What happens on a first school day?

[TheRedFacedGirl]

Hi everyone,
My DS starts reception in September and I’m not really sure what to expect. Does it depends on the school or the rules are the same everywhere?
He’s not really shy but he needs a bit an encouragement and reassurance specially when he’s in a new place with new people.
Do parents go inside the actually school/classroom and hand them over to the teacher? Or is it done outside,near the doors?The school had 2 open days where you could go and play and ask questions and meet the teachers but unfortunately we were out of the country exactly those 2 days.
I apologise if this may seem silly and TIA!

At our school, our reception children have had taster sessions.

Initial ones, parents stayed while their children played. Subsequent ones were drop off in class. This way our children are ready to be dropped at the door then parents leave.

The first day, children stay until lunchtime. The second, stay for lunch, then the third day, full time.

I’m surprised you haven’t been given any details? If that is the case, then be ready to drop at the door and leave.

Every school does things a little differently.
Our school starts the children in small groups over 2 weeks but then they are in full time. Children are brought to reception, families meet head teacher and then class teacher comes to take child to class. Parents don't go to classroom.
They did have 2 taster sessions where parents stayed in hall and kids met teacher and all went into their new classroom together.

School have a rule throughout that no parents in classrooms. Teachers are in playground to help new starters (and existing pupils) to go in. Those who struggle go to reception and are collected by a TA or teacher.

Others will be completely different with different starting patterns

My DS starts reception in September and I’m not really sure what to expect. Does it depends on the school

Yes, it depends on the school. I would have rung to ask them any questions like this when you weren't able to go to the open days. Is there a Facebook page for the school? I would imagine there is a class WhatsApp group set up-try to find out some details that way.

When mine started, the teacher met them at the door. Most of the children went in confident,
my youngest DD cried for a few weeks. The staff let me go into the school with her, and handover inside, I've also seen other children with different drop offs at first.

The best way is to go in confident yourself, dont make it seem like a big deal, (even if it is for you) they quickly get i to the routine.

The staff are very used to settling children in to school, and recognising the ones who might need extra support.

The best thing to do is to try and arrange some meet ups before they start.

My DS starts reception in Sept at a school where he doesn’t know any of the other children and we don’t know any of the parents. None of his nursery friends are going to the same school.

There has been a WhatsApp group set up and 4 or 5 play dates arranged for July/August. We went to the first one last week and around 8/10 children turned up out of a class of 25 which is pretty good considering it’s holiday time.

It was a great couple of hours for DS and I. We’ll be attending the others as well so he’ll at least know a few of his classmates before he starts.

I've had 2 dds start reception at different schools and both were drop at the door - i think it's easiest as they understand that you're not staying, as hard as it is. Definitely advise sunglasses if you're.ljkely to shed a tear, as it makes them harder for your little ones to spot. I'd also advise against lingering anywhere near windows/doors, as tempting as it is to take a peek at them.

Not silly at all - it’s a really common question, and the truth is it does depend on the school. Some let parents come right into the classroom for the first few days (or even weeks), others have you hand over at the classroom door, and some use a central playground drop-off. Often, the school will make small adjustments if they know a child needs a bit more reassurance at the start.

With your DS, you might want to let the teacher know in advance that he’s confident but benefits from a bit of extra encouragement in new situations - that way they can be ready to greet him warmly and help him settle.

I’m actually researching this very transition for my PhD at the University of Essex, as part of a UK/European project called SWITCH. We’re looking at how to best support children’s mental health and wellbeing during this big step.

If anyone here has a child starting Reception in Sept 2025, I’m happy to share details of how to take part – it’s two questionnaires over two years, and some families may also be invited to the University of Essex for a unique opportunity to explore brain and behavioural development more closely.