Starting School

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.

Supporting your child to develop independence, communication skills, resilience and positive relationships helps them settle more easily into school life.

Small things practised at home, such as dressing themselves, listening to instructions, sharing with others and talking about their feelings, can make a big difference to your child’s confidence and happiness when they start Reception.

Please use this guide as a checklist to help you support your child’s readiness for school.

Please go to Starting Reception to find out more.

Transition into Reception

We have a robust and well-planned transition process into Reception to ensure that every child feels happy, confident and secure when starting school. A smooth transition helps children settle quickly and allows staff to fully understand each child’s needs, interests and starting points.

To support this, we work closely with previous early years settings and families. We meet with nurseries and childminders to receive a full handover, sharing important information about each child’s development, strengths and any additional needs. This helps us plan appropriately from the very start of Reception.

We also value strong partnerships with parents and carers. We hold a parent meeting to share key information and answer any questions, followed by a stay and play session where children and parents can explore the classroom together and meet staff. Children are also invited to have lunch in school, helping them become familiar with routines in a relaxed and supportive way.

By taking the time to get to know every child, we ensure that all staff are well-informed, children’s needs are understood, and families feel supported throughout the transition into Reception.