Top tips for starting school in September?

[suddenlycupishalffull]

DD1 will be one of the youngest in her year - she'll have just turned 4 when she starts Reception in September. She already goes to the Nursery attached to the school a few days a week, but it's still a big deal for both of us (sob!). I'm completely green when it comes to school (I've only just heard of phonics...) so what would your top tips be for a complete newbie in September? Does she need a penci case? A big bag? How do I help her cope with the inevitable tiredness? Do they get homework? Do they get free school meals? Those who have gone through this before, if you wished you knew one thing before the start of that first year, what would it be?

Ah I've never heard of part time starting in reception, I'll ask the school if they do this. TheBoov that's v cute!

Take a holiday now so you are not going in peak season.

I teach P1 (yr r) -and have done for a loooong time! I love it-the bond that you make with the children and parents I don't think gets replicated til 6th form! I'd say ......enjoy it! Look forward to it together. Get excited together. There's very little that I haven't seen or heard before-so don't worry! I'd say label everything-and not on those daft, hard to find, hidden away for child protection sake labels that are inside coat pockets! Write it somewhere I can see it without taking a seam apart....please! In my class, I'd suggest short sleeved shirts as they are easier to keep clean-and if it's cold you can wear a sweatshirt over the top. Don't worry about sending in spare underwear-I keep plenty of that to hand!! For boys I prefer elastic waists-those little hooks on waistband are awkward. And most of all-don't be frightened to introduce yourself-maybe more than once! I'm great with small kids names and faces but mums tend to merge for a wee while! It helps me -and your child if you wait in the same place for a few days at pick up time! It makes scanning the crowd for your face that bit easier,and try to be early at pick up time. You can't promise your child that you can stay with them all day-but you can be there standing in "your" space so they can see you straight away at hometime.

Brilliant insights thank you! I asked about part time hours when starting reception and apparently they don't do that at our school, so she'll be going from 2.5 days to 5 full days in September.

Not all schools do a part time start, the school my ds will go do does a staggered start with the youngest 3rd going first, then the middle 3rd joining the next week, then the oldest 3rd the next week, but it's full days from the beginning.

Check with the school if children are expected to bring a bottle of water into classes and have it with them during lessons. Some schools provide water and cups in class rooms and some don't. Check if your dc can reach the taps in the toilets. For my dd the taps were too high so she had to use the tap in her classroom every time after using the toilet during yR. Maybe spare underwears, socks, skirt/trousers. Good luck