Helping your child transition from nursery to big school
It’s that time of the year again when your child/children go into the new school year. For some of you, it’s a big one as your child will transition from nursery to ‘big school’. The thought of your child starting school can be a daunting prospect for both you and your child, but there are some things you can do to make the transition easier. They’re probably excited about going to big school but also a bit worried about how different it might be from the nursery environment they’re familiar with. To help both you and your child make a smooth transition, here’s some tips from a nursery in Richmond.
Visit the school beforehand
Try to arrange a visit to the school before the end of the summer term so your child can get a feel for the environment and meet some of the teaching and support staff. If the school is holding a local community event you could take them along to familiarise themselves with the building and playground, which will increase their confidence before they start. It might also be a good idea to walk or drive to the school and let your child see it so it’s not a completely new experience when the new term rolls around.
Talk about ‘big school’ regularly
Talking positively about your child starting school soon will help them feel excited about it and less nervous. You could find some books to read together that cover the topic of moving to big school – seeing or hearing about a book or film character starting school will help your child realize they’re not alone and lots of other kids will be moving from nursery to big school with them.
Help your child develop independence
Your child will probably cope better with the school transition if they’re able to do some things independently, like going to the toilet, washing their hands and putting on their coat by themselves. Also, make sure they have the confidence to ask for help if they’re struggling with something, so practising what they might say is a good way of preparing them for the school environment where they might not have as much one-on-one attention as they did at nursery.
Teach them the basics of phonics and maths
In the lead up to your child starting school, you could start teaching them the basics of phonics and maths (which they would already have started at nursery). Not only will this give them a head start but it will prepare them for listening attentively and concentrating on instructions. You could even prompt your child to get themselves dressed into their school uniform as if they were really going to school! This will get them into the right routine so it’s not so much of a shock come September.
Implementing all or some of these tips will help ensure a seamless transition from nursery to school for everyone involved.
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