Helping Your child Get Ready to Start Primary School

The transition from nursery to primary school will feel like a big step for both your child and you. A regimented and longer day is to be expected, as well as strict rules when it comes to dress code and behaviour.

Your child’s nursery should have prepared them when it comes to learning the basics before moving up to primary, but it is up to you to make them feel positive about the move and what is to come.

Firstly, check if your school has a system where you can communicate regularly with teachers and staff. Some schools have adopted online communication systems, such as parentmail.co.uk, where you can access information about the school and have an easy way of corresponding. This will help when it comes to checking your child is accommodated for, should they have any special requirements. 

Preparing your child for what is to come is of great importance. A recent Daily Mail article stated that Ofsted, the official body for inspecting schools, believes that there should be a ten-point checklist of skills every parent should ensure their child has. Here are some ways you can help your child prepare for primary school: 

1. A few weeks before their start date begin talking to them about school and why they need to go. Explain that they are going to learn lots of new and exciting things and will make lots of new friends. You could even take some books out of the library about school and read these with your child beforehand, it will all become clearer if they have a fun character to associate school with. 

2. Tell them about playtime and lunchtime and encourage them to sit at the table to eat their lunch, rather than in front of the television or on the floor.

3. If they are having school dinners cook hot lunches for them and make sure they are comfortable using a knife and fork.  

4. Help them with their number and literary skills a few weeks before. Play some simple number games and when you are out together do some number spotting using door numbers, prices on tags, road signs etc.  

5. Make sure they are comfortable with dressing and undressing themselves in their school uniform and that they have everything they need – some schools require you to have special clothes for P.E and a bookbag with the school logo. Ensure that their shoes are comfortable and let them wear them around the house to break them in before school starts.

6. When it comes to using the toilet check that they are more than capable doing this by themselves and that they understand the importance of washing their hands.

7. Make sure they know the importance of sitting still and listening, a good exercise to help them with the transition is to sit them on the floor and teach them to cross their legs, then read a short book. Praise them if they sit still and quiet, but remember this can be a lot harder for boys, so be patient. 

8. If you know any parents whose children are starting at the same time arrange play dates so they can meet and get to know each other before their first day. If they know that someone they know and like is going to be there, there should be no issue when you leave them at the gates on the first day.

Remember, you will feel just as nervous as your little one on their first day so be sure not to let this show, act positively about the change and they will feel positive too. Most of all, teach them that school is a fun place to be and monitor their behaviour in the few weeks after they have started.

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