New to Reception

Transition from Home / Nursery to Reception (Tigers)

If your children are transitioning from Home / Nursery to Reception, you may have many questions such as:

• How will they cope in a big classroom
• How will they cope in a large playground with lots of other children?
• Will they make friends easily?
• Will they be happy in a new setting?

A successful transition to Reception class is one where children settle quickly into ‘full time’ school, learning and developing from day one and, as a result, your child will feel safe, confident and ready to learn. Schools are responsible for much of the transition process, but you as parents can also assist to ensure transition runs smoothly.

 

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Framework is underpinned by seven key areas of learning, as outlined below:

Prime areas:

• Communication & Language (C&L)
• Physical Development (PD)
• Personal, Social & Emotional Development (PSED)

Specific areas:

• Literacy (L) – Reading & Writing
• ‎Mathematical Development (MD)
• ‎Expressive Arts & Design (EAD)
• ‎Understanding the World (UW)

How Parents and Carers Can Help
Reading
Read to your child and encourage them to read to you. Read anything and everything – books with pictures, rhyme and enjoyable stories are crucial. Try to encourage your child to talk about the pictures, or to make predictions about what will happen next. Also, reading stories about transition based on other children starting ‘big school’ provides a great basis for talking about the associated feelings that may occur when there is a similar change in their own lives. Above all, it’s most important for your child to enjoy reading, so try to relax, and stop when either of you feels is appropriate. Encourage your child to recognise and read print when you are out shopping, on the bus or at the park.

 

Phonics
Talk to your child about individual letters (especially the letters in their name) and their sounds. Singing songs and nursery rhymes really reinforces letters and sounds learning before transitioning from Nursery to Reception. Play I-spy when you go out (using the sound the letter makes, rather than its name).

 

Maths
For maths, there are all sorts of ways to encourage number recognition. Involve your child in using numbers at home by singing number rhymes and songs or by encouraging them to recognise and read numbers when you are in the car, on the bus or walking down the street. Calendars are a great way to introduce numbers in a meaningful way. See if they can find their birthday, or count down the days until the first day of school! When shopping, ask them to select the number of apples or bananas you need – they’re helping you out and learning at the same time.

 

Developing Independence
And finally, don’t forget to focus on small tasks that will make a big difference to your child transitioning from nursery to reception. E.g. Getting dressed/undressed without help, putting on their own shoes and going to the toilet and washing their hands. Buttons on shirts, zips on coats and buckles on shoes are particularly useful when it comes to PE lessons or getting ready to go outside! Encouraging your child to ‘have a go’ first and then to ask for help from an adult will encourage crucial independence skills during their first few weeks at school.

 

Please see our Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Page  or our Tiger Class Page to find out More!

 

If you have any questions in regards to the transition to Reception at Lee Brigg Infant & Nursery School then please contact our school office.