This is a public service announcement for parents of 2016 Reception starters

[kippersyllabub]

1. Whatever "settling in" arrangements your school tells you they have, you, the parent are entitled to send your child to school full time from the very start of the Autumn term, or part time until they reach compulsory school age. This is up to you. It is not up to the school. If you need to quote legislation at the headteacher, it's the school admissions code (this is secondary legislation) and this has been clarified in the 2015 report of the Office of the Schools' adjudicator.

1. It really helps if they can take themselves to the loo, get changed for PE and put their coat on. Counting, reading and writing early don't make a huge difference compared to the above.

1. label everything

Have I forgotten anything?

If they can't easily read their name, label everything with pictures as well as words.

4. Labelling doesn't prevent stuff going missing. You will lose less stuff if your child has at least some experience of looking after/putting away their own things. Stuff that gets chucked anywhere when changing for PE is likely to end up in someone else's bag at some point.

Be prepared for the crazy number of letters/texts/emails from the school regarding a myriad of issues. I think I had five texts on the first day back alone. Be prepared for silence about key issues such as what time an event in the next day or so starts.

Agree re labelling everything. It will indeed still go missing!

If sending a packed lunch, give them stuff that's easy to eat and won't make loads of mess- both eating it and in the lunchbox after if they don't finish it. Grapes, berries, cut up fruit etc rather than a banana or a satsuma they have to peel. I give mine yoghurt spooned out into a mini Tupperware so they can put the lid back on after and the mess is contained.

What if they can't take themselves to the loo or get changed for PE??
Believe me, I've tried! My DS has ASD and still can't to these things!
Panicking now!!

Definitely label everything, teach them how to wash their hands properly (amazes me how many cant) and practise leaving that special blanky, bear etc at home whenever you go out

Theyre gonna get nits, possibly frequently. They may even get worms.

Kids are disgusting and like to get close to one another. Shit happens, dont be the precious parent who goes nuclear on the school for it.

You may want to buy in a family pack of Ovex and a bottle of Hedrin Once...

ToInfinity: speak to the school early and make plans with them so that they know in advance. You might also be able to make other arrangements to help DC start on the best foot. My DS had similar issues (no ASD-or at least no diagnosis as yet) and school were both accommodating and proactive, which helped enormously.

If they're having school dinners, make sure they can use a knife and fork and can carry a loaded tray.

Other useful skills :

• being able to hang up own coat (extra points for stuffing own hat/gloves in the pocket

• ability to blow own nose (extra points for throwing away tissue)

• sitting still on a mat and listening for a few minutes

• following a two part instruction (eg 'tuck your chair under the table then make a line by the door')

KohlNoor we buy Velcro Kickers. Do we get a gold star?

From my sister in law: stock up on £1 coins for the various non uniform / cake sales / random fund raising events that you will only find out about on the morning of the event itself

Buy some cheapy small envelopes to return slips in with random coins (see tip above re £1 coin collection). I use school dinner ones as they have space for DC name, class and purpose of money.

Don't buy the school coat or pe bag unless it's compulsory. Finding your child's coat or pe bag amongst 500 identical navy ones is impossible.

eBay does pe bags in a variety of colours and they print names on for for free. I think I paid under a fiver.

Stickins labels are brilliant and survive the washer and dryer. Also, buy a sharpie or 10.

I have a box in the kitchen which has a selection of envelopes, paperclips, a stapler, a writing pad, my chequebook & a stash of coins. This box gets raided on a regular basis! I hadn't used a chequebook for years before DC1 started school.
If you have limited access to shops, buy a spare of things like water bottles so that when your DC comes home from school one Tuesday without theirs, you can send them in the next day with the spare.
Be proactive & get other parents email addresses or set up a private Facebook group. A parent in DC1's year did this and it has been brilliant ... most week's a plea goes out asking if anyone else's DC has announced wellies are needed tomorrow or asking for a copy of the homework sheet or something like that.

They'll be tired at the end of the school day. A snack at pick up is always useful.

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Personalised-Drawstring-Bag-Bag-Sack-School-backpack-PE-Swim-Custom-Print-/181479313239 I think this is the one I used.

You will want to know all about their day. They won't tell you much, especially if you ask questions. They will say "nothing", "we played" or "I don't know" if you ask them what they did.
And they won't remember what they had for lunch.

'who farted the loudest?' always got me a giggle and then the talking didn't stop :o

My son has ASD and I told the Head the summer before he was due to start so they were able to prepare for him arriving. If your child has any SN, let the school know beforehand. The school's SENCO later told me lots of children arrive with needs that the school know nothing about and then have to accommodate which is not great for the children or the school.

And another vote for Stickins. Those suckers do not budge.

Another vote for stickins and a box with envelopes/change/cheque book. Also do not give a second thought to what other children are doing with regards to reading. It is a marathon not a sprint.