Starting School
Welcome to Holy Cross and All Saints RC Primary School
We would like to take this opportunity to welcome all our new families to Holy Cross and All Saints Primary School.
We are very much looking forward to supporting you and your children and helping them settle into our happy, thriving school.
Below you will find all the information you need for a successful start to the new term in September including; the welcome meeting presentation, Nursery and Reception transition arrangements and links to useful websites and resources to support you and help your child prepare for this exciting transition.
Please take into consideration the Nursery and Reception Transition Timetables in place for the week beginning Monday 1st September, which are designed to help children settle into their new classroom environment and build successful relationships with their class teachers and peers.
'School Readiness' Definition for Parents and Carers
We understand that all children develop at their own pace, and that we’re all learning from birth. When it’s time to start school, some children will need more help than others.
There are key skills that schools expect children to be learning before their first day. Practising these will make your child’s journey to Reception as positive as possible.
If your child is already at nursery, in pre-school, or with a childminder, those professionals will work with you and your child to help get them ready but there’s lots you can do at home to build your child’s confidence and independence, helping them feel emotionally and practically prepared to start school.
How can I help my child get ready?
- Your child will have lots of new activities and routines to get used to when they start school. There are some things they’ll need to do more independently than they might have before.
- Research shows that a child’s relationship with their parents is the most important factor in their development, and there’s a lot you can do at home.
- When your child is at home with you or another caregiver, you can practise as a family with fun activities (we’ve included links at the end of this resource).
- Some of these skills take time to master, so it’s good to introduce them gradually as part of your daily routine.
What if my child has additional needs?
- If your child needs additional support to settle into Reception, make sure you share as much information as possible with their new teacher. They can work with you to find strategies to support your child.
- Summer-born children, or those speaking English as an additional language (EAL) may need more support.
- If you know or suspect your child has special educational needs (SEND), developmental differences or delays, some of these skills may not be achievable for them at this point.
- Early support makes a big difference – ask your child’s nursery, school, health visitor, local children’s centre or family hub for help.
Growing independence
Taking care of themselves
- Putting on/taking off their coat and shoes
- Using the toilet and washing their hands
- Getting dressed with little help, e.g. after using the toilet or doing PE
- Using cutlery (e.g. fork and spoon, chopsticks) and drinking from an open cup
- Spending time away from you, learning they can be looked after by caring adults
Play, creativity and curiosity
- Taking part in imaginative play (e.g. role play)
- Drawing, painting, colouring and sticking
- Sharing story books with caregivers, looking at pictures and talking about the characters
- Exploring the world around them (e.g. looking closely at the natural world or playing safely with objects at home)
Building relationships and communicating
Being with others
- Practising sharing and taking turns with toys
- Talking to them about how they are feeling and why
- Looking at story books together and speaking about what characters are feeling is a good way to do this
- Beginning to recognise what others are feeling, e.g. understanding if a friend is sad
- Encouraging them to set boundaries for themselves and others (e.g. knowing how to say ‘no’)
Communication and language
- Singing along with songs and nursery rhymes
- Talking happily to others about activities, experiences and the world around them
- Showing they need help by speaking clearly (in basic English or sign language)
- Recognising the pattern of their name (so they can find it on their coat peg or jacket)
Listening and engaging
- Paying attention for short periods of time
- Listening to and following simple instructions
- Carrying on with a task even when it’s difficult and bouncing back if things go wrong
Physical development
Getting moving for at least three hours a day
- Walking up and down steps (one foot at a time, using the wall for support)
- Climbing, running, jumping and playing
- Catching a large ball (most of the time)
- Doing simple puzzles and craft activities, strengthening their grip with cutting and sticking
Healthy routines
- Going to bed around the same time each night, waking up in time to get ready for school
- Limiting screen time to the recommended daily amounts (see advice)
- Eating a healthy diet and trying new foods
- Brushing their teeth with fluoride toothpaste twice a day (you’ll need to supervise this until they are at least 7)
Making Screen Time Count
- The recommended allowance of screen time for preschool children is an hour per day of high-quality programming or educational content.
- Interactive apps can also be included within preschool screen time if they encourage the development of skills like creativity and problem-solving.
- It’s recommended that parents view content with so they can encourage questions about the material and discuss what they see.
- This not only makes the experience more interactive but also helps to reinforce learning.
- Children love their devices, so why do use them to their advantage and choose apps, website and content which will maximise their learning and support them in meeting their early learning goals.
- Cbeebies app, programmes and web based games and activities are routed in the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework and the Early Learning Goals. Find out more at CBeebies Homepage - CBeebies - BBC
