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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

Reception year - is your child engaged

12 replies

Tash2712 · 09/10/2014 09:34

When I drop my son off, along with all the other parents he does not want me to leave. Although there are plenty of things to play with there is no structure. Is this just my school. I would like to see specific activities for him to join in straight away so that he wants to stay as opposed to him looking around lost having to decided what to do. Am I asking too much?

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Artandco · 09/10/2014 09:37

Mine seems fine to just go and find something

They can't really structure before 9am here as kids get dropped of gradually over 20min drop off so would be constant interruption. Also some still faff with coats/ toilet etc.

I think it's nice that they can just go in and choose to read/ play with dinosaurs or building bricks for the first 10-15 mins as allows them to find friends and settle in for the day at own pace

threepiecesuite · 09/10/2014 09:39

In DD's school, they have to put coat, water bottle and book bag away and then collect their laminated name and trace the letters over it. It's not much but it gives them a focus.

strawberryshoes · 09/10/2014 09:42

Ours starts with child chosen learning too, but for any children who are clearly not keen for mum or dad to go the TA or teacher sweeps them along and gets them involved with something another child is doing just to help them settle.

Worth having a 2 minute chat at pick up with the teacher to mention your son's reluctance for you to leave, and see is he/she can make a special effort to get them settled for a couple of mornings until he finds his own routine?

Iggly · 09/10/2014 09:52

Sounds normal! At our school, the pupils put their bags away then sit on the carpet. There's only a ten minute window though.

Doodledot · 09/10/2014 10:52

Ours sort there stuff out and self register by writing name and putting on board. At nine they sit on carpet

lloydlf33 · 09/10/2014 10:58

At our school all the children are dropped at the gate between 8.45-8.55 and then go onto the yard to play. The gate is supervised by two members of staff and the yard is also staffed. At 8.55 all the class teachers come out and collect their class. This means that as soon as it's 9am they can start their activities for the day rather than lose the first 20-30 minutes to drops off and goodbyes. I was really hesitant when it first came in but have to say it works brilliantly.

WhispersOfWickedness · 09/10/2014 11:08

Lloyd, are you me? That's exactly what our school does too (even the times are the same!).
So I actually have no idea what they do when they first get in the classroom as the teacher takes them in!

magichandles · 09/10/2014 13:26

We drop off in the classroom between 8:45 and 8:55 (we're usually on the early side). DD puts her coat and bag away, self-registers with her name and then they either get a book or their whiteboards and sit on their spot on the carpet until I think they register properly.

ConcreteElephant · 09/10/2014 13:31

Similar to ThreePieceSuite here. Put water bottle in crate, book bag away, hang up coat, change to indoor shoes, make lunch choice, take laminated name off wall and put in basket... Then DD sits on the carpet playing with the puzzles, sticklebricks or whatever till everyone is ready for the official start to the day.

We have a 10 minute drop-off window and she seems pretty busy with getting ready for the day, then a short play with friends before they are all good to go. We drop at the door, no parents in the classroom unless there has been a big problem (falling over on the way to school for example).

nonicknameseemsavailable · 09/10/2014 20:24

ours are dropped in the playground, they just run around until the bell goes.

MollyBdenum · 09/10/2014 20:34

Ours are dropped off in the classroom from 8.30. They hang up their coats, register, put their book bags in their drawer and then do whatever they like, although they don't have access to outdoor play at this time. Parents are welcome to stay until 9, when the reception children go off to do phonics and the preschoolers do some singing.

There are generally a few children helping whoever is taking the register, another one or two helping the teacher at the door, a few listening to one of the parents reading a story, another couple playing with dominoes with another parent, lots drawing or sticking or junk modelling or painting or playing in one or other of the activity areas.

Quite a few like to start the day by reading their learning journeys with a parent.

MrsPear · 09/10/2014 20:48

Classroom door opens 8 40 ds goes in and hangs coat and puts lunch bag on trolley. I help him choose a new reading book then he puts it in the bag box. He then attempts to write his name. Then I give him a quick kiss and a hug and leave him sitting on the mat at the front of class waiting for school to start. The hard bit is poor ds2 who has to stay in his pushchair in the playground next to the door - most days we have tears as he wants to go too!

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