

I'm quite surprised he can't already use scissors, definitely work on that!
Recognising his name will be useful with pegs etc. Zip up coat, get dressed, again things he should really be doing by now anyway so if no SEN it shouldn't take long. Won't need to tie his shoelaces unless you intend to send him in with laced shoes which I'd highly advise against
Some will start already reading simple readers and others won't know anything. So just follow his lead as to whether or not he'd like to learn his letters / to read and writing.

also
put his name on everything
clothing , shoes, bags, bottle
sorting jumpers etc is a pain in the arse

• nursery TA- me

Ideally they can take themselves to the toilet (in plenty of time) and clean as appropriate, take their coat off and on fastening the zip or buttons, take off shoes and put on pe shoes whatever fastening you choose (most have Velcro), change for pe if required (some schools don't in reception) hold a pencil and control it to form shapes, use a knife and fork. If they know their alphabet and numbers even better but don't worry if they don't.

With a class of 30 and 2 adults max, the coats are the most important skill!!!

To be honest they don't need to know much.

Helps if they can write their name but not all of them can.

They start letters and numbers from scratch

My 5.5 year old still asks for her bum to be wiped at home but at school she does it herself, albeit badly.

According to last years reception teacher most of them start reception as overgrown toddlers but by the end of the year the change you see is massive!

Most DC why'll be having school,dinners, so knowing how to use cutlery competently helps as does being able to carry things on a tray.

As does competence in going to unfamiliar loos

Also:

• learning to stuff gloves into pockets as soon as they take them off
• piling their clothes into one heap (not strewing) for when they have to get changed
• recognising their own name tape (recognising own name where also useful)
• hanging up a coat
• blowing own nose and binning tissue
• looking ahead, able to apply own sunscreen
• able to take turns
• able to sit for a few minutes (eg to listen to a story)
• able to follow simple instructions (ideally two part ones, such as 'put your pencil in the pot, then line up by the door'
• washing hands without soaking anything

From my aunt who was a head of ks1 school.
The most important thing is to be able to sit and listen. Most other things are a bonus.
My dd could tie shoelaces, do whole class of zips, put anybody hair in a bobble. Read and write her name. But no chance with sitting still. Even now, at 9!

I am an early years teacher and for me, the most helpful thing for a parent to do is teach a child to dress and undress (including coat), and to sit and listen, which you can do by getting your child to dress and undress over the summer and by reading stories. Making children wait for things (e.g. first I will brush my hair, then I will make you a drink) and playing turn taking games with them is good, as at school, they won't always get what they want immediately!

There is no expectation to have your child reading and writing, so don't put pressure on yourself or your child!
My own son didn't recognise a single letter or number (but could count to 10) when he started school and hit all of the end of year expectations by February
They make a shocking amount of progress in their first year!