Here are a few tips for parents/carers to help their child transition from nursery to primary school:

• Encourage independence; teach your child to remove and put on their own shoes and coat, feed themselves independently, and tidy things away. And, of course, they should be able to deal with trips to the toilet by themselves – including washing their hands properly afterward.

   

• Work on basic literacy skills so that your child can recognize and write his/her name.

   

• Read books on ‘going to school’ or create your own social situation stories.

   

• Do some preparing for school role-play. Get your child to act out scenes from a typical day at school, for example putting their uniform on, saying goodbye to you, hanging up their coats, eating lunch, lining up to go into the playground. Do visit the school at least twice before starting the settling in process.

   

• Find out if any other child from the nursery setting is going to the same school/class and speak to your child about it. You can also organize some play dates with those children joining the same class/ school.

   

• Practice the school route during the summer holidays if walking, or the route to where you catch the bus or going by car. Help your child to maintain their attention and focus, children that are going into reception will be focusing a lot more during the phonics session and the circle time.

   

• Be consistent in talking about the move but don’t overdo it!