How can I prepare DD for reception?

[philbee]

DD will be 4 in August and starts reception in September. She does three hours a day preschool at the school she'll be going to. She'll know the building and some of the other children, but she's never done a full day before. Just wondering if anyone had tips of things to do to prepare her for going up to reception. Thanks.

You can do half days, or not send her till she's five. But, overall, I'd suggest lots of hugs and kisses. (And, no, I'm not a soppy cloth! I'm serious!)

Find out if you can do less than 5 days if you think that would help. My LA do and DD went 4 days a week until she turned 5.
Best tips for preparing for school are practical ones - being able to go to the toilet by herself (and wipe), wash her hands, button her coat, put on her shoes, and a little bit of discipline - being able to listen, sit quietly, follow instructions, that sort of thing.

Thank you. She's pretty good on practical stuff and can sit still as they practice at preschool. Good to know I could ask for fewer days though. I think she's ready for something more, so keeping her back might be frustrating for her, I think she should start but just want to think about how to prepare and support her as some days she finds even three hours tiring or doesn't want to go.

Talk to her about things like lunch (is she having school dinners or packed lunch, for eg), and what to do if she needs to go to the loo or feels poorly. I found putting a spare pair of pants and socks in the bottom of the PE bag was helpful for reassuring DS that if he had an accident it would be OK.

I think when DD started they said it would be good if she can recognise her own name, count to 10 backwards and forwards and look after herself in the toilet!

I agree that the practical things are the ones to worry about.

Can she wipe her own bottom?
Do up her coat?
Open her lunchbox ,and the contents, ie cope with clingfilm etc.
Cut up her own food if she's having school dinners, and carry a tray with food on without it capsizing?

That kind of thing.

Another little tip is a bit of coaching your child in being willing and able to ask for help and to communicate problems with teachers - my DD got horribly traumatised (briefly) due to a misunderstanding about where to go at lunchtimes.

Yeah, it's worth considering part-time, or how you might handle her tiredness if she has to go full-time. I think if my child was Summer born (DD is November so starting school nursery in Sept. and will do 3 full days), I would see if the school would accept part-time for the first term, and if not I would be ready to impose my own part-time when needed anway. They don't legally have to be in school until term after they turn 5 so you could have Fridays off occassionally, or do a couple of lunchtime pick ups when necessary. Of course schools wont' advertise that you can do this, but can't really stop you .

Philbee - my DD who is 4 at the end of August will be doing her nursery hours (3 mornings) until October half term and then 5 half days until Christmas. She will go full time from Feb half term when she is nearly 4.5. We had to write to the Head Teacher and Chairman of Governors to let them know what we wanted and the school has agreed.

Summer born DS is just finishing reception year. I totally agree about being able to do basic self care. So many children can't do coats up, put shoes on etc.
Listening and waiting skills are good too. So maybe some games to hone those skills.
As far as sleeping and tiredness goes. There has never been any problem with napping in the quiet corner. A few children have been handed back to parents fast asleep in the teachers arms - but it didn't happen much after the first term. There's too much going on at school and they don't want to miss out.
I would make sure that the evenings after school are pretty quiet and chilled and that they get plenty of sleep. Apart from that, let your DD know what a great adventure it will be.

DD is a July-child and we are just about to finish Reception.

The school did 3 weeks of half-days and I found that enough. Actually my DD was confused that their day finished with lunch and the older children carried on. She wanted to stay.

DD went to nursery for 4 full days but still was absolutely knackered until the October half-term. That was also the case with older children, some turned 5 in September/October and their parents also mentioned it.

We abandoned after school activities for the first term to give DD more time at home to relax. She does gymnastic now, I found sport is good as there is a lot more time sitting still despite the focus on play.

I agree, practical stuff is important. DD is lucky, no fiddly buttons or tie but getting dressed into a pinoforte or summer dress is still tricky if your day-to-day close are different.

Recognising the own name is important as there will be 30 identical bookbags (buy 1-2 really unusual keyrings), 30 identical waterbottles (or at least similar ones if the school has a "take your own" policy. There will be identical shoes, coats and hats as well.

