Is your child starting Primary school soon?

Lots of young children from across North East Lincolnshire are preparing to start primary school for the first time and may need some support and reassurance.

Moving from nursery to primary school is a big change and can be hard for children and their parents as they may have to say goodbye to their friends and get used to new surroundings.

Without the right support this could take a toll on the child’s wellbeing causing them to develop anxiety and cause unnecessary stress, impacting their progress and development in school.

Here are a handful of top tips to help your child to prepare for, and adjust to, starting school.

1. The most important thing to help your child to feel comfortable when making new friends in school is good communication skills. When they are at home, have regular communication with them to help them to learn social cues and become more confident at speaking.
2. It’s best that you get your child into a routine for waking up in the morning and going to bed early before they start school.
3. As a parent you should pre-plan everything the night before. Having things like your child’s uniform and their lunch ready the night before helps to avoid rushing around in the morning. This will help to avoid being late when you can’t find their shoes their first day.
4. When starting primary school, your children will need to be ready and motivated to learn. Parents can help their children with this by interacting with them about things they’re interested in. For example, you could ask them to tell you about a book that they’re reading or ask questions about their day to encourage that engagement.
5. It’s perfectly normal for a child to experience nervousness as they prepare to start school for the first time. To help them to deal with this, try talking to them frequently about what worries – if any – they might have.

Councillor Margaret Cracknell, portfolio holder for children and education at North East Lincolnshire Council, said:

“I’d like to wish all of our children who are starting primary school this September the best of luck.

“I know it can be a time when anxieties peak – particularly for parents, but once your child is settled in their class with their new friends, they’ll thrive.”