Preparing your child for infant school and reception year

Starting school can be both exciting and daunting for your child.  Here are some tips and hints to help them as they prepare for school:

• Talk positively about school and how starting school is the next step in growing up.
• Talk about how to make friends, introduce themself and say the things they like to do and play.
• If your child has not had many opportunities to play and share with other children, you might want to arrange a couple of play dates with friends before they are in a class with lots of other children.
• Teach your child to recognise their own written and printed name.
• Make sure your child is able to use the toilet alone, including how to dress/ undress, flush the toilet, and clean themself appropriately.
• Encourage your child to put away their own toys each day and put rubbish in the bin, so that they accept it is their responsibility to help keep their environment tidy.
• Encourage your child to use cuttlery and open food packets at home so that they are more independent at lunch times.
• Show your child how to put on and take off their coat, hat, scarf and gloves, including buttons, zips and fasteners.
• Try teaching your child how to turn clothing through the right way and to tie shoe laces, or think about clothing and shoes that your child is able to put on independently.
• Role play with your child talking about how they feel and asking adults for help - for example if they feel unwell, need to blow their nose, or they don't understand what they need to do.  Remind them that the adults in school are all here to help them and they will find it much easier if they are able to talk about their needs.
• Play listening and concentration games with your child like 'Simon Says', 'I spy', 'Aunt Sally', or 'Copy Me'
• Give your child two-step instructions to follow like "Get your book, then go and wait on the sofa for me"
• Start setting good bed time and early morning routines - maybe practice the route to school a couple of times with your child, so you know how long you need in the morning to be on time for school.
• Get your child to wear their school uniform a few times before September so that they get used to the feel of it and you can make sure it fits properly.  Not sure what uniform they need or where to get it?  Check out the link here:

We will contact you to invite you to a welcome meeting, in which we present information about starting with us and answer your questions.  Sometimes we need to hold these meetings remotely and we do this via Zoom webinars.  You will need internet access and to download the free zoom app for this purpose.

If your child has specific needs make an appointment to speak with an appropriate member of staff to discuss their individual requirements.