#BacktoSchoolPlanning Tips
- Learning Resources Posted On Aug 20, 2020 | Seasonal Fun
After the uncertainty and home learning challenges of 2020, back to school this Autumn will be the most unusual school year start yet!
To find out how parents feel about back to school, we teamed up with the online parenting community BritMums to have a #BacktoSchoolPlanning Twitter chat. We wanted to give parents a space where they could share their concerns and offer advice and encouragement.
The result was an engaging conversation with lots of parent-approved insights and tips. From concerns about the learning gap due to school closures to the best tips for preparing children for back to school, here’s what parents had to say.
Missing out
The thought that our kids are missing out is enough to upset any parent. When it comes to what children have missed about school, two things came up with unsurprising regularity: friends and routine.
The social aspect of school is almost important as the lessons themselves. If your kids are missing their friends, consider arranging some opportunities for them to meet.
Socially-distanced fun might not be the fun they’re used to, but they probably won’t suffer as much as you think. They’ll also be able to work off their excitement before school starts! And if you’re concerned about COVID-19, you’ll be able to make sure the kids understand the importance of social distancing.
It might seem like a kindness to abandon routine at home, but you’d be surprised how much kids rely on it! Besides, expecting them to adhere to the school's rigid routine without preparation just isn’t fair.
Don’t be afraid to introduce more routine into their lives. The comfort of knowing what will happen and when will put them at ease and better prepare them for school. It can also help you teach time to the little ones!
But it turns out that some kids were missing something else: the food!
It can be frustrating when your kids seem to prefer school dinners over your home-cooked food. But, on the bright side, they’ll be getting a more varied diet come September!
Has our teaching been up to snuff?
We’ve all needed to become amateur teachers of late, but not everyone has been as confident as others. When we asked what parents were worried about, many of them admitted to struggling to provide lessons in all the subjects, or even how to pitch their teaching to the right level.
Fred isn’t alone; we love maths and science, and it’s fantastic that he’s so excited by these subjects! It’s always difficult to engage a child (or an adult) in something they’re not interested in.
Try to blend the two subjects together. Perhaps Fred could write a report of a science experiment he’s conducted at home?
Fiona’s struggle is something we’ve all faced. But we can’t be too hard on ourselves. Your child’s teachers went through years of training to become good at their job. They won’t expect you to pick it up in just a few months!
We can also worry more than we need to. If you’re worried about a particular area of your child’s learning, you can see how they get on with our free home-learning activity sheets, which are divided by ages and activity.
And if you’re concerned about a gap in your child’s learning, just speak to their teacher. They’ll be able to adjust your child’s learning accordingly, and they’ll be back up to speed in no time.
What can you do to prepare your child (and yourself) for school?
Our kids have been at home for months now, and it’s going to be a huge change when the schools open again. We asked parents what they were doing to help their kids to prepare for that change, and were delighted to hear that some schools are working to make the transition easier.
These are fantastic ideas, and can really help to put your child’s mind at ease! Do your best to make use of these kinds of transitions if your child’s school is offering them. They’ll make the process easier for both of you!
But if these kinds of transition aren’t possible, don’t worry; there are other things you can do.
We love how Rebecca is tailoring her approach to her son’s strengths. Not every child (or adult, for that matter) learns the same way! Whether your child responds to visuals, sounds, words or numbers, introducing gentle daily reminders will help them get used to the idea of going to school.
But it’s important not to go over-the-top!
Christine has the right idea here. Your kids need a break from education in the same way we grown-ups need a break from work! But you can still keep those little minds sharp with educational play.
Do you have any tips for preparing our kids for the return to school? Find us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter - share your #BacktoSchoolPreparation tips and more find parent-approved ideas from other families.
