Infants to Juniors

[Jilko]

Hello ladies,

My DD is 6 (June birthday) and in Y2 at an Infant school. She'll be heading to a Junior school across the road from the infants in September, and this has close links with the infants.

I asked at Parents' Eve last week about how they prepare them, and the teacher said that they start to get less free time in the Summer term etc.. to prepare for the extra workload in Y3. They also go on a 1-night residential trip in July.

She is generally happy at school, works hard, is very conscientious, and near top of the class for reading. She has had some issues with her and some of her friends as they all have 'strong personalities' (i.e., bossy & don't like to compromise). I would just like to know how/if the first year of Juniors is a big change for them compared to infants, and if so how can I prepare her?

Thanks!

I suspect this is school dependent but the main thing I noticed is that they are expected to be more independent e.g. things like writing down their own homework, remembering messages home, sorting out what they need to get ready for lessons etc.

There was more homework, and again the idea that the DC managed their time to make sure it was done.

Behaviour expectations are much higher (not that they were low at infants, but they are much stricter at juniors).

They will be exposed to older DC and learn some choice language :)

Ours are very separate schools (and only one of about 3 infants that go into it) and the main difference is things like independence.

For example at infants, you had to meet at the door. Juniors, by the end of the first term most are walking home, or at any rate at least 5 minutes up the road to mum waiting.
If they forgot something at infants, office person took it to them; at juniors you leave it on a special shelf in the office and they have to come and collect.

But there may well me many more opportunities for clubs and things like that. The year 3s often get mothered by the year 6 girls too.

As others have said expectation to be more independent and responsible for themselves.
Also whilst in infants, particularly in year 2 children who do what they are asked when they are asked to do it often feel overlooked. In Juniors there are often penalties for not doing what you are asked, when you are asked to do it. There is also often a shift towards rewarding the amount of effort that has been put in to work.

Thanks for all the replies, that's really useful
The independence thing I was expecting.
Looking forward to the choice language! I've already been less than impressed by some of the language I've heard ( and that's just with Juniors at after school club!)
Also looking forward to the extra choice of clubs/subjects on offer for her.

Oddly enough, having taught in both separate Junr / Inf and all through Primaries, in the sep Infant school, they are often given a lot more responsibility in Yr 2 (things like taking messages, representing the school at things, etc) that then doesn't happen in Yr3, as there are always older dc that can do it.
Other than that, agree with others - it's things like just been let out from class and the teacher won't ensure that each individual child is collected by someone they know. (Although is a bit school dependent, from threads I've read on here)
I think that oftenthey are expected to listen out for announcements, etc in asembly themselves too - so maybe a new after school club is starting, it's announced in assembly and the onus is on them to go and get a letter / go to a meeting at break.