IDEAS TO HELP THE NURSERY TO PRIMARY SCHOOL TRANSITION

For those of you who also have a little one starting primary school in September you may have already got their school uniform and shoes, and with the start of term fast approaching the realities of them heading into school for their first day are probably dawning on you. Big Bee is our eldest and therefore we are soon to be stepping into unchartered territory, but I've been thinking how best we can support her in the lead up to starting in September. I've listed some ideas below and hope that they come in handy for you and your child.

• Infographic - Some schools may provide parents with a 'transition booklet' for them to share with their child containing information about who their teacher is etc. In addition, you could always create a page with images, lots of colour and short sentences for your child containing details about their new school that you could like to share with the (as shown above), for example the type of food they will eat at lunch, the name of their class, the activities they will do etc. This could open up a conversation about what they are excited, concerned or anxious about.

• School website - You could show your child the school website and any images of the school or children doing activities on the website. The school may also have a video on there that you could watch with them.

• Family photos - Do you have a photo of yourself, your partner, any grandparents, uncles or aunts from their first day of school dressed up in their uniform that you could share with your child, and then talk about any positive memories from school e.g. what did you enjoy doing/learning, funny experiences, a teacher who left a lasting impression?

• Starting school gift - You could purchase a little gift before the big day for them to enjoy when they come back from school e.g. a book, or a Tonies audio character to listen to, or something for them to use at school such as some hair ties.

• School preparations - Giving your child some control before the big day can aid with the excitement of starting (or so we have found) e.g. picking from a selection of school shoes, trainers, or hair ties.

• School run - Doing the route to school just before you start in September to help familiarise (if not already) them with the journey could help reduce any pre-school anxiety.

• Playdates - If some class park dates have not already been organised, do you know any other families starting at the same school/class in September that you could meet up with before term starts? If not, could you ask your nursery or network with neighbours to find some? Nurturing previous relations or meeting new faces before starting the school year could be really beneficial for your child (and you). There is still time!

• Hug button - We have bought a little wooden disc off Etsy (shown above) inscribed with 'A little pocket hug. Love Mummy and Daddy x' to give to Big Bee on her first day. So if she feels sad, lonely or worried for example, then she can pick it up and rub it to know that we will be hugging her from afar. You can purchase brave buttons too.

• Books - There are a variety of books on the market that would be ideal to help with the primary school transition. We have picked two for Big Bee to read at bedtime - Tilda Tries Again, Tom Percival and The Colour Monster Goes to School, Anna Llenas. Tilda Tries Again is about a little girl whose life changes and she then finds that she can't do things that she was able to do before the change. She finds that she needs to keep trying in order to do them and not give up. With the big upcoming change for 'big school' and the new skills that Big Bee will be learning, we thought it important to encourage resilience and a 'can do' attitude to new situations. The Colour Monster Goes to School is a fun book and follows a girl and her Colour Monster friend on the first day of school. It goes through things that they will need take with them and what activities they will do at school. It's a positive and easy story to follow with bright illustrations.

• Role play - You could use little Happyland people, peg dolls, teddies for example to role play with your child different scenarios from school such as, playing on the playground, doing some art, phonics, numbers in the classroom with the teacher, eating lunch etc.

• Uniform - Show your child their new school uniform and practise trying it on. You could talk about the positives of everyone wearing a school uniform and link it back to what your school uniform looked like when you went to primary school.

• First day of school sign - This is another item I've purchased off Etsy (shown above). They can be used before each year of school and taking a photo of your child in their uniform with it could become a tradition. I'm hoping Big Bee will really buy into it and get excited to fill in the information on the board with me.

Wishing all those families starting reception in September the best of luck. I hope that everyone settles in well and enjoys it.