How to deal with DD afraid - no terrified - of starting foundation?

[Pendulum]

DD1 is 4 and will start school in 4 weeks.

She is extremely anxious, having nightmares, showing regressive behaviour, clinging to me, and generally playing up. At her induction visit she howled and had to be pulled off my neck so I could leave the room. We have another tomorrow and I am dreading it.

She has been in nursery care since she was a baby and has previously been a very confident child, but she suddenly seems gripped by anxiety about not knowing the rules, getting things wrong, not being able to read etc.

It's very upsetting and also frustrating because, never having had this problem before, I don't know the best way to deal with it. Should I indulge her clinginess whenever practicable to give her comfort, or should I be brisk and keep saying the same things about how it will all be fine when she settles in? It is as if someone has replaced her with a different child. Any advice/ reassurance would be very welcome!

bump

anyone got any tips/ strategies for helping her to relax a bit over christmas (or for helping me to get through tomorrow.)... please?

i would comfort her. don't tell her it's fine, or it will be fine otherwise she'll just think you aren't listening to her concerns or that, she shouldn't be worried, when she is and she can't help it.

let her know that you know she is scared, and worried and that often when we dont know much about something it is scary. but that most of the time it's really ok when we get there.
are any of her nursery friends going to the same school?

Why not play at schools, with her and some toys as the children, and give her a chance to "role play" so she feels more comfortable? Things perhaps like asking to go to the toilet, putting her hands up, getting changed for PE etc?

thanks.
last night I told her about when I started school and how I was nervous too. she listened for while but then said, mummy this conversation is finished, read me a book now please!

none of her frineds are going, which makes it much harder I think.

jollyholly what a brill idea.

she can spend all day doing make believe games.

will try after her visit tomorrow. she will either love it or see right through it and refuse point blank

oh bless her. it is hard isn't it?
jollyholly's idea is good though, kids do learn a lot through role play and it may well help her

you might also find out if it's something specific that's worrying her, it might come out in conversation. If she won't play at being a pupil, let her be the teacher and see if it works that way.

You can tell I've got an anxious dd can't you!