Reception school worries

[MidiMitch]

Need some advice about DS starting school. He has been in nursery full time since 6 months old and has always coped really well but I for some reason I'm in a right panic about school because there's so many things I think he can't do. What happens after PE if he can't get his shirt buttons done up? Will someone help? I have also really tried to get him to wipe his own bottom but he has really resisted this. Has anyone else experienced this? I think my anxiety stems from the fact that I work FT and, apart from day 1, will never be there for pick up or drop offs. Relying on Grandma and school coach. Has anyone else had these worries? Is it normal for a child to start school not being able to do everything straight away.l? Any advice welcome - I have two weeks left to get him ready. What should I prioritise?

Try not to worry - children enter Reception with varying degrees of readiness/capability.
Do they have shirts with buttons? it's usually polo shirts in KS1 so no need to be doing up buttons anyway. Make sure shoes/trainers etc have Velcro not laces :-)
As far as I know, my two never went for a poo at school so the bottom wiping was a non issue!
But anyway teachers and TAs will be used to it and will help. I'd prioritise him being able to ask an adult for help when he needs it :-)

Thanks so much suitcaseofdreams. He is in full shirt and tie in Reception. Only 10 in his class so hopefully the teacher / TA will help. I have a feeling (hope) he can do more than he lets on as his reports from Nursery were always fine in terms of his level of independence. I think he can be quite lazy at home and pretends he can't so I do it for him.

They'll help him with dressing - if the uniform is shirt and tie then they will all need helping!
They won't help with toileting so prioritise that.
Also: recognising his name and belongings (eg coat)
Putting coat and shoes on and off
Eating with cutlery

The rest he will learn.

Ds had two ways of getting changed for PE in year R.
One was to take literally everything off including pants.
The second was to put his PE kit over the top of his uniform.

He frequently came out of school after PE with his socks and t-shirt inside out and his shorts and sweatshirt backwards. In fact it was more commonly like that than correct and he briefly started a fashion among his peers for wearing the sweatshirt backwards.

He learnt.

My ds couldn't do buttons, we tried but he got so upset and frustrated. The teacher or TA helped him and we carried on practicing at home. He got it by the Christmas term but it wasn't really a problem, so really don't worry about that. With bum wiping again, just keep encouraging him to do it himself. Most kids don't like to poo in school anyway so we have had to factor in a bit of extra time in the mornings to make sure ds can sit on the loo for a bit. Worst case scenario you may get a couple of skiddy underpants!

I do see where you are coming from, I was worried sick about ds starting school but he had an absolute ball of a reception year and can't wait for year one.

Thanks Owletterocks. I have been so chilled about everything else in his life but school just seems such a huge step!

Oh and we have shirt and tie too, it's a pain for 4 year olds! Marks and Spencer's shirts have a Velcro top button which helps a bit. But as pp have said, you will be able to tell when they have had pe, trousers on back to front, shoes on the wrong feet etc. It's quite comical, but they do learn quite quickly

I think the most important thing to instil in him is how to ask for help politely. Lots of Reception children struggle with dressing and self care, work on these skills at home but the staff will be used to a range of ability. You may find they don't change for pe apart from shoes to start with.

I can only echo others, my ds was in reception last year, still can't do his buttons, I still wipe his bum. pE kit would be inside out, kids learn and adapt. Don't worry, teachers will help, encourage enjoyment and fun, it's the law at this age! 😀

I think the key thing is you say he has always coped well at nursery. That means he's keen to lean and will always have a go. I know it's a worrying and emotional time but he'll be fine!

They will definitely help with buttons and ties, as long as your DS has had a go first himself. First few PE lessons of the year and just getting u dressed/putting kit on, it takes so long to start with there's no actual time for PE. Definitely second the M&S shirts, the top button is the worst so Velcro is a life saver.

School staff won't wipe his bottom after a poo, so I'd focus on getting him to do that himself, that needs to be his priority.

My ds has pretty major fine/gross/balance motor issues and has just finished reception. He still can't do up buttons and one of his female classmates does them up for him (in general she seems to like to mother other children so neither mind).
Lol you can also tell p e day as there are a parade of children with backwards clothes. One week one of the other boys had all his clothes on backwards.
Ds has never had a poo at school so no idea about that.

Sounds a nightmare. Good luck.

He needs to be able to toilet independently, No-one will wipe his bottom in reception.

There are ten children in the class? Ye gads, he'll be fine.

RE bottom wiping. He will be helped if the staff are aware. Sometimes they don't tell you and you're sniffing about trying to find the culprit!

Gone are the days of schools insisting on children being toilet trained.

He'll be fine!! yrR kids always look comical after PE. Bum wiping - well he'll learn by the end of the year ( we had the odd skid pants with my two). Honestly don't worry x

I always wonder how teachers resist he urge to correct kids when they are wandering about with shoes on the wrong feet or jumpers totally back to front. My DS used to come home with his PE kit still on under his uniform

If you notice and have a chance you correct. I spend a lot of time pointing out shoes on the wrong feet.

"I always wonder how teachers resist he urge to correct kids when they are wandering about with shoes on the wrong feet or jumpers totally back to front. " they don't but in a class of thirty sometimes a few escape notice or you notice as they are going out the door.

I'm a TA and spend part of my week in Reception class. Shirt-buttoning and bum-wiping are are definitely helped with.
We have time constraints, but generally treat them as our own. Don't worry.