Starting school for the first time is a big step for all involved. There is the excitement, new clothes, new bag, possibly a shiny new lunchbox and new friends to make. With this excitement comes parents' concerns about how their child is going to cope with this milestone event. In Lincolnshire, we want our children to begin school with as little stress as possible, so in the childcare sector we developed strategies to support the children making this transition.
An initiative in children's centres in the Lincoln City area has been a weekly group during the summer holidays called 'Ready Steady Go to School', delivered by the early years practitioners from CfBT and supported by the children's centre teacher.
The group was promoted through settings and local nursery schools, with our aim being: 'To support you and your child in preparation for school while having fun at your local children's centre and to address any of your concerns about your child starting school.'
The five-week programme began with a session called 'Wiggle away your worries', in which parents were asked to rank common concerns. These included their child:
- not being understood due to speech and language concerns
- not coping with changes to routines
- not being toilet trained, and
- finding it difficult to make friends.
This exercise helped the practitioners to plan the sessions and to focus on these areas during adult discussion time. This part of the session was led by one practitioner, while the children were involved in an adult-initiated experience with another practitioner.
FURTHER ADVICE
During the sessions that the children's centre teacher visited, parents were able to ask for further advice about other concerns. One of the points raised by parents was about ways to help their child become more interested in writing, in readiness for school.
Since writing at an early age is dependent on the development of gross and fine motor skills, the children's centre teacher suggested practical fun ways that parents could help with their child's development. Examples included making large arm movements in outside play with bubble makers, the use of tongs, and turkey basters in water play to develop hand muscles and pincer grip. Also, it was suggested to parents to encourage their children to write through example, such as writing lists, letters and notes.
The group's experiences, interactions and individual children's learning were recorded in a learning journal where parent comments about the group and its benefits were added. Examples of these comments included:
'The session was great. Snack time was an eye opener. I didn't realise my child could spread butter.'
'Lovely to see more people and a classmate for my son.'
'It's really helped to talk to other mums and not think I'm the only one worrying about the change.'
'It's going to be a big change to our routine. I've been helping him by making picnics and using containers that he can open so I can see how much he can eat.'
Finally, when the group ended just before the start of the new academic year, the families who attended received a 'goodie bag'. Funded by the children's centre, the bag contained national initiative items, including resources that had been suggested during the sessions to support children's readiness for school, and health and well-being items.
To complement the group and support all families with children starting school in September, the children's centres have created a display to promote 'top tips' to begin school with confidence.
