Starting

These top tips have been designed to support you with an effective transition into starting school for you and your child. Using these ideas will depend on the personality of your child as well as the communications from the individual school your child will be attending, therefore you can adapt these to work for you and your child.

Virtually visit the school together

Even if they visited with you when you were choosing schools, it is a great idea to support your child to become familiar with their new environment. This will help their understanding, confidence and may prompt them to ask questions. While you may not physically be able to go into the school at the moment, why not plan a walk or drive past the new school? Also, have a look on the school website or social media page. Most schools will have pictures of some parts of the school that you and your child can look at together.

Sharing information

Before your child starts school, share as much information as you can about your child with the teacher. Information could include your child's interests, what they enjoy doing, any dietary or medical conditions or any particular needs the school needs to support your child with.
Teachers will often speak to your child's nursery to gather information on your child's development as well. This will help give the teachers a baseline to next support your child with their development and learning. In the current circumstances each school will have a different approach to how they are collating this information. Your school will be in touch to let you know how they are doing this but you could always contact them to find out more.

Talk about school

Talk about school with your child where you have opportunity to do so. Talk to your child about the exciting things they will do and learn at school. Allow time for your child to ask any questions, which will support any concerns they may have. You could also share positive experiences of when you were at school or encourage older siblings or other family members to talk to them. Use key words to support your child’s understanding, for example when they go outside at nursery they go into the garden, but at school they will go to the playground.

Make relationships

Let your child's nursery know which school your child has been offered and if you are happy for this information and your contact details to be shared with other families. This will support your child's centre in putting you in touch with other people that your child already knows that are starting at the same school. Why not arrange a virtual playdate with all of the families so you can get to know each other and your child can feel confident that there will be some familiar faces on their first day?

Sharing stories

There are a range of story books that are based on going to school. Try reading some of these books with your child to support them understanding starting school is a positive experience. If your child is anxious about something specific, relating to a character in a story may help them to feel more secure with this situation.

Shopping for school

When obtaining school essentials, we would usually recommend taking your child with you, however in the current circumstances, you could show them what you will be buying on-line. Involving them in the process supports them to feel confident and positive about what is happening. For example, you could give them the choice between two different lunchboxes or pairs of shoes.
When buying school uniform, try to stick to items of clothing with easier fastenings for your child, as this will help them feel more confident when getting changed at school. Encourage your child to try on their uniform before they start school so they become familiar with this.
Practicing getting dressed on a daily basis with your child is a great experience, as this will support their independence as well as their confidence, so when starting school comes around they will be able to get dressed before or during school.
Don't forget to label all of your children's school items to support them with knowing which items are theirs.

Look out for our weekly starting school tips that we will be sharing on our Facebook page starting from the beginning of May!