A Reception teacher’s tips for preparing your child for school

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The months before your little one starts school make for such an exciting time. September may still seem like a long way off, but it’s never too soon to start preparing your pre-schooler for Reception. According to Reception Class Teacher Georgi Bird, who works at Ashville College in Harrogate, by making preparation fun, removing any labels or expectations from it, and slotting it easily into your daily routine, it can take any stress or worry out of the process.

Here are her five top things your child needs to help them be ready for school this September. The good news is these are all about learning through play, and your child doesn’t need to be able to count to 100 or recognise all the letters of the alphabet to be ready for Reception!

1. Social interaction

By organising those play dates, taking trips to the playground and trying out different playgroups, you’re creating valuable opportunities to be around different people, take turns, practise patience, and be free to explore and play. In one-to-one interactions, model your child’s language and follow their lead in imaginative play and games.

2. A love of books

They don’t need to be able to read when they start school – that’s what their teachers are here for! But by reading with their child as much as possible, and getting them excited about books and poems, parents instil a love of reading and of books to get them started on a lifelong literary journey. Even that favourite book they want you to read again and again (even if it gets boring for you) will be boosting their vocabulary in ways that you don’t even realise. Go to the library with your child and ask them what book they’d like to choose to borrow. So many libraries offer free activities too, like playgroups (see number 1!) and story time sessions – check out what your local library has to offer.

3. An awareness of maths

This sounds really grand but is actually really simple. By pointing out a clock and saying it’s a circle shape, counting the dots on a dice or looking at numbers on doors, you’re raising their awareness of maths and getting them to think about numbers in a fun way. Creating dens, whether small or large, encourages children to problem-solve and use specific vocabulary. Baking and playing with water are great activities for teaching the concept of measurement. Believe it or not, tidying up is all part of mathematical development where the children have to sort the objects!

4. Physical confidence

Help them develop their physical skills and seize any opportunities that naturally arise to do this, such as playground visits. These are a perfect chance to climb, practise their balance and work on their core strength, which will greatly assist them when they start school. Encourage healthy risk taking behaviour too; under your supervision and with your support and clear age appropriate safe play rules, your child will learn to climb, balance and assess the risk of an action for themselves, and will be safe in similar play situations such as when they visit a new park. Work on their fine motor skills by encouraging them to mark-make, for example, with pavement chalks. They should use big movements at this stage, which are a strong basis from which they will learn to draw and write later on.

5. Independence getting changed

Encourage them to be as independent as possible when they’re getting themselves dressed as this helps so much at school when they have PE or swimming lessons and need to get changed. Doing up buttons is a common thing Reception kids find tricky, but they get such a sense of achievement when they get it right.

There are limited places remaining in Reception at Ashville. If you are interested in finding out more, visit the Ashville College website.