Summer means holidays and adventures in the sun. It also is a sign that, for some children, their time at nursery is coming to an end.

For those children who are aged 4 - 5, September marks an exciting new beginning… ‘big’ school.

Preparing for such a significant life event can help ease worries and anxieties - for parents as well as little ones!

Here are some practical steps you can take to kick this next stage off with a lot of fun and smiles. 

Make It A Familiar Place

Even we adults can feel nervous when we start something new. For children, the unknowns of ‘big’ school can feel worrying.

The more you can make school feel familiar, the more comfortable your child will feel about it. So talk about it! Talk about what they can expect from a school day, what the building looks like and where they’ll go in to greet their teacher in the morning. Your chosen school should host optional information evenings that you can attend to find all of these things out.

It can be helpful to build in the information organically, to begin with. If you’re walking or driving past the school building, you can say, ‘That’s going to be your new school. I’ll walk you through that gate each morning where you’ll get to play and learn with your friends and new teacher!’

Be positive and reassuring when talking about the topic of school. If your child seems distressed at the talk of change, acknowledge their feelings and let them know you’re always there for support.

Make sure your child takes part in the transition days offered by the school. Your child will get to meet their teacher, see the classroom, spend time with their new classmates and get a feel for their new environment. Don’t worry if they come home saying they didn't like it - it’s a huge change, and it will take more than a couple of hours for it to feel ‘normal’.

You may find that children with older siblings adjust more easily since they’ve seen their siblings getting ready and going to school.

 

Practice Getting Ready

Many children are used to having a say in what they wear every day, and school uniform may be a new thing for your child. All of a sudden, it’s the same thing day in, day out.

So, make buying uniform a fun experience. What does your child prefer? Would they like to wear a skirt, a pinafore, shorts or trousers? Ankle socks, long socks or tights? Make a special space in their dresser or wardrobe for their uniform and try it on a few times over the summer months to help build excitement.

For children with long hair, why not try out some new hairstyles that they can wear to school? Hair brushing and styling can be a soothing activity to concentrate on if your child is feeling emotionally heightened about the transition.

You might be worrying about factors you can’t control, like your child needing to get changed for PE during the school day. Some schools now have the children in their PE kit all day on PE days to eliminate this stress, but the practitioners at Hopes & Dreams nurseries will help them get used to getting undressed and dressed because it's an important skill. 

Get Social

Many parents like to meet up with other families who have children starting the same school and year group. Often you’ll be able to find and join social media groups created purely for this purpose.

Here, parents arrange ‘unofficial’ playdates so the children can meet. It can be a bit daunting for everyone involved, even the parents and caregivers! You can actively display and use your own nervousness to empathise with your child and model how to meet and make new friends.

During the school day, some children may find the noise levels new and unnerving. There’s nothing quite like lunchtime in the school hall! Eating in a loud environment can be hard for those coming from quieter settings, so some parents aim to introduce a few mealtimes in noisier places, like busy cafes or soft plays, in the run-up to starting school. You’ll be able to explain that happy, excited children are fun to eat with but can be louder than your child is used to.

And practice using cutlery. At school, children may get less help with scooping peas, cutting up broccoli or unwrapping sandwiches.

 

Routine Is Important

To help your child get the best start at their new setting in September, begin or stick to bedtime routines. 

School is such a big change, and it should be the only significant change a child has at that time. The school days will be busy and tiring, filled with plenty of fun activities and new experiences, and a good night’s sleep helps to keep energy levels up during the transition.

Many parents begin to read stories about going to school at bedtime. In the safe space of their bedroom, it can help to introduce the idea of school in a relaxed way and provide an opportunity for anxieties to bubble up, be talked through and then drift away before getting some shut-eye. 

 

Prepare for Learning

To tool your child up for the practicals of school, read with them. At every opportunity. They don’t need to be reading yet, so don’t panic, but just listening and taking it in can give their skills a boost.

Another skill you can help your child with is practising recognising their name. They do not need to be able to write it, but being able to pick out the shapes of the letters will help if they need to find their bookbag or peg.

The first year of school is an extension of the EYFS curriculum, so it will still be based around play. When you play with your child, build some learning into the game. Playing shops? Count the items into the basket. Playing schools? See if the teddies know their ABCs! 

School Can Feel Scary, But We’re Here To Help

This is an exciting time, but it’s not without worries and big feelings. At Hopes & Dreams, we do all we can to ensure your child feels safe, comfortable and ready for their next step.

And don’t forget, your little one is always welcome to come back in the school holidays for our holiday club!

Want to find out more about our fun and friendly holiday club or other after-school childcare options? Read about it all here.