Reception in September - To Do List

[Rosebud05]

I was wondering what I should be trying to get my dd to be doing by herself when she starts school in September and have come up with the following:-

going to loo, taking down and pulling up clothes, washing hands completely independently (check, as long as trousers don't have buttons or poppers)

taking coat off and hanging it on correct peg, finding coat and putting it on independently (check, depending on fastenings)

ditto shoes/gloves/hat (check)

ditto book bag/lunch bag (check)

recognising and writing her own name (check)

undressing herself, putting her clothes in a bag, putting on PE clothes, taking these off and putting them in a bag, taking other clothes out of bag and dressing herself (this might need a bit of work....)

going in to classroom without being prised off me (we're working on this...)

Anything else?

she seems to do a lot for herself already just don't get her over anxious it will be fine
does your school introduce the children to the teachers? do they visit you? do they organise a sort of playdate at school with people from her class? all of that helps

Yes, the school does a home visit and she will know some other children starting and already there.

Dd finds transitions difficult, and I'm trying to think of things I can do to minimise the impact for her of going from a 1:8 ratio at nursery to 1:15 at school.

I really think that taking the 'momentous occasion' out of it the better
it will be a transition but my guess is that she will be looking at you for cues, so be calm and cheerful and do things as normal, not rushed, talk of other things as you travel and of what you will do after

it is natural to be anxious and for the parent to be emotional (and relieved) but I find a cheery and breezy attitude is best, a very positive and brief 'have a lovely day mummy will see you later' helps

the schools are used to this and will be ready to deal with it no matter what

She is going to be SO fine. Sounds really able. Good luck!!

Yes, don't make a 'thing' of it. Hard I know!

Other thing could be carrying lunch on a tray.

I've tried the cheery, calm, breezy 'have a lovely day' approach for 2.5 years when I've dropped her off at nursery.

Seriously, I'm not being overly anxious, she really does find transitions eg home to nursery and vice versa difficult - she was well over 3 when I didn't need to prise her off me into someone's arms at the beginning of a nursery day and at 4 she still needs to go on to someone's lap for a bit at the beginning of the day to adjust. They'll be less adults around in reception - I'm just trying to eliminate any issues that are eliminat-able.

Thanks, notyummy, carrying tray and/or undoing lunch bag a good idea

sorry I know it varies from child to child, but am guessing she settles fine at nursery? sometimes fewer adults make it easier for them

knowing 'the rules' of big school helps too, the toilet things has been mentioned and is a big deal usually

I fretted a lot over this, mine is a Summer baby but she is the 'not a backward glance' type

no tights on PE days [bugrin]

hopefully the older she gets the easier the transitions will become (eventually)

Good Luck!

Most of the time she settles fine at nursery, but gets easily thrown if workers or friends she expects to be there aren't. She does have days when she asks for me a lot or follows a particular worker around all the time. She's been at the same nursery since she was 18 months (now just turned 4) with very, very little staff change and she still continually needs to 'get her bearings' with people. It took her over 6 months to adjust to moving up to the 'big room' when she was 3.

Ds (nearly 2) is cut from the 'not a backward glance' cloth, and just takes things in his stride so i'm sure it's -not- my parenting.

Exactly the sort of thing I was thinking of jetmonkey, elasticated waisted trousers and baggy polo shirts all the way for PE days.

One thing I found with my dd was that she struggled to get dressed again after pe as when she had taken her uniform off it was mostly inside out with the sleeves/legs all twisted etc! Teaching her how to 'untwist' clothes helped her!

She really will be fine though, we've found reception class very easy going with workload and expectations etc. Also, even though the staff ratio is that much lower they are used to whatever the children throw at them and deal with it well

not parenting no, children are all different of course

definitely no buttons or tights on PE day

Ooo just thought of another simple thing, can she recognise her name written down? At dds school she has a tray, peg, book etc with her name on (inc surname) which she is expected to use and recognise

Because I'm obsessed with school items being properly labelled I'd add checking for and recognising name label in items of clothing - don't feel you have to iron them onto the washing instruction labels either, on shirts/blouses they are easier to locate if they are just below the collar (on the inside, obviously!).

You may find that the teacher encourages the children to take off uniform and to put it on their chairs instead of stuffing it in a bag so maybe practise both so she knows she is capable of either. Also, knowing if she's packed lunch/school dinner would be useful as she may be required to pick up her name label and put it into the packed lunch/school dinner basket.

Knowing how to ask if she can join in/what to do if she doesn't understand the instructions might be useful confident boosters.

A tip I got from MN when DS started in reception (h is now in yr1) is to put a key ring or something easily recognisable on her book bag so she knows its hers iyswim.

The other thing I would say is that when they start school you buy lots of new things ie new coat, shoes, plimsoles etc....make sure they know what they look like.

Ds got v upset as he could not remember what his new coat looked like at the end of his first day of school

I would also keep reminding her of her teachers name as my Ds had a habit of forgetting and then would not have the guts to ask for help....

Check what time lunch is at school..... If you currently have lunch at 1pm and school is at 12 then change your lunch time. This is because she won't be hungry at 12, not eat school lunch, and be starving at 1 when it is not lunchtime.

Take a snack for the trip home as she may be hungry. Start of with making it healthy as if you do chocolate even once they will always ask for more!

I'm glad you started this thread, I was thinking of asking about what a child starting reception is expected to be able to do, by teachers iyswim.

Your checklist has worried me as I already suspected ds2 would not be ready, and it's just confirmed it - he can't begin to write or even recognise his own name, he can't dress himself very well, can't carry things like a tray or even a plate without extreme concentration, can't talk that well, can't use a knife and fork (think we'll be starting with packed lunches!) mind you he barely eats anything either, mainly actimel bottles in the day and breast milk at night

There wasn't a way to force him to be ready, and he just isn't, so will probably defer entry till Easter I think.

Oh dear...so much to learn and so little time.

Oh and don't even mention using a toilet properly by himself!

They are used to children with a decent level of intelligence but absolutely no practical skills, aren't they?

Velcro fastening trainers for pe, laces are a nightmare for staff

Yes unless your child can independently (and relatively quickly) do up their own laces it should be velcro all the way! I only met a very few children who could do laces in infants :)

tbh in reception as a teacher I would help children turn their clothes the right way round and in the autumn would be much more prepared to help them generally and would expect them to progress in independence over the year.

BIG YES to easily identifiable features on identical bookbags/coats like a keyring simpson and also to names on everything as much as possible (and check regularly to see if it still clearly marked (if everyone did this it would make school life easier) :)

Oh and don't even mention using a toilet properly by himself!

They are used to children with a decent level of intelligence but absolutely no practical skills, aren't they?

That made me LAUGH!!!! YR teachers are very used to littlies arriving without any practical skills :) :) especially boys :)

I remember as a new teacher NOT REALISING that little kids would not be able to undress for PE. Chaos ensued. One child climbed under his table stark naked and refused to come out until I had phoned his mother to come and dress him. Another stripped naked and took off down the school only to be returned by the headteacher.

As a former YR teacher I would join the chorus of brilliant advice above and say
put names on everything. EVERYTHING. If you send it into school, put a name on it. You would be surprised at how many people don't and then turn up at the school door in full battle mummy mode wondering where little Johnny's shirt is, and of course Miss should be able to find it IT HAS AGE FIVE YEARS WRITTEN ON IT!!!

Have a go at the skills needed for dealing with their packed lunch e.g. opening a yoghurt themselves, peeling a banana etc.

Phase out any after-lunch naps - they don't get this at school and it will be much harder for dcs who are still used to this.

Hope this helps

name their pants too.

make sure they can blow their own nose