What skills would most schools expect of a child starting in reception?

[Griffineater]

I am a parent of a 4 year old boy who is not keen to write anything down ever. He recognises some Numbers and a few sounds only. He loves being read to. He is very sociable and will concentrate on a play activity or jigsaw very well. He can count to 10 but misses a few out sometimes. Does he sound ok to start in reception?

he needs to be able to wipe his nose, and his bottom, wash his hands, dress himself and fasten his coat and his shoes and recognise his own name so he can find his drawer and peg.

He can do all of those Black! Maybe I am over concentrating on learning skills.

Rather than academic skills, in my experience most reception teachers value skills such as being able to go to the toilet independently (& on time!), putting own coat (hat and gloves) on, sitting quietly, waiting and taking turns, coping with a busy dinner hall... Reception year is a great leveller and i really wouldn't worry about those things, the teachers have their ways of ensuring every child learns those things! I was so surprised how quickly my DS picked things up once he started school. I have another starting this year... I am a lot more relaxed than the last time

Thanks Evian. Think I have been worrying as not as sponge-like as some of his friends in terms of numbers and letters. But he has good self-care skills and I think he is good at taking turns, sharing etc (at pre school three full days a week and no concerns ever raised).

Yup our school is only really interested in the self care stuff. My DS is Y1 and still struggles with his coat zip!

If you want to work towards the more academic stuff, think fine motor control and gross motor skills, building muscles in prep for writing rather than learning letters etc. It doesn't need to be sitting at a table writing. Stuff like lego, pegboards, 'painting' fences with a big brush and water, digging holes in flower beds - but I suspect your preschool is doing all that already.

Some attempt at writing his name is handy but not expected.

Being able to read his name is useful. A attempt to write it is a bonus (and depends how long his name is. My DS could do short version but not long).

Also our school said helpful if boys can stand up to pee as have mini urinals!

Social skills like being able to ask for the teachers help in an appropriate way (not tapping away at teachers arm but saying name of teacher and saying what they need) and ability to follow instructions and to listen well.

Able to open their own lunch too. Recognise their name so they can spot their stuff (key rings on bags help with this), get changed for swimming and pe, take turns, share, wait patiently etc. don't worry about academics. Reception is v similar to preschool and if he navigates that, he'll find it a manageable step up.

Recognise their name written - not spell or write it but be able to pick their name out
Asking to go to the toilet, flushing, washing and drying of hands
Putting on, taking off and zipping up of coat
Recognising shapes
Describing the weather
Picking shapes, colours out ie show me the red circle
Lining up in a line in the playground
Taking turns to answer questions
Listening to a story
Using cutlery
Helping to clear up after dinners
Playing independently inside and outside
Finishing a task - jigsaw

I was at a parents meeting yesterday for my youngest, she's just turned 4 and will be starting P1 (reception) in September and her nursery school teacher went through these sort of things with me.

Oh and being able to kick, throw a ball
Hop
Use scissors and a glue stick

Do they need to be able to fasten their own zips? I'm a bit worried about all the self care things. DS can put his own coat on,but not fasten it and he can undress but isn't very good at dressing. He can wash his hands, but doesn't wipe himself. He's great with numbers and letters stuff type stuff though! Is there a way to help a slightly hypermobile child develop these skills without getting him worried about it?

My daughter's school didn't expect them to be able to read their name - their pegs had their photos on. Though she had learnt how to do this as her nursery expected them to be able to do it.

Definitely the basics of self care are more important but they will expect a proportion of them to wet themselves in the first few weeks!

IME, Soloman, if a child struggles with these things, they will help.

Coatwise, could you put some Velcro on, we have this at preschool on the outdoor fleeces, as a lot of children still struggle with zips. Make sure trousers are elastic acted waistband and Velcro strap shoes. I used to put a little clean up kit in dd2's bag, as she was appalling at wiping her own bum, until about year 2! (Also slightly hyper mobile) - it had some toilet wipes and a spare pair of pants.

Ds is disabled and still needs a lot of help dressing etc (he is 4.9) one thing that has helped is a big doll (his is a pirate) with clothes on, and some baby socks, so that he can put the clothes on and off the doll.

Don't worry, he will get there.

Thanks Hazeyjane, I will sort out Velcro for his coat! I already do the Velcro shoe straps and elastic waist trousers, he does go to the toilet by himself at preschool, but only for a wee. A doll is a good idea too, it might be easier to practice zips and socks on.

Definitely all the self-care stuff as mentioned above.

The ability to speak up when they need to, but also to listen, was stressed to us when my DS2 started school last September.

Finally, an interesting word of warning from their head of early years, who stressed how important it was that if children are learning to write letters to make sure they are (a) holding the pencil correctly and (b) forming the letters correctly. She commented that if a child learns to write their name, with an incorrect grip, in a way that is visually recognisable but not actually correct in terms of letter formation, it then takes them far longer to learn to write correctly than a child who has barely picked up a pencil. Purely because it is so hard for them to 'unlearn' the incorrect ways they have picked up.

So I would really, honestly not worry about a child who 'is not keen to write anything down ever'. Worry far more about the one who is scribbling away and learning bad habits that they will promptly have to unlearn (no doubt with huge frustration) once they start school.

Thanks dietcoke you have reassured me.

Another useful skill to teach them is how to turn inside out clothes the right way round before starting school. It's really helpful for PE if we don't have to turn 30 pairs of trousers and 30 jumpers/cardigans the right way round.