The Early Years curriculum has recently had a review and the new version will be rolled out from September this year. There will still be 7 areas but they will be divded into 2 distinct groups:
The Prime Areas
Communication and Language
Physical Development
Personal, Social and Emotional Development

The Specific Areas
Literacy
Maths
Understanding the World
Expressive Arts and Design

The Prime areas are the bits you need to focus on before your DD stars school. This will be preaching to the converted probably, but LOTS of talking and listening in lots of different contexts. Making sure her gross motor skills are developed by outdoor play - climbing, balancing, bike/scooter riding, running, jumping, throwing, catching etc. Help her develop her fine motor skills - threading things on laces, putting pegs on a 'washing line', colouring, painting, playdough etc. Making sure that when she holds a pen, pencil, paint brush she does it with the proper grip. Fat triangular pencils are good for this, Berol do them. Help her to develop her self help skills (as the other posters advised), social skills - taking turns, chatting to adults and children, sharing etc. The emotional bit is often down to maturity - think about how well she seperates from you, talk to her as much as she's comfortable with about school - how much fun she'll have etc. Please don't say things like "You won't be able to do that when you go to school" - I've heard that so many times from parents. They may not be able to, but unless it's something dire, don't worry them before they start!

Academically make sure she knows how to handle a book, which way up it goes, how to turn a page, which bit is the print (and what it's for - tells the story) and which bit is the picture. When you read to her follow the print with your finger sometimes so that she gets the idea where that print is read top to bottom and left to right. Can she talk about the story, ask questions? Maths-wise counting to 10, counting 10 objects from a group set out and taking 10 objects from a larger set and knowing when to stop. Recognising her numbers to 10, being able to order numbers to 10. Can she copy a simple pattern EG: red, blue, red, blue, red, blue beads? If she can do that can she continue it - what comes next? If she can do that can she make her own pattern and tell you about it?

Underpining ALL this is talking - I've been part of a project in my area this year with the emphasis on talking in Early Years. The quote that came up time and time again was this:

Reading and writing float on a sea of talk

Actually, everything floats on that sea. So many assessments of your child will have a big emphasis on the fact that she can talk about what she's doing/done/making/seeing/feeling/touching/thinking etc.

Gosh - sorry, thi sturned out to be a long post to a simple question. I hop eit hasn't gone off topic too much and that it's helpful.
Hope your DD loves her new school next year!

So, yes, talk and listen to your child. Job done .

Teach her how to ask for help in a non whiny voice, using please and thank yous.
Teach her how to open her own lunch box.
Teach her how to toilet herself and wash and dry her hands.

Relax.

There are some lovely books available. I'm thinking of one by Shirley Hughes and the Alhberg one in patricular, which both have lovely illustrations.
Take time to look at the pictures and relate them to your DDs experiences of pre-school, the things she likes to do etc. Don't feel you have to read the story, let your DD lead the conversation sometimes too.

I did this with my DD and have just dug out the books to read with DS who is starting school this autumn too.

It's lovely that you are so concerned! I was so concerned I stalked my LO through primary and on into secondary school! I also did supply work as a TA in nursery and KS1/KS2 classes and can honestly say it made me realise there is nothing to worry about. I have worked in a lot of schools and unless your child is overly belligerent they will be given at least 5 positive remarks against 2 necessary negatives when needed. Teachers and staff are fully aware of the benefit of praise and spend the majority of time promoting positive behaviour. Obviously the little ones warm to this and in my experience they blossom well. If you have any concerns speak to staff and they will most definitely keep an extra eye out x

Thank you all so much!

Lara2 that's great to have all the curriculum information, thank you. She's pretty good on most of those things. Maybe a bit more on stories and talking about them. My mum does so much of that with her I probably skimp on it myself. But we got some books from the library today.

piprabbit, thanks for those recommendations. Have ordered those two and a Charlie and Lola one about school. We have a Splat the cat one but I find it quite annoying and DH keeps threatening to recycle it so will be good to have something else.

I went over all the practical stuff with him but the one thing I forgot to tell him as it didn't even occur to me he wouldn't know, was that if he was feeling ill he should tell the teacher. He came out of school and sobbed one day because he felt really poorly and wanted me but didn't tell the teacher as he didn't know she had my phone number to let me know :( Poor thing had a really high temperature and felt awful but had suffered all afternoon because he didn't know he could be collected early.

A thread for 2012 reception starters
HTH