Moving on up
Starting Reception is a downloadable FREE leaflet that can help you build your child’s confidence so that they feel emotionally and practically prepared to start school.
Growing independenceGrowing independence
Get insights on internet safety, how screen use impacts young children and recommended screen time
And for those with younger children, the NCT covers advice for babies and toddlers too:
Help children build a strong relationship with food and make the right choices from the start
Sleep guidance
Download the FREE family learning programme resources, aimed at supporting families with this important process, below.
1. Independence
Independence is one of the most valuable skills that you can teach your child. It's not about struggling to do things on your own but more about learning to have a go without adult intervention and knowing when to ask for help. Allowing your child to make choices and solve problems for themselves will help them to access the school environment and choose appropriate resources and activities that interest them.
Growing independenceGrowing independence
- Check out Parentkind’s online advice hub and magazine for parents ‘Be School Ready’
- Enjoy Family Corner’s 5 tips to help your child get ready for Reception
- Guidance for parents and practitioners - PACEY
- Download the free EasyPeasy mobile app for tips and activities to support everyday parenting moments
- How can you make separating easier? - Family Corner
- Getting dressed and ready for the day - backward chaining information sheet - NHS
- Getting ready for the Day - BBC
- The Institute of Health Visiting has advice and tips on toilet training
- Simple and supportive toilet training advice - ERIC
- Potty training and bedwetting - NHS
- Pants4School - Down Syndrome UK
- 5 steps for brain building through serve and return - Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University
- How to follow a child’s interest in play - National Literacy Trust
- How to role play with your child - Pretend role play - BBC
- How to role play with your child - Playing pretend animals - BBC
- Fire up their imagination with drawing - BBC
- What is mark-making and why is it important for learning? - PACEY
- Sharing story books on World Book Day - BBC
- Nature activities for children - BBC
- Learning and having fun on the bus - BBC
- Play a game of 'What's that sound?' - BBC
- The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood’s Shaping Us Framework outlines how these skills develop in early childhood
- Top tips for enjoying stories together and book recommendations for starting school - BookTrust
- Learn how to support your child to make friends - Family Corner
- Understand your child's social development - Words for Life
- Practice sharing with toys - BBC
- You are your child’s first teacher – help them learn how to write their name - Words for Life
- Explore a range of approaches to language learning and development from NHS Start for Life
- Build your child’s imagination and language by making up stories together - BBC
- Follow the walk and talk trail with the National Literacy Trust
- Practice language and listening skills at home with these games - Playing with a cardboard telescope - BBC
- Practice language and listening skills at home with these games - Red Light, Green Light - BBC
- Getting moving for 3 hours a day - NHS
- What is core strength and why is it important for children? - Department for Education
- Fun games to get them moving - BBC
Get insights on internet safety, how screen use impacts young children and recommended screen time
And for those with younger children, the NCT covers advice for babies and toddlers too:
Help children build a strong relationship with food and make the right choices from the start
- Nutrition guidance - Department for Education
- Healthier families - NHS
- Five tips for helping your kids to eat healthily all year round - BBC
- Eating Well - First Steps Nutrition Trust
- Factsheet for healthy children's diets - Association of UK Dieticians
Sleep guidance
- Sleep and young children - NHS
- Struggling to get children to sleep: How to establish a bedtime routine - BBC
Download the FREE family learning programme resources, aimed at supporting families with this important process, below.
1. Independence
Independence is one of the most valuable skills that you can teach your child. It's not about struggling to do things on your own but more about learning to have a go without adult intervention and knowing when to ask for help. Allowing your child to make choices and solve problems for themselves will help them to access the school environment and choose appropriate resources and activities that interest them.
| parent_handout_-_session_one.pdf |
2. Fine motor skills
Fine motor skills involve the use of the small muscles that control the hand, fingers, and thumb. They help children perform important tasks like feeding themselves, buttoning and zipping clothes, writing, drawing and much more. Little hands can develop dexterity and strength through practical play activities such as play dough, safe scissors, threading and building. These will you help your child prepare for holding a pencil, mark-making and eventually writing.
Fine motor skills involve the use of the small muscles that control the hand, fingers, and thumb. They help children perform important tasks like feeding themselves, buttoning and zipping clothes, writing, drawing and much more. Little hands can develop dexterity and strength through practical play activities such as play dough, safe scissors, threading and building. These will you help your child prepare for holding a pencil, mark-making and eventually writing.
| parent_handout_-_session_two.pdf |
3. Communication, language & reading
Becoming more confident when speaking to others and being able to say when they need help, will help children in their transition to school. Being able to talk about activities they like will also help them to become confident connecting with others who enjoy the same activities.
Your child doesn’t need to be able to read before they start school. Children start school with a wide range of abilities and their teacher will be skilled at helping them progress at their own level. What’s most important is that you and your child have fun together – sharing stories, singing songs, playing games and talking about anything and everything. Enjoying a book together can help them to develop early literacy
skills and encourage a love of reading. When reading with your little one, remember to talk to them about the story, point out new words, and ask questions.
Becoming more confident when speaking to others and being able to say when they need help, will help children in their transition to school. Being able to talk about activities they like will also help them to become confident connecting with others who enjoy the same activities.
Your child doesn’t need to be able to read before they start school. Children start school with a wide range of abilities and their teacher will be skilled at helping them progress at their own level. What’s most important is that you and your child have fun together – sharing stories, singing songs, playing games and talking about anything and everything. Enjoying a book together can help them to develop early literacy
skills and encourage a love of reading. When reading with your little one, remember to talk to them about the story, point out new words, and ask questions.
| parent_handout-_session_three.pdf |
