1. All You Ever Wanted to Know About Starting School
Mrs Pippa McConnell
Head of Early Years
The Manor Preparatory School

2. Starting School

3. Preparing your child in advance
Read story books

4. Preparing your child in advance
Talk about school and your happy memories

5. Preparing your child in advance
Encourage playing schools

6. Preparing your child in advance
Drive, cycle or walk past the school and give it a wave!

7. Preparing your child in advance
Settling in Sessions

8. Preparing your child in advance
Join the school’s PTA

9. Preparing your child in advance
Plan play dates with other children in their class

10. What will my child need to know?
How to use the toilet independently and wash their hands
Be able to dress themselves where possible
Eat independently and use cutlery
Recognise their written name
Understand the need to share, listen and be quiet when asked
Coat flip trick video

11. Helpful Hints Label everything!
Snacks – healthy, easy to open, drinking water
Share information with the school – likes, dislikes, family information
Medical and dietary information
Be proactive and work with your child’s teacher
Try not to have parent/teacher discussions in front of your child
Comforters
Consider necessary practical arrangements

12. School Uniform

13. Prepare your child for their first day
Fun first day of school ideas
*Arrange a visit from the
‘Bag Fairy’
*Pack a lunchbox note
Serve a special breakfast
Uniform fashion show
Make a time capsule
A first-day picture
*Me and you date
School supply scavenger hunt

14. On the very first day of school
Don’t rush
Be organised
Pick your battles!
Be positive
Be calm

15. On the very first day of school
Settle your child and do not linger
Don’t cry in front of your child
Make plans for yourself after drop off

16. After School Expect your child to be tired
Expect your child to be hungry
Do not believe everything they say!
Check book bag/link book for messages

17. Ways to ask “How was your day?”
What was the best part of your day?
What did you eat for lunch today? (What did your friends have for lunch?)
What would you like to forget about today?
What do you wish you could do more of at school?
Which part of the classroom do you think I would like the best?
What was your teacher wearing today?
More questions available at the back of the room

18. Curriculum
Take a look at the Government document called Parents Guide to the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework Hard copies can be found at the back of the room

19. Curriculum Overview Prime Areas Communication and language
Physical development
Personal, social and emotional development
Specific Areas
Literacy
Mathematics
Understanding of the world
Expressive arts and design

20. Communication and Language
Conversation
Listening
Concentration
Express themselves
Following instructions

21. Physical Development Healthy development
Use a range of large and small equipment
Develop a sense of space around them
Balancing skills
Dressing skills
Handling equipment and tools eg pencils, scissors
Fine motor skills

22. Personal, Social and Emotional Development
Self-confident and self aware
Making and building relationships
Dress and undress independently
Manage feelings and behaviour

23. Literacy Reading Rhyming string linking sounds and letters
Blending sounds to read words
Read words and simple sentences
Writing
Pencil control
Identifiable letters
Writing for purpose eg name

24. Literacy

25. Mathematical Development
Numbers
Counting
Understanding numbers
Shape, space and measure
Use mathematical vocabulary to describe and compare.
Sorting and matching objects
Understand shape and size including 2D and 3D shapes
Pattern play

26. Understanding the world
People and Communities
Explore, Observe & Investigate
Designing and Making
Use of Technology both at home and in schools

27. Expressive arts and design
Explore colour and colour changes
Explore materials, tools and techniques
Experiment with design & textures
Music, singing and moving to music
Imaginative play

28. Characteristics of effective learning

29. Reading Example
The boys’ arrows were almost gone so they sat down on the grass and stopped hunting. Over at the edge of the wood they saw Henry making a bow to small girl who was coming down the road. She had tears in her dress and tears in her eyes. She gave Henry a note which he brought over to the group of young hunters. Read to the boys, it caused great excitement. After a minute but rapid examination of their weapons, they ran down the valley. Does were standing at the edge of the lake, making an excellent target.

30. Reading Example
The boys’ arrows were almost gone so they sat down on the grass and stopped hunting. Over at the edge of the wood they saw Henry making a bow to small girl who was coming down the road. She had tears in her dress and tears in her eyes. She gave Henry a note which he brought over to the group of young hunters. Read to the boys, it caused great excitement. After a minute but rapid examination of their weapons, they ran down the valley. Does were standing at the edge of the lake, making an excellent target.

31. Foster a love of reading

32. Make the story come alive

33. Learning to read
How should we say our Phonics Sounds?

34. The words that can be made from the letters found in section 1
Learning to read
This is the order in which children will learn the letter sounds, names and formation. The letters come in this order to enable the children to make a large variety of words if they are ready.
The words that can be made from the letters found in section 1
at, a, sat, pat, tap, sap, as, it, is, sit, sat, pit, tip, pip, sip, an, in, nip, pan, pin, tin, tan, nap

35. What about words we cannot sound out?
Learning to read
What about words we cannot sound out?

36. Sight Words or Tricky Words
Learning to read
Sight Words or Tricky Words

37. Thank you for coming!
Please feel free to explore our Reception classrooms and activities
Our Reception Teachers are here to answer any questions you may have

38. Useful Websites Familiesonline.co.uk OxfordOwl.co.uk
FoundationYears.org.uk