Anyone else worried about DC starting school?

[Gemma77]

I'm sure I am not the only mum who is worried about their little one starting school this year - at least I hope not

My DS was 4 in Jan and starts reception this September. We went to visit the school and he loved it - kept saying wow love him!

He has been going to a day nursery 4 days a week since he was 6 months old so I always hoped that he would find it relatively easy to settle into school. However, we still have sensitive days when he doesnt want me to leave him. Most of the time I can settle him quickly (encouraging him to give me the biggest wave he can through the door window normally does it!) but he is still tearful. Thankfully, it doesnt happen often but there are some days when I just have to walk away and leaving him screaming for me with one of the nursery staff.

The reason I'm worried is that I know he will be upset when I leave him at school for the first few days/weeks. But surely schools don't have the 1-4 ratio his nursery have and with lots of other kids starting, I doubt the teacher will be able to focus on my DS to help settle him?

It makes me feel sick just thinking about it - I would really value any advice from other mums who have been in the same situation and little ones survied!

Gemma x

All children have their sensitive days and some take a little longer to settle into school than others.

My dd2 started school in January, and she seems to have settled in now. It started well for her, with a honeymoon period. She loved being with the big girls. Then after two weeks she cottoned on to the fact that this is her life for the next 14 years. She suddenly started not wanting to go. she couldn't explain why, just that she wanted to be with me. In the past week, she is really enjoying school again. She was sent to the head a few days ago for a merit award because she had been tidying up the classroom.

My daughter's nursery also had an excellent staff ratio. Her reception class has 30 children and three adults. It is true that children do not get so much individual attention, although many schools do stagger their intake and make a particular fuss of new starters.

The first few weeks can be tough for the children (and parents) but it does get better, and it goes up and down. Please don't make yourself sick with worry. It's great that your ds is looking forward to school and the best thing you can is encourage his excitement.

as a nursery nurse and a mum,gnerally by 4 children have grown out of 'day nursey'lots of work at nursery will have revolved round getting him set up ready for school.

reception class isnt a huge leap theres still lots of play,classroom support and the teachers tend to try and 'know' the children beforehand,sensitive children are immediately reassured because at that agegroup if one little one cries it can trigger of more.

your child has already had lots of foundation work hes already used to routine and will have been encourged to develop independence.

i think you will be pleasantly relieved once he begins school but in the meantime dont let it spoil the next few months-your worry is more about uncertainty for him in a new environment-lots of children cope and take it in their stride and those that need a little help do so much quicker with a on the ball supportive mum - that you are .

He will be fine, my ds starts full time in school in sept and has had a time of it settling into nursery but even though there is a class of 30 and only teacher and teaching assistant they handled it really really well. He will do well as he is already used to being somewhere all day for 4 days..think that will be the biggest shock to my ds as he still comes home after 2.5hrs.

Maybe look into deferring his place if you still think he won't cope with it in Sept?

Don't forget that it's another 6 months until September and your ds will have grown enormously in that time. Also, as our dc's grow up, our own feelings of protectiveness change.