If you have any questions or concerns about your child starting pre-school do not hesitate to contact the staff who will be more than happy to talk to you. For further information contact: Dawlish and Teignmouth Children's Centre 01626 879776 www.nhs.uk/change4life For ideas on being active and eating well www.direct.gov.uk/childcare www.devon.gov.uk/disc For information about childcare in your area and available funding

Supporting your child to be ready for pre-school

Going to pre-school is a big mile-stone in a child’s life and hopefully one that is exciting for the whole family. This booklet has been created by Dawlish and Teignmouth Children’s Centres in conjunction with the early years settings in the Dawlish Learning Community. We hope it provides some helpful information about the skills you can practice together and the experiences you can create that will help your child enjoy their time at pre-school.

Communication, Language and Literacy

• Encourage your child to choose books for them-selves. Remember children enjoy reading the same book over and over!

• Encourage your child to ‘read’ what is happening in the pictures and talk about what may happen next.

• Sing songs and rhymes with your child and encour-age them to tell you their own stories.

Talking, understanding others and knowing what to say are really important skills. They help children learn, make friends and enjoy life to the full.

Personal, Social, Emotional Development

• Spend time with other children and support them in sharing and taking turns.

• Encourage your child to drink from a cup • Encourage your child to say please and thank you. • Encourage your child to be independent - go to the toilet unaided and wash their hands, dress/undress (including shoes).

• Allow them to choose toys themselves and discover more about what they like and dislike.

• Encourage your child to talk about their feelings.

Creative Development

• Join in imaginative games with your child, e.g. giving the teddy bears a party.

• Dance to songs and make up actions e.g. Wheels on the Bus.

Knowledge and Understanding of the

World • Talk to your child about special times; birthdays, family celebrations and other key events in their lives.

• Encourage them to ex-plore their local sur-roundings, find out what’s in your area.

Problem Solving, Reasoning and Numeracy.

• Count out loud with your child saying the names of numbers clearly, and look for numbers in the envi-ronment.

• Sing songs or rhymes with numbers in them; 10 In The Bed, 5 Little Ducks, 10 Fat Sausages etc.

Physical Development

• Have a varied diet and night time routine so that children have the energy to learn and are not tired.

• Allow them to use sim-ple tools, such as a roll-ing pin or bucket and spade, and also to get outside and be active on a daily basis.