Will my child be ready for reception after a year in lockdown?
Now that state school reception places have been offered, your child’s move to “big school’ might be a concern. Many of you may be wondering if the impact of lockdown has made your little one less ready for reception year. Children may have missed out on valuable time in nursery to help them get ready for this big change. Claire Murdoch, Head of Faraday Prep School would like to put your mind at ease.
“For us at Faraday Prep School, each year we have children join us with a wide range of experiences; some will have been to nursery full time and others not at all. This is all part of the process in the first year of Faraday and we have ample experience making sure all the children who join us transition successfully whatever their previous experience of education may be. This year, many of the children will be in the same position as their classmates in terms of missed time in nursery and we, as I am sure all schools will be, will be taking this into account by spending additional time helping them to settle in.“
The Reception year is a very important time for the children to transition slowly to the demands of school life. Some parents may be considering skipping Reception and joining in Year 1. However, this would not afford children the same opportunity to adapt and grow alongside the others in their class. Reception teachers have a great deal of flexibility in how they deliver the curriculum and so can respond more easily to the children’s needs.
Claire Murdoch, Head at Faraday Prep School shares her top tips for helping children get ready for reception.
Unlike the sudden changes imposed by lockdown, one change that parents can prepare themselves and their children for is the move from nursery to ‘big school’ and, with it, the multitude of emotions from excitement to anxiety. Many children don’t understand these feelings and the associated discomfort can be reflected in withdrawn, mood swings and ‘testing’ behaviours. For some children, the stress may come out in physical symptoms such as stomach cramps or headaches.
Try these tips to ease the transition and help your child get ready for reception so it is a positive experience for your family.
1. Prepare yourself
According to a study a few years ago, 48% of parents were more anxious than their children about starting school. This year that figure could well be higher as we emerge out of lockdown. It’s important that you try to keep your anxiety from your children as 80% of parenting is modeling. If children see us concerned and unsure, they may also start to doubt. Remember, it’s not what they’ve learned in the first 4 years, more that they are ready to learn in the years ahead.
Try to encourage your children to sleep 30 minutes earlier and remember the after school snack to keep children’s blood sugar levels on track to avoid any after school meltdowns! Don’t be hard on yourself, it is a landmark step for you too and if you feel anxious and tearful it’s normal!
2. Talk with children to help them cope with feelings
Some children don’t speak about their feelings but parents can often guess when something isn’t right and need to address the underlying feelings. Don’t try to make it better. It is important children learn how to deal with these feelings and not be protected from them. Often, once expressed they are ready to focus on solutions.
3. Talk about your positive experiences of being a child at school. Mention friends, the activities you liked best, the games you played, and the teachers you remember fondly. Maybe find a photo of you when you were at school.
4. Make opportunities to talk to ensure good communication. Sometimes these come up when you least expect them and they may not be at very convenient moments. Your child may open up at bedtime or something may come up as you’re trying to get them to school or the childminder. You can invite opportunities for conversation through reading books, playing fantasy games, or doing an activity. Whenever possible, try and have a chatty time before bath time so any worries and anxieties are not discussed just as the lights are going out!
Ultimately managing extreme emotions, such as frustration and disappointment, can be hard for young children. Those that get angry and withdrawn easily may struggle to navigate normal classroom politics. Encouraging your child to talk about their feelings, will help them to understand, and better manage their emotions.
5. Build up their confidence familiarising your child will help them get ready for reception. Some ways to help them know what to expect are:
- Visiting or looking at pictures or watching videos of the new school
- Reading books about starting school
- Trying your drive, cycle, or walk during peak hours
- Getting the uniform well in advance and letting them practice putting on their new uniform. Choose child-friendly fastenings where possible on coats and shoes to encourage independence.
- Teach them a morning routine and if they’ll be going to breakfast club, speak to staff about getting them settled.
- Practice going to the toilet independently and all that entails – wiping their bottoms, washing their hands, etc. Give them lots of descriptive praise so that they can start school as this will be expected.
By repeating these daily tasks, not only will your child feel more confident but they will know what is expected of them. Ultimately, making mornings less stressful.
6. Basic Life Skills
Sharing is caring and so much more!
Encourage your child to share. Children need to learn to share so they can make and keep friends, play cooperatively, take turns, negotiate and cope with disappointment. Sharing teaches children about compromise and fairness; they learn that if we give a little to others, we can get some of what we want too!
Tidying up
Encourage your child to tidy up from an early age. Learning to put away their shoes neatly is as important as how they care for their toys and other precious possessions. This is particularly invaluable when 20 children are changing into PE kits in the same room as the Bermuda Triangle of school uniform. On that note, make sure you label everything and show your child where to check for their name, so that they can be reunited with stray socks.
Listening
To get the best out of school, and for their own safety, they will also need to follow instructions and understand rules. It is therefore a good idea to discourage your children from interrupting other people’s conversations. Similarly, sitting still does not always come naturally to children. Family mealtimes are a good opportunity to practice many of these skills. including waiting their turn to talk and helping to tidy up afterward.
When the big day arrives, be upbeat, don’t linger around the classroom door at drop off unless the School encourages you to, and say a cheery goodbye. Even if your child cries, their tears are unlikely to last and teachers are masters of distraction with lots of fun activities. A quick reassuring phone call can be sent later in the day by the staff team if your child was particularly anxious.
With a little preparation, the whole family will be ready for reception, confidently starting this new exciting chapter ready to learn.
Are you interested in Faraday Prep School for reception?
Also this summer, Faraday will hold some Stay and Play picnic sessions at the school in order to help to prepare all the children and parents who are joining Faraday Prep School for Reception in 2021. Parents are invited to attend information sessions and have a chance to see the classroom before their first day of school. Find out more about the school and upcoming taster days here or visit their website for more info:
