Getting Ready for School
Getting ready for Reception
Starting school is an important milestone in your child’s life. Being ready for school is not about reading, writing or academic ability, but about children feeling confident, secure and able to manage everyday routines.
Supporting your child to develop independence, communication skills, resilience and positive relationships helps them settle more easily into school life.
Small things practised at home, such as dressing themselves, listening to instructions, sharing with others and talking about their feelings, can make a big difference to your child’s confidence and happiness when they start Reception.
Please use this guide as a checklist to help you support your child’s readiness for school.
Transition into Reception
We have a robust and well-planned transition process into Reception to ensure that every child feels happy, confident and secure when starting school. A smooth transition helps children settle quickly and allows staff to fully understand each child’s needs, interests and starting points.
To support this, we work closely with previous early years settings and families. We meet with nurseries and childminders to receive a full handover, sharing important information about each child’s development, strengths and any additional needs. This helps us plan appropriately from the very start of Reception.
We also value strong partnerships with parents and carers. We hold a parent meeting to share key information and answer any questions, followed by a stay and play session where children and parents can explore the classroom together and meet staff. Children are also invited to have lunch in school, helping them become familiar with routines in a relaxed and supportive way.
Before starting in September, children attend three transition afternoons in Reception. These sessions allow children to spend time in their new environment, build relationships with staff and peers, and feel confident and excited about starting school.
By taking the time to get to know every child, we ensure that all staff are well-informed, children’s needs are understood, and families feel supported throughout the transition into Reception.
Transition into Year 1
We understand that moving from Reception into Year 1 is an important step for children. To support a smooth and positive transition, we have a clear and structured process in place to ensure that staff are fully informed and children feel confident and prepared for this next stage of learning.
Staff hold pupil transition meetings, where detailed information is passed from the Reception teacher to the Year 1 teacher. This includes each child’s attainment, strengths, interests, likes and dislikes, as well as any SEND needs or additional support that may be required. This ensures that the Year 1 team has a strong understanding of every child’s starting point before the new school year begins.
From the spring term, Reception pupils take part in Read Write Inc. (RWI) sessions alongside Key Stage 1. This helps children become familiar with Key Stage 1 staff, routines and expectations, while building confidence in a supportive and gradual way.
In the summer term, children attend a transition afternoon in their new Year 1 classroom. During this time, they meet their new teacher, explore the learning environment and begin to build positive relationships, helping them feel excited and ready for September.
Through careful planning, clear communication and strong relationships between staff, we ensure that the transition into Year 1 is well supported and tailored to meet the needs of all pupils.