Help, please! What should a child know how to do when they start reception?

[joguialax]

My ds starts reception class in september, We are latinamericans and recently we moved to UK, the schools and school system are totally diferents here and I have just begun to panic!
He goes to nursery 3 days per week but he still has not good social skills. Maybe because our maternal idiom is spanish and he's learning english, but he can dress himself and wipe his bum when he's done a poo.
I just would like to know what primary schools expect them to be able to do both educationally and socially?
I would appreciate any information you can give me about a day at reception class?
Thank you very much in advance.

I think if he can dress himself, go to the toilet and wipe properly, eat and drink independantly, and obey simple instructions (sit still, come here, stop) most of the time, then that is all the teachers expect really. Everything else they can do is a bonus, so don't worry

Dress themselves for pe
wipe bum
hold knife n fork
listen and obey commands

thats it really, dont panic, he will be fine

No panic needed - you will be surprised how quickly they learn once they are there and I would say just keep using English with him as much as you can to help him understand what is being said to him at school and so he can start to interact with the other children more easily too - mind you children manage to communicate even with language barriers and get on well at that age.

Just to add my daughter had a girl from South America join her class in year 1 with no English. The girl settled fine, and has several friends. (And speaks English).

They don't even expect your child to even be able to hold a pencil. Great if they can but it isn't a requirement.

As others have said, go to toilet independently and listen to instructions are the basics.

That is about it, I was always worried about who would help my son choose his dinner, would someone cut up his food for him? The answer is yes there are teachers and dinner ladies.

All the above, plus put his coat on (ooh and do up the zip - he'll win brownie points there!)

Having worked as a TA in a reception class, I can confirm I spent a lot of time sorting out coat zips (and very happy to do it too, but it was always a relief to see the child who had managed coat, zip, hat, gloves and wellies her or him self! )

Good luck to yr DS.

Our school said the most they would expect academically would be to write name, and that wasnt even essential. Recognsising their name was also really useful.

But they really really wanted them to be able to dress themselves as it takes almost the whole PE hour to change 30 kids if they all need help!! Independant toileting was very high up too, although that said DS comes home with a err 'grubby' bum quite often still

You wont believe how fast they change once they start

Not sure if it has been said already but hanging his coat up not dropping it on the floor. Even knowing which coat is his - some children can't recognise their own when faced with a choice of two very different coats.

Maybe you could try focussing on getting him to understand concepts like :-
behind
in front
at the side
under
over
together
now
later
right
left
in a line
partner
face this way etc
Think about what hes going to be asked to do
Good luck

Why don't you sign him up for some structured activities (eg swimming classes) over the summer holidays, so that he gets a bit more practise with being part of a group than he has done at nursery?

From the bottom of my heart, thank you very much!
I am more relaxed after read your posts and tips.
I really hope that my DS has a very good experience at your school.
Thank you very much.

Eat with a knife and fork.
Ask to go to the toilet.
Know their Teacher's name.
Pun on and take off their coat and shoes.

Think that's about it.

Don't bother trying to teach letters. lots of children in DS' class were taught their letters only to find out they had been taught a different way and got very distressed.

Also wouldn't teach reading. I could read when I started school and was very bored for the first 2 or 3 years while the others caught up.

Just realised that you also asked about a day in Reception class.

Has your DS been on any visits to his new class yet?

My DS had a few visits and we also asked for a school visit so we were shown around, without DS. We found both of these very useful as we all knew what was in store for him.

I think in Reception they mainly learn through play so there may be alot of stories, singing, making things, role play.

DS loved Reception and I hope yours will too.

Oooh I missed that bit too!

DS' day goes something like this

8.30 Arrive and free play
9.00 Registration and carpet time
Free play
10.00 Snack
An activity- well usually they seem to have 3 or 4 different ones and they chose which to do
free play
Just in the last few weeks they have just added in reading practice
12.00 lunch
free play
Afternoon registration
Carpet time & story time
Writing practice (again this is new)
free play
Structured activity
3.15 home

They do one thing each day also
Mon, Tues & Fri they do PE
Wed they go the library
Thurs is gardening

And also my pleasure to help, glad it could reassure you a bit xx