Reception questions

[daisychainrose]

Hi,

We have recently moved back to the Uk after 3 years away.
We have enrolled out DD in a local school.
The reception class have given us a getting to know you form.
It has several questions written by the teacher ,
Some are

• what is the most important thing you need me to know about your child
• how does your child learn best
• what are you hoping for your child entering reception

Anyone else answered these?
What are they looking for? What should I write..
My DD can be quiet. She probably learns best in smaller groups...

I just don't know!

I wouldn't have known how to answer those.

I'd probably have to go for something like:
what is the most important thing you need me to know about your child
Her name

how does your child learn best
I don't know, she's not been at school before. Anything she's learnt so far has been through play and copying. But I have no idea how that translates to school as I assume it's the same for all children
what are you hoping for your child entering reception
For her to learn whatever Reception intends to teach and to be enjoying it as she does

It's a ridiculous set of questions if you ask me.

I'm sure we probably filled out some sort of 'getting to know you' forms when starting reception (same with nursery and preschool), but I could not tell you the exact content.

You know your child better than any of us, so you just, answer the questions.

What is the most important thing for them to know about your child given they will be caring for her all day? What things does she struggle with? What interests does she have? Does she have any personal care needs they should know about? What are her her favourite things to do? Does she have a comfort toy or something she'll take to school? As you've only just moved back to the UK, I'd say something about where she has been living and what might be a big adjustment to her, if she speaks other languages, etc.

How does she learn best? Does she learn through messy play or doing things with others or solitary exploration or you modelling things for her and her copying?

What are you hoping for? This is a weird one, but I'd say what would be most important for her by the end of the year. To make new local friends? To master learning in English if she hasn't been prior to this? To be able to do x and y independently? To be more confident at drop off? etc.

It's not an exam. It's about them learning what she needs from you so they can support her best, so just tell them what you think is most important for them to know about her.

We didn't answer these sorts of things for DS who started reception this year, but he came from a local nursery. His teacher visited him in his nursery setting and I'm sure she will have had a good chat to the nursery staff about his learning. I think its great that the teacher has asked you as they clearly want to support your DD; I think they're loooking for honest responses so they know how best to help her progress. I think the thing that any parents hopes from any year group is that they are settled, enjoy themselves and form good friendships.

I would have answered like this

-what is the most important thing you need me to know about your child

She can be a little shy with adults at first and likes to have the option of a bit of quiet time if things are getting too loud

• how does your child learn best

She's good at reading and numbers for her age, she likes to read about facts and enjoys learning new things.

• what are you hoping for your child entering reception

That she has fun and makes friends

Its just to get an insight into your child and also yourself. Just answer honestly, the teacher will also do their own observations and adapt- it's useful to know though that as you say she prefers smaller groups. There aren't wrong or right answers, just write as much or as little as you want to :)

I would struggle to answer those questions and I used to be a Reception teacher. My advice would be not to stress over it, give short off the cuff answers and the teacher can use them to start a discussion if that's what they are for.

I answered similar questions.

They just want to get to know your child and you a bit.

For DS1 one of the things I put down was that he gets worked up if he doesn't know everyone's names so please to try to introduce him to other children by name. (Obviously I don't expect this to be top of the teacher's mind at all times but still useful for them to know that it bothers him)

For DS2, I wrote that he really really loves dinosaurs and the teacher put some out on day 1 which made him very happy

It's not a test. Just put down whatever comes to mind. It is supposed to be a helpful thing to assist your child with settling in.

Is the most important thing the recent move? Is English her native language? For our daughter it probably would have been that she loses her shit when she is hungry (slightly rephrased for the form)!

If you're not sure, it's ok to leave it blank. The school aren't looking for answers that will hold up in a court of law.

My answers for my son would have been

1. He is quiet so may not raise his hand or ask for help.
2. He likes to watch someone demonstrate before trying something new.
3. I hope that he makes lots of friends and enjoys school.

We had the same questions. I put about routines and structure being important. Works better in small groups and that I wanted him to thrive and achieve to the best of his abilities