Getting Ready for Reception

Top tips on getting your child ready for Reception By Miss Skelcey, Reception Teacher at Quinton House

The rst day of school is a big milestone for both children and their parents. It often involves separating from familiar adults and children as they move away from the comfort of nursery and settle into school life.

The transition involves being prepared and taking practical steps that will help you and your child get ready for that exciting if not daunting change! Here are my top tips on how to help prepare your child to ensure their rst day and rst few weeks run as smoothly as possible: • Visit the school in advance so that your child becomes familiar with their new setting. Ensure that your child can meet their new teacher and potentially their new classroom and the environment where they will excel. • Involve your child when purchasing uniform, shoes, equipment and accessories. • Talk to your child about their new routine and talk through some of the activities that they might be doing when they start. You could go to the school’s website to check for a timetable or curriculum overview.

• Practise independence by dressing and undressing, this will help when your child needs to put on their coat and get changed for PE lessons. • Encourage your child to use the toilet independently, including good personal hygiene. Miss Skelcey’s nal top tip… • Name EVERYTHING!! It’s important to make the most of taster or welcome days at your child’s new school as well. For example, at Quinton House School we invite the children and their families into school for a ‘Stay & Learn’ session, taster days and a transition day where they spend the whole day at ‘big school’. Visits to nursery settings and communication with them is also key in my opinion and I ensure that these are completed during the summer term so that information can be passed on e ectively before the start of the academic year. It’s worth asking your child’s new school if they do something similar. During the summer months before starting school, you could make a countdown to the rst day of ‘big school’ to give your child a time frame to focus on. Remember to also celebrate your child’s time in their current setting, as this is the end of a big part in your child’s development. It is the most amazing thing to watch children make a huge amount of progress in their Reception year. Ensuring a smooth transition for your child is a big part of making this happen, so work with the new school and your child’s new teacher as closely as possible, as this will help to eliminate concerns and give your child the best possible start to their school journey.

Miss Skelcey is the Reception Teacher at Quinton House in Northampton, a co-educational day school for children aged 2-18 years. They are committed to o ering teaching and learning in small classes so that pupils’ needs are met and opportunities for development explored. Their aim is to provide your child with a safe, stimulating, and caring environment in which to embark on their school life. If you’d like to nd out more about their nurturing Nursery and Preparatory School call 01604 684828. www.quintonhouseschool.co.uk.