Reception Starter - How can I help?

[Allmyarseandpeggymartin]

Hi teachers!

DS starts reception on Thursday and I haven’t been in a primary school (except to visit this one) for 25 years.

How can I practically help DS, the teacher and the school?

Is there anything I can read or sign up to? Should I join the PTA?

I’m feeling very out of my depth

I love a parent helper that I can rely on. Will be different currently as can’t have people in to read but that is so helpful when it is allowed again.

Might have been better to ask 6 months ago

The best things for you to focus on are his independence skills. Can he :

take his own jumper off
Put it on
Recognise when he is hot / cld and make that decision
Go to the toilet independently - whatveer fastenings he has on his trousers / wiping himself / washing his hands properly
Recognise his own coat
do up his own coat
Know to put his gloves deep into his pockets (and scarf and hat stuffed in his sleeve when it gets to that time of year)
Recognise his shoes
Put his shoes, together, under his own chair, not kicking them off and leaving wherever they land
Put his shoes on, on the right feet
Understand that when the time comes to get changed for PE, he leaves his pants and vest on
Take jumper / shirt off without turning them inside out
Pull his sleeve through if it gets inside out
Carry a tray (if having dinner)
Open his lunchbox (if taking packed lunch)
Open containers or lids (yoghurt lid, for example)
Pour water out from a jug
Cope in a group (not talking over others for example)
Recognising his name is useful - for finding his peg or his book out of a pile when they all look the same - or the label in his jumper

It is helpful if you:
Understand when he says something that sounds odd, that 4 yr olds are not always the most reliable witnesses or story retellers - reserve judgement and try to find out more if he says things that concern you rather than getting worked up

Read letters when they come, and return what is needed, promptly
Try to understand the school are unlikely to be doing anything just to make your life difficult. They are dealing with hundreds of small children, plus a Gvmnt that changes rules and regulations 41 times a week. Yup, they might get things wrong sometimes, but they are doing their best.
Read with your child
Listen to your child
Talk to your child

I'm sure there are many more, but this will lift you off unanswered threads

Listen to him read every day.
Be happy to see him when he comes out. Look at his picture. Put it on the fridge. Show him you value school.
Label his possessions properly so they easier for him to find. Imagine being four and having to read faded sharpie on ten identical jumpers to find your own.

Think about the practicalities of him getting his belongings together and getting dressed for PE.

Things I did were:

• half a smiley face in each shoe/plimsoll/wellie so when they get out side by side they make up a whole face. It makes it easy for them to put shoes on the correct feet.

• gloves on a string through coat arms so they don't go missing and go on the correct hands

• distinctive stickers on his book bag, water bottle,....... so it's easy for them to find stuff and get it together.

• spent some time doing 'getting dressed' races at home to practice getting dressed quickly and taught how to turn inside out stuff the right way out.

• DD round she missed us a lot and felt lonely in the first few days so we got a heart key ring which we 'loaded up' with kisses and cuddles each morning. It was then attached to her book bag so if she felt lonely she could stroke it and feel love.

• taught her this trick for putting on coats

Ha! @BackforGood you’re so right about the last minute ness of this

Great suggestions everyone, he’s been in nursery since 10 months so he’s good with coats/toileting/getting dressed/feeding and serving himself.

Good point about PE kit and keeping pants on - I’ll practice unpacking the kit and putting it on with him.

I’ve labelled everything and shown him where to find his name - which he can recognise.

I love the heart keyring idea - I’ll think of something similar (hankie maybe) that can be taken in these times.

When things are looking better - I’ll speak to the teacher about being a parent helper. We read everyday at home and that seems like a simple but helpful way to contribute to the school (without getting involved in that other nest of vipers - the PTA!)