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What to expect from your child’s first week at ‘big’ school
The first day
The day of the week your child begins school depends on how the school year falls, but in the UK is usually somewhere around the 5th of September. Your child is likely to be broken into the school routine gradually, beginning with attending mornings only, however this varies from school to school.Many schools will allow children to settle and build up to mixing the reception class with other year groups. This is particularly true of lunchtimes, where a busy environment with children from other year groups can be overwhelming.Dropping off your child at school for the first time can be an emotional experience but it is important that you don’t convey negative emotions to your child. In this situation, positivity is key and it is better not to linger once your child is safely inside as this can be unsettling. It can be tough to walk away when your child is upset but from experience I can say that within the first five minutes they will become distracted by a toy or join in with a game – teachers and school staff are well prepared for such situations.If your child has been upset in the morning you will likely receive a phone call to let you know that they have settled. If you don’t, then don’t hesitate to call the school yourself, they will not mind one bit.The first activity of the day will be the register. The whole class will gather on the carpet with crossed legs, which can be a new concept for some children. The register will help children become familiar with the other names in the class and the process of answering to their name in a class setting.After the register has been completed, this is usually followed by a circle time activity. One that I used in my classroom was the name game. Children would roll a ball to another child and say “I’m rolling the ball to Harryâ€, Harry would then say “thank you Rosie, I’m rolling the ball to Peterâ€. This helps children get to know everyone’s names and begin working on their social skills. The Learning Resources Circle Time Activity Set is perfect for this.
- Reading
- Writing
- Maths
- Messy Play
- Sand/Water
- Construction
- Role Play
The first week
The first week at school is an opportunity for the class teacher to understand what children already know by observing play and asking questions. This helps them to know what style of activities to plan and where to take them in their next steps. The week will consist of class and group activities and purposeful play as children become familiar with their new surroundings and peers. At this age, making friends is easy for children and they are very open to new relationships. It is often the case that some children in the class have come from the same catchment nursery, but do not worry if your child didn’t attend a preschool or nursery as they’ll soon adapt and make friends very quickly.A topic that children will likely be focusing on during their first weeks at school is ‘All About Me’. This topic focuses on every day things that they’re used to such as:- Going to the shops
- Familiar stories
- Places – doctors surgery, dentist etc.
- Emotions
- Their appearance
All About Me Double Sided Mirror BoardsWhat differences will you notice in your child?
In the first few weeks children will be extremely tired. They are not used to being so busy and having to concentrate for long periods of time. Â If your child is tired when they get home allow some down time or a short nap to re-energise them. A good bedtime routine is very important at this chapter in their lives and will help them keep their energy levels up throughout the day.They may also be hungry as they will be using up a lot of energy at school. Most schools have the free fruit scheme where the children are offered a fruit or vegetable mid-morning. Make sure your child has breakfast before starting school so that they are refuelled and able to take part in physical activities.ÂHow can you prepare?
Daily Schedule Pocket Chart          Good Job Reward Chart When your child starts school they will need to complete self-care tasks independently that they may have had help with at home. These include things like going to the toilet, getting dressed, washing their hands, feeding themselves and tidying up. Over the summer break it would benefit your child if you begin to encourage them to complete these tasks on their own. There will be somebody available to help if your child is struggling but with 30 children in a class they may not get the attention they are used to. A star chart is a great way to introduce these tasks and provide an incentive for them to succeed.It may also help your child to familiarise them with sitting cross legged. In nurseries and pre-schools children often sit on chairs and are not used to sitting on the floor. In their first week at school they will be sat on carpet for long periods of time, so if they are used to sitting that way it will be a lot easier for them.You can create a positive outlook towards beginning school by having enthusiastic conversations about their journey to school, things they might do at school and the topics they will be learning about. Finding out their teacher’s name means you can mention them in conversations building up a familiarity. Visiting the school with your child for an informal event before they start such as a fete or open day will help you both to visualise it when you are talking about it.Children are like sponges when they begin school and are ready to take in a lot of information. The reception teacher will support your child in developing new skills ready for Key Stage 1. Social and communication skills are important in reception as the ability to communicate thoughts and feelings will allow your child to form relationships and express themselves. Try teaching your child phrases such as “can I join in?â€, “can I play with you?†and “do you want to share?†Lastly, a few practical tips from teacher to parent:- Make sure you know what equipment will be needed, a list will be circulated at the new parents evening so make sure to request one if you haven’t received it yet. It will be made up of items such as sweatshirts, t-shirts, socks, PE kit, PE bag, school shoes, book bag, coat.
- Put name labels on absolutely everything! When children start school they all bring in a book bag with a name tag but may not be able to read their name confidently. Attach a recognisable key ring to your child’s book bag, this way they will be able to find it with ease.
- Make sure to provide your child with a water bottle, as it is most schools policy that children can only drink water at school. If your child isn’t used to drinking water try to reduce the amount of squash within their drinks during the summer so that water eventually becomes a familiar concept to them.
- Practise using pencils and scissors over the summer break, this will aid their fine motor skills and help them to improve their grip before beginning school.
- Try not worry, the early years is all about having fun and learning through purposeful play!
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