New Reception Starters

[101SpottyDogs]

I would really appreciate if someone could let me know if I am over reacting at the schools plan for DD who will be starting reception in September.

Letters were sent in May informing us that the usual things they would do to ease the children in would not be done (the teacher usually visits the preschool twice to get to know them, read them a story etc and then there are two visits to the school with a parent present where they can see the classrooms etc) however no mention was made of what would be done but I naively assumed they either had a plan or were working on one.

Speaking to parents at other schools many had had lovely phone calls from the teachers, zoom calls and even visits from the teacher to the house to meet the children on the doorstep (socially distantced of course).

A week ago I received a phone call from her teacher. It was very short and formal, she told me I could look on the school website and show DD a video of her reading a story but did not ask any questions about DD, how she was doing nor did she ever reference DD by name. I understand she had a lot of these calls to make but it really didn't feel personal at all. She asked me if I had any concerns, but it felt more like a formality than like she really cared. I said I was concerned generally about DD going to school after being at home for 5 and a half months and with her being one of the younger ones in the year but nothing specifically. The teacher said they would send more details of the plan for September.

On Friday I received an email with instructions for DD starting at the beginning of September. We have to drop her off for a 1.5 hr session and then the next day she is in half days with lunch. We are instructed that me must drop off and leave immediately, we must not hang around.

So I have to drop DD off at a building she's never been into before with people she's never met and I mustn't hang around and that's it? Of course this was sent at the end of the day so by the time I saw the email and called to discuss it the school was closed for the holidays.

I understand that COVID has made things more difficult and it was not going to operate as usual but it just feels like no regard has been given to the children out of a nursery/pre school setting for so long and then thrown into this new and scary environment.

Am I massively over reacting? How has your school dealt with setting reception starters in? I'm getting really upset about it all.

It seems so variable. DD is the only kid from her preschool going to her primary school. Other preschool kids have had video tours of their new schools, Zoom meetings with teachers, info packs given to them etc. We had nothing for weeks, until just before the end of term when we were sent a form to fill in for allergies and personal info. This has to be returned to the school in person. Then an email that said we had to go there to pick up an info pack, so another trip to the school (which at least means DD has seen it).

We now have a picture of her teacher and know that she likes playing with sand. In Sept there will be a 45 minute meeting where one parent can go with child for a tour of Reception, they will then go and play briefly whilst we have a parents' meeting (which seems weird as other schools aren't allowing parents on premises), then they go in for two hours about five days later. They have a week of two hour sessions, increasing to half a day, then in full time.

That soundx like ours Riding.
A session where parents go in which seems a very bad idea. Then i think a few hours a day the following week and full time by the 26th or so of sept.

When is she 5? She doesn’t have to be in full time school until compulsory school age. Mine will be going part time for the first term at least and I’ll see how she gets on after that.
It is a bit crap dropping them somewhere completely new. Not knowing where the toilets are etc.

@Keepdistance thankfully mine's in full days by 14 Sept so there isn't much faffing around. We're having enough trouble covering that with annual leave and we still don't know if wraparound childcare will be available!

If it makes you feel any better, when we moved last year my son started reception at his school for the first time with no introductions or anything. He was a bit nervous but loved his first day and was really happy with school after that.

He was only at that school for a month and then moved very short notice to his permanent primary. He loves it there too, with similarly little introduction.

Aww that does seem abit unfair! My DD is going into year one and we've had similar warnings. We've got to go around to a. Entrance we don't use normally because it's an extra five minute walk. We must follow the one way system and not go into the playground. I also felt abit disappointed that we were not allowed into the playground. She's never seen her new class and neither have I. She's been home for five months too.

I remember taking my DD in for her first half days and the teaching staff were amazing. All so bubbly and kind. They usually have a very warm personality if they teach reception. So they will take good care of your daughter. But I do agree it's abit negative isn't it. You just want her to have the start she deserves. All the kids will be in the same boat. Once she's sat next to another child or (like my DD last year) realised from be other girls have the same shoes she will hopefully come out happy. It's usually a nice colourful classroom with lots of toys. My DD even had fish and a guinea pig!

I know it's hard but I think you've just got to tell her all about it. Expect her to feel nervous or cry on her first day but take heart that she will probably come out a happy little thing.

Sending you a hug I really feel for the littlest. I think we will have some wobbles too. I'm also dreading the staggered collections and queing system.

For both of mine starting reception (at different schools) we were told to drop and go, no parents in the classroom right from the beginning. The reasoning being that the children don't settle when you're there so we did door drop right from the beginning. And I can say it definitely works! Vast majority of the kids in both classes were settled very quickly. There were probably a couple in each class which needed more encouragement, but the rest all just lined up and went in with no problems. So try not to worry.