This document was devised by the local Authority (BWD)
Getting ready for school is an
exciting time for children and their parents and carers, visiting school, shopping
for uniform and knowing who your new teachers are going to be.
As the time for starting school
approaches some children will be ready and take the move to school in their
stride but others will need a little more help and encouragement from the
adults in their lives.
In Blackburn with Darwen we have worked with
Children Centres, Health, Childminders, Nurseries and Schools to agree what we
mean by ‘school
readinesses’. These providers told us, in order to make sure that
children are able enjoy school and get off to a good start they need to:
· have well developed personal skills -things like being able to put their coat on or feed themselves.
· have a level of emotional and social maturity - are happy to leave you and are used to playing with groups of other
children
· have the ability to communicate, pay attention and
learn - being able to
talk to their teachers and sit for a story
· be healthy and well - so they have had all their injections and any health problems are being
managed
We have put some ideas, hints and tips
together in this information sheet about things that you can do tohelp you to prepare your child for
starting school. Keep it on your fridge or on a cupboard door so you can use
different ideas each day.
Your
child’s nursery or childminder may also share with you a document called ‘What to expect,
when?’ This has lots of information about children’s development and
what parents and carers can do to support them. You can also down load this
from the following website:
Your nursery or childminder will work in partnership
with you to help you get your child ready for school, but there are other
service that can offer advice, guidance and support such as your Health Visitor
or your local Children’s Centre.
If you would like any help and support you can
contact your Health Visitor or Children’s Centre on 01254 585085
Many parents think that their child needs to be
able to read, write their own name, recognise numbers and letters or do sums to
be ready for school. This is a myth. Some children may be able to do these
things but it is more important is that they feel confident to have a go and
try new things.
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I will be ready for school when…
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How
can you support me to do this?
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I can put on my own coat and
fasten it.
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·
Hold my hood
and encourage me to put my arms in sleeves.
·
Put the hood on
my head so I can do the rest.
·
Show me where
to position their hands to use my zip.
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I can go to the toilet by
myself and wash my hands afterwards.
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·
Let’s play a game where we
teach a favorite toy how to use the toilet.
·
Let me choose my own
knickers or pants in the shops.
·
Give me plenty of praise when
I go to the toilet and wipe all by myself.
·
Let me watch you wash your
hands and tell you what to do next.
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I can confidently say
goodbye when I am left with an adult that I know will look after me.
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·
Leave me with
other familiar adults for short periods of time.
·
Let me talk to
your friends whilst you are there.
·
Take me to
visit my new Teacher and meet all the adults working in my new class.
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I have made good friends
and can happily talk to other children and adults.
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·
Take me to
Toddler and Children Centre Groups.
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Let me play
with other children in the park and on outings.
·
Let me talk to
other adults when you are there.
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I can share
and take turns in a group.
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·
Play games with
me where I have to wait until it’s my turn to go.
·
Make sure I
take turns at the park and on outings.
·
Talk to me
about why I need to share my toys.
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I can sit and listen for a short while.
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·
Read stories
with me and look at books.
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Let’s listen to
songs together and sing.
·
Play hide and
seek games where I have to listen to your instructions.
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I
can answer a simple question about a story.
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·
When we are
sharing a story ask me how it might end.
·
Ask me about
the different pictures I can see on each page.
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I can tidy up after
myself and look after my things.
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·
Show me where
things are kept so I know where to put them back.
·
Play tidy up
games with me.
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Let’s tidy up
and clean together.
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I am happy to speak to
others about my wants, needs and feelings.
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·
Read books like
Owl Babies and Peace at Last so we can talk about how the different
characters are feeling.
·
Ask me
questions about how I feel.
·
Tell me how you
are feeling.
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I can follow simple
instructions.
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·
Play games with
me like find the teddy where I have to follow your instructions.
·
Teach me how to
make a sandwich saying first get the bread etc…..
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Let’s follow
some instructions to bake a cake.
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I can retell a past event
(something that has happened to me).
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·
Ask me if I
remember certain dates/experiences.
·
Show me
photographs and let me talk about what I remember.
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Let’s make a
scrap book after we go on day trips so I can look back and remember.
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I can feed myself and
enjoy a range of healthy foods.
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·
Teach me to use
a knife, fork, and spoon and make sure I don’t just eat with my hands.
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Provide a
variety of meals so I can experience a range of foods.
·
Let me help you
prepare meals so I can talk about foods and you can teach me new things.
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I can dress and undress
myself as well as putting on and taking off my shoes.
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·
Show me my new
school uniform and let me practice buttons and zips.
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Show me how to
take off my clothes and put them in a pile on a chair ready for PE lessons.
·
Buy me some
Velcro fastening shoes that I can put on and take off by myself.
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I can follow rules at
home and nursery and will be able to do this at school.
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·
Make sure I
know what I’m allowed to do and not allowed to do.
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Tell me
boundaries and make sure I keep to them.
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Let’s make some
house rules together.
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I enjoy listening to
stories and singing rhymes.
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·
Read me a
bedtime story before bed.
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Sing songs with
me and rhymes that I can make actions to like Heads, shoulders, knees and
toes and wind the bobbin up etc.…
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Make up stories
whilst we are walking so I can listen to them and tell you one too.
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I can hold a pencil and
enjoy making marks.
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·
Let me help you
peg out the washing.
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Let’s play with
playdough so I can use my finger muscles.
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Let’s draw
pictures on the path and paving stones with chunky chalks.
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