Your GUIDE to starting

school

FAQs and expert

advice

Tips for getting prepared

2

The first day of ‘big school’ is a huge stepping stone in your little one’s life. It’s the beginning of their formal education and the start of many new adventures!

We understand it can be an anxious time so we’ve put together this little guide to help pave the way to a smooth start to school. You’ll find answers to some common questions around starting school and helpful hints and advice from the Ladybird team and teachers. We hope you’ll find it a useful companion on the road to starting school and beyond.

Best of luck for many happy school days to come!

Publisher, Ladybird

Dear Parents,

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Uniform and shoe shopping

Book bag

Pencil case and equipment

Lunchbox and water bottle

Gym bag and P.E. kit

Label EVERYTHING

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There can be lots to organize, so keep this check list to hand (or on the fridge!) and tick off as you go.

Starting school:the essentials

3Milestones

4

You may have been talking about ‘big school’ for a while now and hopefully your little one is

looking forward to it. If there are some ‘wobbles’,

the most important thing is to keep positive about

the build up to starting school and encourage the

excitement of this momentous occasion

to be the overriding feeling. This is a time

of big change in his life - your

little one is growing up and

taking on new challenges.

Preparing for the‘Big School’ journey

A few weeks before Teddy started school we went out to buy a new lunch box. He insisted he ate his lunch from it every day until the first day came! ” Kerry, mum to Teddy age 5

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5Milestones

GETTING READY School uniforms can sell out quickly so make sure you’ve bought everything in good time. Children will spend on average 1,000 hours in their school shoes each year, so Clarks put their shoes through 50 rigorous tests to ensure they fit better and last longer. To find your nearest Clarks store and book your iPad fitting appointment online visit www.clarks.co.uk/storeappointments

REHEARSE THE BIG DAYGetting your child into a new routine can take time – how long will it take him to get into his uniform, have breakfast, pack his lunch and brush his teeth? How are you getting to school? Walking, cycling or taking the bus? How long will it take? Doing a ‘dummy run’ or two is a great idea and you can make it fun; if you do this during the holidays, you will probably need to allow for extra time when schools are back.

TWO WEEKS BEFORE Start the ‘going-to-bed-early’ routine two weeks before the first day of school if you can. Bedtime stories about school, like Topsy and Tim Start School, will be reassuring for your little one if he is nervous.

The Countdown

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MY CHILD IS WORRIED ABOUT BEING AWAY FROM ME. WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT THIS? Knowing what to expect at school helps to alleviate some common anxieties. You could spend some time helping your child to practise getting dressed and undressed (P.E. lessons may be the first time he has had to do this under time pressure without you to help). Even simple daily routines like going to the loo and eating lunch may seem daunting without you, so talk through these at home.

SHOULD MY CHILD BE ABLE TO READ AND WRITE BEFORE HE STARTS SCHOOL? Children develop at different rates. Some children may start school being able to read or write to some degree but this is certainly not an expectation. The school will probably use a synthetic phonics programme to teach the children the sounds of letters and combinations they need to be able to read and write with confidence. If your child is keen to start reading before he starts school, you can encourage him by looking at simple story books together and learning a few simple words.

FAQs

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7Milestones

Relax. A calm parent means a calm child!

Get up a bit earlier today so there are no time issues.

Have breakfast together, talk about what is going to happen.

Take some photos for the family album.

You may not be able to take your child to school every day but try to take him for the first few days.

We know it might be hard to let go, but try and say goodbye without any fuss and show excitement at the brilliant first day your child will have!

If you can, pick up your child for the first few days. However, childcare and breakfast clubs are essential for many working parents, so don’t feel guilty when this system kicks in.

The Big Day •

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Talk to your child about who will take him and collect him from school and tell him if anything in the routine changes.” Helen, Reception teacher

T PTIP

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8

When your child waves goodbye at the school

gates, her new school life begins. On the first

day, she will be busy learning where to hang

her coat and bag, finding her way around her

new school, learning the rules of the classroom,

making new friends and doing new activities.

There’s so much to be excited about!

Lois was very excited, but as parents we were quite emotional. I remember thinking how ‘grown-up’ she looked in her school uniform. That first day of school was such a special day, now it’s the most normal thing in the world! ” Simon, dad to Lois age 5

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Through theschool gates

9Milestones

WHAT CAN I DO IF MY CHILD DOESN’T WANT TO GO TO SCHOOL? Some children find it difficult to get used to the idea of school being a continual process so it is helpful to have very clear routines to help your child adjust. Repeating the same activity over time, such as dropping off at the same time and same place every day, will make your child feel more secure.

MY CHILD DOESN’T HAVE A BEST FRIEND.IS THIS NORMAL? Children develop relationships in their own time. Some children form close friendships straight away, others have a wider group of friends. Your child’s teacher will let you know if there are any concerns – many schools have a ‘buddy’ system whereby children can go to an area of the playground to let others know they would like someone to talk to or play with.

MY CHILD DOESN’T TALK ABOUT SCHOOL.IS SOMETHING WRONG? Young children are often so focussed on what’s going on during the school day that by the time they come home they are tired. They are encountering new experiences and it takes time to process these. Wait until later in the evening to ask her how her day was.

FAQs

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10

Topsy and Tim Start School This classic Topsy and Tim book has helped generations of children prepare for the first day of school. Follow the twins as they experience a typical school day.

Also available to download as an app and ebook.

Reading Corner

Early LearningEarly Learning

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up

little

sad

tall

hot

down

fullclosedopen

happy

short

wet

big

empty

slow

awake

old

asleep

newfast

cold

OppositesPoint to the pictures. Name all the different opposites you can see.

dry

STARTING SCHOOL

I’m Ready for SchoolA big book packed with everything your little one needs to know for a brilliant head start to the big day.

Visitladybird.comfor Ladybird’s full range of books and apps for

school

11Milestones

I’m Ready for PhonicsSupport your child’s phonics learning with the simple and engaging I’m Ready for Phonics series – consisting of storybooks, workbooks and flashcards. STARTING SCHOOL

LEARNING TO READ

Read it yourselfLadybird’s best-selling series of levelled readers, perfect for children who are ready to take their first steps in reading. This series will support them as they progress towards independent reading.

Also available as ebooks and an app.

Also available as ebooks and an app.

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