Was your child expected to know the alphabet/ how to write some words before they started school?

[Muddle]

I am a Kiwi, so know that children in NZ are not expected/ required to know this (-though some do of course), but living here in NY I know that around here they very much are. They aren't taught anything at preschool so it falls on the parents to teach them. My children will hopefully start school in the UK, so I was wondering what the expectation is over there?

no they are not expected to

but most do

we were told at the new parents evening (in July) that they would expect the children to be able to count to 10 and read and write their own name. Oh and know a few bible stories (Catholic school )

When dd started she wasnt expected to but they did teach her how to write her name, 1-10 and such like. However i have now been told that nursery will now be teaching the single jolly phonics so they will know them when they start in reception.

We were told specifically not to worry about that. Ds couldn't write his name at the start of shcool though did know about half of his letters and could count. We were asked to ensure that he could dress himself, go to the toilet by himself and eat school dinner using cutlery etc.

not expected as such, but in scotland, children at pre-school nursery will be assessed as to what letter names and sounds they know and whether or not they can write their own name.

writing no , recognising a few words like their name , yes, recognising letters (phonetically) and numbers ,perhaps a little but this will all be covered again in Reception. The Nursery/Reception curriculum is called the Foundation Stage and a brief outline of what is covered by the end of the Reception year (the academic year, September to August,during which they turn 5)is is here , tbh practical skills, which engender self confidence and independence, are more important than academics at the outset of school life.

I think children in NY start at age 5 or nearly age 5, so maybe no so unfair to be expected to know the alphabet.(?)

Dd is half way through reception and still doesn't know her alphabet , but she can read a lot of words, anyway.

DD has started school last September and she wasn't expected to know anything really. Her nursery did do some of tis stuff prior to the children moving up to school though.

my dd started school at 5, she could write her name but wouldn't, the teacher was not impressed

yet I was under the false? impression that that is why they go to school to learn such things, I didn't want to teach her any bad habits, she is always pulling me up for the way I write letters

It depends on the school but as a general rule it is useful if the child can write their own name, or are beginning to, and are familiar with numbers 1-10 (have heard them, have done some counting with you, etc,) and are beginning to learn letter sounds. Please emphasise learning the sounds of the letters, not just the names (eg a = 'ah' not 'ayyy'. I would not expect children starting reception to necessarily know any of these things, but I think it gives them a good start if they do.

ditto Enid.

Nope. She did know the alphabet, courtesy of her pre-school, but could read bugger-all.

Will depend on where in the UK you are, and what kind of school it is. Expectations vary wildly.

No, they could recognise their names, written down, but that's about it.

Oh, and both recognised the McDonalds logo

No, not expected here. In fact, in Ireland, DD was positively discouraged from writing in the first year. (Teacher had ideas that it would prevent her development in other areas. )

I digress... No, I've never heard of a child in reception being expected to know. They may be assessed, but it's just so the teacher knows their level.