Primary teachers help?! DD not attending school until after reception year - what does she need to know?

[Pumpkinpip]

Due to a number of reasons DD won’t be starting school until after the reception year so will be going straight into Y1. She is currently 3.5y and is in a mixture of childcare with a childminder and at home with me and her Grandma.

What does she need to know so she won’t be behind when she starts year one? I’ve looked at other threads where phonics was mentioned a lot but I have no idea where to begin with this?!

Any advice would be much appreciated 😃

You would be better off finding out which phonics scheme the school use and buying it for her to do at home. Also look at some videos on how to teach the sounds properly as they are very different to how the majority of us were taught.

Thank you for your reply!

One of the reasons she won’t be starting is because we are moving across the country and aren’t actually sure which school she’ll end up in. Is there a generally well regarded programme you could recommend?

There are so many different phonics schemes
( some are listed on the Government website in England)
My concerns would be around a lack of social interaction and play based learning in Nursery and Reception class. Hard to replicate class and group activities at home or with a child minder. It’s a skill to sit and listen in a large group.

Some children who have been in Reception can struggle with the transition into Year one.
I would look at the Early Learning Goals for expectations at the end of Reception.

My biggest concern, as you are moving into an area, would be securing a place in Y1 due to maximum class size.

I used Jolly Phonics with my DD. It’s on the government’s recommended list.

Not exactly what you are asking, but its reasonably common for children to move school during their Reception year, so if you aren't sending her for that reason I wouldn't worry about starting school in one area then moving to a different one.

DD2 is in the year that missed a term of YR and a term of Y1 due to COVID. Now, maybe her class happens to be full of weirdos with zero social skills, but I think those terms might have been key developmental stages. Admittedly all the weirdness around masks etc won't have helped either.

As a pp says I would start school locally and move as and when.

She need to be able to write her full name
count to 10 and arrays of 10
Simple life cycle of insects
phonics
start reading phonetically

one of the most important lessons will be friendships they develop so much in reception and it’ll be hard to replicate thst at home

I would say much of that at the end of preschool not reception. As well as being able to play on a group / sort out issues, listen and sit still in a group, follow instructions from an adult which are not given 1:1, put shoes and clothes on.

End of reception, to be at a decent level, I would expect early writing - sentences (spelled phonically), correct letter formation on most letters, reading simple books, 2 and 5x table.

This is the government document that sets out the learning and development to be achieved by the end of reception, @Pumpkinpip

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/670fa42a30536cb92748328f/EYFSstatutoryframeworkforgroupandschool-basedproviders.pdf

I would look at starting her at a school and then moving when you move. I think that will lead to a lot less gaps in her education and more importantly her social skills.

Or depending on birthday defer her place so so starts in reception

Most things can be picked up later, if she is having good quality experiences at home.

Alphabet games, finger rhymes, counting games, jigsaws, cooking (weighing and measuring), dressing independently.

gross and fine motor skills- play dough, tracing, colouring, climbing running jumping.
listening skills- eye spy, suitcase game etc.

Orchard games do great educational games, and she’ll learn turntaking and social skills as well as the numeracy and literacy skills.

Is she at pre-school at the moment? If you’re worried about a move being too disruptive, she could stay where she is until you move. As others have said, it’s not uncommon to move in reception and, whilst some children will have established and deep friendships already, they will still be establishing others so your DD would probably settle quickly.

She doesn’t have to wait until the new school year - she can start in Reception in September 2026 when she’ll be 4 1/2, then move schools when you move house.

I used reading eggs (lockdown kid) and she started school being able to read

The early years framework is a 50 page document. Link below.

I wouldn’t put pressure on yourself and your child. One to one time with a caring adult sounds wonderful compared with 30 children to 3 adults in early years at school.

Primary schools teach (very well) quite a narrow range of things and in Nursery and Reception teach slowly because the children are so young. Your daughter would easily catch up in y1 - and the school would help her.

Every day life is so rich. Following a recipe together, gardening, using money in shops, putting a flat sheet on a rectangular mattress, looking at house numbers, reading stories will all help her learn valuable skills at a much higher level than phonics or counting.

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/670fa42a30536cb92748328f/EYFS_statutory_framework_for_group_and_school_-_based_providers.pdf