Starting School

When your child first starts school, they will be introduced to a new routine within the school, the classroom and the playground.  They will also be meeting lots of other children and of course, their first teacher.  This will be an exciting time for them but it may also cause some anxieties.

Schools Preparation
Schools are well prepared for the Primary 1 intake and will have lots of strategies for getting the children settled in to school routines. For example,

• Schools may operate a “Buddy System” where older children support new entrants
• Schools may timetable additional staffing to support school induction
• Schools may hold special induction meetings to enable parents to ask questions they may have
• Schools will normally hold initial parent evenings early in the new session
   

Parent/Guardian Preparation
In order to prepare them for these new experiences, listed below are some things you may wish to discuss with your child.

• Talk about their new school when you pass it
• Tell fun stories about when you were at school
• Read books to them about starting school and school life
• Make it a special trip when you are buying their uniform
• Stay positive and make them look forward to their first day
• Keep in touch with other parents whose children are starting school at the same time.  That way the children will know that they will be able to play with each other in the playground at break and lunch times
• It may be that they have been staying up later and lying longer in the morning throughout the summer break, so it would be helpful to get the children into a familiar and regular routine the week before school starts.