Preparing for Nursery & Reception

It truly is a strange time and we understand at Winshill Village Primary School and Nursery that parents are concerned with the transition of their child/children into their next year group. We really do hope that we see you all before the summer. From speaking to parents via phone calls it is clear that a lot of you are asking about your child’s next class, specifically how you can prepare your child to be ready. We thought it would be a good opportunity in this week’s blog to talk about your child’s next step; transition.

First of all, a big thank you, Isabelle, Elodie, Rex, Thomas and William, for letting us know what you have been doing at home. We are so pleased to see so many pictures being sent in. Remember if you have a drawing or a photograph of what you have been up to, feel free to send it via the Home Learning Showcase. We love to see what you have been up to.

Little Winners

Little Winners will become Little Stars soon enough! We have compiled points to help you and your child feel prepared. There’s plenty you can do to help your child feel ready for their next step and to ease the transition once they start.

What to do before your child starts in Little Stars-

Ensure your child knows the basics: recognising their first name, getting dressed and undressed, using the toilet on their own (if your child has not been potty trained, don’t worry. This is something we can work on together).

Let them practise these points without your help at home so they get used to being more independent.

Talk about other children they might know there.

If we are back at school or not you will have opportunities to talk through any concerns with the staff, who’ll be very experienced and ready and willing to help.

What to do on your child’s first day at Little Stars-

Ensure you feel – or at least appear – calm and relaxed.

Be well prepared so that you can give your reassurance and positive attention to lift their confidence for the big day.

A note about the school day in Little Stars-

At Winshill Village Nursery classes are bright, active places where physical activity is encouraged. Learning through fun is the order of the day.

The school day is designed to give children experiences of the world by:

Playing games, using construction toys, observing and interacting, touching and feeling.

Questions and self-expression are encouraged and teachers aim to build up confidence, self-esteem and independence. It should add up to an enjoyable experience.

Settling your child into Little Stars-

Remember your child would have had some sort of interaction with the teachers and TA’s in Little Stars throughout their time in Little Winners already. Although if your child doesn’t feel 100% comfortable with the staff, physically hand them over, introducing them at the same time.

Once they seem settled and happy, don’t hover in anticipation of problems or confuse them with last-minute instructions.

Kiss them goodbye, say you’ll see them a bit later and leave.

Coming home from Little Stars-

Even if your child has found the whole experience easy, they’ll probably be very tired and need some extra attention and cuddles.

Be ready for tears, even tantrums. It doesn’t mean there’s a problem – they may just need extra reassurance for a while.

If your child does seem really tired, bring bedtime forward by half an hour until they adjust.

Be supportive and stay positive – they’ll pick up on your mood and carry it over to the next day at nursery.

Initial problems at Little Stars – and how to deal with them

1. Not wanting to go:

Some children seem to settle very easily and then, a fortnight later, decide they don’t like it.

Establish that there’s no underlying reason, then firmly but gently explain they have to go. If tiredness is a real issue, tell their teacher or TA, who may suggest your child goes home earlier for a few weeks until they settle down again.

2. Not having anyone to play with:
This is a common feeling that children often express but the situation is usually less serious than it sounds.

We will let you know if there’s a real problem.

3. Scared to ask to go to the toilet:
Many children are shy at this age and don’t want to draw attention to themselves.

Have a word with any of LS teachers/TA’s who will encourage them to go the toilet throughout the day. If they are still anxious about what will happen if they have an accident, reassure them that it happens to plenty of children and the teachers will deal with it kindly. If your child prefers to use Little Winners toilet for a while, this is ok. We will be more than happy to allow your child to use a familiar toilet if that suits them.

Ways to make your child starting Little Stars easier for you-

Set up routines for mealtimes and bedtimes, so your child starts each day fresh and ready to learn.

Help your child learn to concentrate by giving them short, structured activities, such as puzzles, cooking or painting, and encourage him to finish them once begun.

Read to your child every day to help develop language skills, a love of books and an awareness of print.

Encourage your child to do lots of drawing and colouring, especially of shapes as that will help to develop maths concepts and early writing skills.

Ways to make your day easier when you child is at Nursery-

Give yourself plenty of time in the morning so you can stay calm and relaxed.

As long as you’re contactable, make plans and keep busy while your child’s away. Do something relaxing and un-mumsy.

