question for reception teachers

[shelley72]

as i'm having a bit of a wobble!

DS (my pfb) will be starting school in september - and i was just wondering how dropping off and collecting them works. At nursery, we go in, sign in, i let his teacher know if there are any issues that day, give him a kiss then im off and then when i collect i just ask how he's been today and we collect things and go. Is it much the same as this? will there be chance to ask questions/check hes ok at drop off or pick up times? we had a practice visit last week and the teacher took him away and i didnt even get chance for a kiss goodbye .

i know i'm over-worrying about things but i just want to make sure that he will be ok. think i may already be down as a pita mummy so im not worried about that. his reception teacher (and TA) both seem lovely but i dont want to cause him problems

thank you

Why don't you ring and ask before they close for summer or ask another mum at the school if you know anyone.

Dd's school you took them into the classroom in 1st term, they signed in (first name and once that was cracked full name) then after xmas they joined the rest of the school and lined up in the yard.

On the way out they are let out into the yard when the teacher/ta spots you outside.

Children are expected to put coats on/off carry bags out.

If I need a quick word it can be done but there isn't the same handover at end of day like with a nursery keyworker - it does take a bit of getting used to.

in our reception, we can take our children in 10 mins before the bell goes to read a story and it gives you a chance to tell/ask the teacher or ta about problems or worries, home time the children are let out the door in much the same way as dixiechick says, as the teacher sees you she call your child out, but im sure you could get her attention and when everyone is out have a chat xx

At our school, the reception children line up in the playground from the very first morning. Kiss goodbye and then go in. They deal with their own coats and bags from day 1, with help from the teacher and TA, or other children at first, where necessary. They cope.

sorry i have only just had chance to come back to this due to poorly DCs (all better now). i think that the school he is due to go to does open about 10 minutes before they actually start so i suppose that will be the time to go in and tell of any worries. they will tell me at the end of the day if he has been into mischief wont they? or had any problems? or done anything exceptional?

i am over worrying i think. and he is completely fine when he is left at nursery, and can manage own bags, taking coats off, putting on pegs, signing in on whiteboard etc.

he will cope. but i'm not sure i will ! he is pfb and im not sure i want him to go to school. and then i was watching corrie and the whole bullying issue came up and that made me feel much more scared at the prospect that i cant keep him safe forever . i am trying really hard to put on a positive front for him, whilst all the time i am a quivering wreck!

We started the year dropping off in classroom and picking up from classroom door. Gradually this changed - so in last term of reception he has lined up in the playground in the morning and in last half term has been collected from the yard - they line up against the railings til they see us!

It is different for every school so the only way to know is to ask.
Our school is a little more unusual as we take them into the class room all the way up to Y6 if we wanted to, school opened 20mins before the bell is rung and there is plenty of opportunity for a quick work with teacher or TA if there are any issues or concerns that morning, it is positively encouraged that you do this as it helps them ensure your child is happy and settled in school. As they get older and go through the school the need to go in every morning becomes less, my dd is going into Y3 in September and I only go up into her classroom once a week now (so she can show me what she has been up to and I can check her spelling test lol!) I just give her a kiss and a cuddle at the gate or the end of the lane and then just watch her get safely into school. In reception pretty much every parent goes in in the morning except obviously for those children who come in on the bus. Ds is starting in September and I will probably have to speak to the teacher/TA every morning as he has some SEN, will be a shock to my system after not having to go all the way in for so long lol!
At the end of the day Reception children are released from the classroom do to whoever is collecting, if you need to speak to the teacher or want to know what kind of day they have had you just let her know and then she will sit down and have a quick meeting with you when all the children have been released or if it is a quick 'how was his day' and the reply is a short 'good' then you just do that as your child is released. From Y1 you are kicked out to wait at the main school gate, Y1 children are walked out to the gate by teacher and released to whoever is down to pick them up and then from Y2 onwards they bring themselves down to the gate, if a parent isn't there they them take themselves to the office to wait. If you want to speak with the teacher you just walk up and go to the classroom.
All schools do it differently, we have a real open door policy, lots of schools will say they have this but sometimes the reality can be a bit different and you have to book to see the teacher. Only way to know is to ask.

At my son's school they go through the main internal gate and they walk to their classroom. There are teachers and TA's on the route to make sure they get to the right classroom. It's quite complicated for them and for the first few weeks they will be escorted there and practice the route ready for them to do it independently.

Ask the school. I'm sure they'll be happy to tell you.