confidence building for those starting school in sept?

[ellenrose]

My ds is starting school in september and the school arrange sessions in the summer term to get them used to the place, the teachers etc.

It starts with them being able to go to listen the to end of day story with the current Reception class once a week, we had a picnic with the other children and their parents last week and then they will start doing a couple of hours first of all with their parents in the classroom whilst they are able to play, then the parents stay at the school but out of the room and then they are able to leave them for a couple of hours.

All sounded absolutely great but despite having attended full time nursery until Feb this year, my ds is clinging to any available limb and does not seem to want to mix with the others or even play on the climbing frames/bikes etc. I know it is a matter of time but I could cry he seems so small and I do not know what to do for the best. Please tell me this is normal??

bump - anyone?

Hi,

Completely normal, I'd say. My dd started reception in April as we have a staggered intake here - she could have started in September but she was nowhere near ready then and would have been clingy. As she is a July birthday she is the "baby" in the class but seems to have fit in well - I think you might find that your ds will change quite a bit between now and September so that clinginess will no longer be an issue then. And if he is still clingy then you will be in good company - a lot of dd's classmates are still clingy at dropping off time and why not- they are still very little after all. They all seem to settle well after Mummy has left and the teacher will know how to help them with this transition. If you ds is still quite young can he start school in Jan or April?