1. Is Your Child School Ready?

2. Transition to school  “Whether our children are moving form preschool to primary or secondary, or secondary to tertiary or the work place, parents ALWAYS have a role to play – significantly different in each phase, but a role to play.” Angie Wilcock, “High Hopes”

3. The best age to start school  It all depends “Students need to have reached a certain minimum stage of physical, intellectual and emotional development to cope with school, but variations from 4 ½ to 6 years don’t seem to make huge differences to most children’s long term academic achievements.” Trevor Cairney Literacy, families and learning UNNSW

4. Is my child physically ready?  Toilet trained  Feed themselves, and cope with a new degree of independence.  Motor skills – walk, run, jump, throw things, dress themselves (velcro)  Tear paper, apply some stickers, hold markers and pencils (even if not applied well)  How tall?

5. Is my child emotionally ready  Able to cope with separation.  Some experience relating to other children? – share, communicate, show some control of anger and frustration.  Keen to go to school?  Can communicate emotions (frustration, fear, anger, affection, etc)

6. Is my child intellectually ready?  Concentrates on activities for extended periods of time (10-15 minutes)  Shows some interest in making marks or squiggles. (Early Writing)  Interested in print and symbol (What does that say?) try to write name, count to 5, recognise some letters, complete basic puzzles.  Use language sufficient to communicate with other children and teacher?  Some interest in learning – observant, inquisitive, exploring.

7. What else do you need to consider?  What do you know about the school?  What about siblings?  What were the experiences did you have at school? How did that impact on you?  Personal Circumstances – is there something major coming up during the next 12 months that might justify holding your child back?

8. Try not to be anxious!  Don‘t worry unduly about your child being successful at school.  If you consider the needs of your child and these broad range of capabilities you will make the best decision.  If you get it wrong, the evidence is that generally children will cope over time, and there are few long term problems for most children.

9. School Terminology  Team teaching  Multi-age classrooms  Information Night  Differentiation  Initial assessment  Support services.  Parent teacher interview  Three way interview  E.A.P. – Educational Adjustment Plan  PSG – Parent Support Group.

10. Getting your child ready for school  Things you can practice at home - Packing and unpacking their bag. - - Getting Dressed - - Tying their shoe laces - - Using a lunchbox

11. Getting them ready for learning - Importance of Oral Language - Speaking - When reading - Get them to predict what they will think will happen - Ask them why they think characters did things - Why do you think Red riding hood went the long way to her grandmother’s house? - Ask them to tell you who their favourite character was and why they are their favourite character was. - Don’t worry too much about sounding out and if they say the wrong word, if it makes sense, don’t worry about it.

12. Communicating with the teacher  Communicating with the teacher  - Read the newsletter - - Email - - Before school - - After school - - Make an appointment – teachers have lots of meetings. - - Communication Books - - Parent Support Group Meetings - - Concerns – meet with the Principal - - meet with the Special needs Coordinator

13. Getting your child ready for school - Exercise - Regular visits to the park - Throwing and kicking a ball - Skipping - Jumping - After school Activities - Swimming lessons - Gymnastics - Aus-kick - Milo Cricket - Dance/ Music - Join a team

14. Checks you should do before your child starts school  Optometrist for a Vision Check  Dentist  Audiologist (if you have concerns about speech or hearing)  Local Doctor (If your child has an allergy, please discuss with your doctor. An allergy action plan may be required by the school)  If your child is a boy, check your Maternal and Child Health(Blue) book to see if it was noted that his testes are down in his scrotum. If unsure, discuss with your local doctor.)

15. Books you can read to your child about starting school.  David Goes to School by David Shannon  Wimberley Worries by Kevin Henkes