Remind yourself that this new stage of parenting will be just as rewarding as the baby stage – only more fun.

Focus on the positive. Shopping will be much easier – no buggy or little voice saying ‘need a wee’ or ‘want a drink’.

Don’t forget Winshill Village nursery will be as keen as you are for your child to settle in happily, and they have years of experience – it’s only a first for you!

Useful Websites-

Oxford Owls- What to expect in Early Years
Cbeebies- Child development

Little Stars

I bet you can’t believe it, your Little Stars will become primary school students soon enough and we just know that they are all going to flourish!

You can help your child look forward to Reception by removing the fear of the unknown. As your child already goes to WHV Nursery the move up to 'big school' should be a bit easier, but in any case, knowing what to expect will help.

Talk about school-

Always be positive and enthusiastic about all the fun things that will happen at school, talk about their friends from Little Stars being with them.

Getting ready for Reception-

Equipping your kids with some practical skills that will help them feel happy and confident about starting Reception is far more important than trying to get a head-start on academic performance.

Unless you particularly want to teach your child to read or write before they start school (and they want to learn), concentrate your efforts on getting a few basic skills in place. Encourage them to take an interest in the world around them, and to want to do things for themselves. It won't be long before your child's learning letters, numbers and words at school. There'll be plenty of opportunities to support and praise them then.

Practical Skills-

In Reception, there are things your child will be expected to do for themselves that you may still help them with at home. Encourage them to do these things independently:

Get dressed (and undressed):
Make a game out of putting on their school uniform and changing into their PE kit. Then changing back again. You’ll soon find out which bits they need to practise.

Most children in Little Stars have already mastered putting on their coat. There are some interesting techniques including laying the coat on the floor, putting arms in and flipping it over the head– whatever works for your child (ask your child to demonstrate their skills)! Can your child fasten their coat, put on gloves, a scarf and a hat? Of course, the teaching staff in Reception will be more than happy to assist your child with this, but if they can do it themselves then that’s means no waiting around for them! And when it comes to shoes, bring on the velcro!

Go to the toilet, wash and dry their hands:
Make sure your child is happy going to the toilet on their own, their uniform is easy to pull down and up (or up and down), and they feel confident enough to put their hand up and ask to go.

Don’t worry if they have the odd accident as they’re settling in - it's ok, nobody will be cross with them. It’s something teachers and teaching assistants are used to, and help is at hand when it's needed (It would be extremely helpful if you please ensue that you pack spare clothes).

Talk about how important it is to wash their hands really well after going to the toilet. Try covering their hands with paint (the germs) and getting them to practise washing it all off.

Eat with others and use cutlery:
If your child will be having a hot lunch, ensure they are confident with using cutlery. If they're having packed lunch, make sure they can open cartons and packets and unwrap a sandwich without help.

Eating lunch usually lasts around half an hour, so get them used to sitting at the table without getting up and down and using cutlery to eat their food - it will be expected of them at school.

Educational Skills-

As already stated you may want your child to be able to read and write a little before they start school. That’s fine if it’s what you want and your child is keen to get started, but it’s definitely not a requirement. However, there are a few things you can do that will help on a practical level, and encourage your child to enjoy learning:

Help them recognise their name:
It’s helpful if your child can recognise their full name written down (you can practise this when you’re labelling all their stuff!). But really don’t worry if they can’t, teachers often put a picture or photo by each child’s name on their pegs and trays to make it easier for them.

Read to them:
Research tells us that reading to your child is the most important way you can support your child’s early learning. So make time for bedtime stories.

Get them used to letters and numbers:
This doesn't need to be anything more than recognising letters of the alphabet and numbers up to 10 or 20. Rather than putting pencil to paper, encourage your child to have a go at forming numerals in flour, sand, mud etc. This can be fun with their finger or a stick.

Social and Emotional Skills-

Just like physical and educational skills, children develop socially and emotionally at their own pace. Mastering these skills early on will help them get used to school life.

Sharing and taking turns:
As your child has been to nursery, they’ll be used to this already. But it’s always good to check they’ve understood that sharing is a two-way process!

Listening and sitting still:
In Reception class, at certain times your child will be expected to sit still and listen to basic instructions from their teacher. You can help with this at home by sitting together doing a jigsaw, colouring or looking at books.