Big Milestone: Starting Reception
Starting Reception is a big milestone not only for your child but for parents too! It is a joy and big achievement to reach a new stage in parenthood.
This week has been a mix of emotions. Firstly, Lady Yeya started Reception on Wednesday, which is a big milestone for us. Now with a school-aged kid, we’re entering a new phase of parenthood, new friendships, and new routines. Secondly, whilst at the Parents Evening on Thursday, we received the news that HM The Queen passed away peacefully at Balmoral Castle. HM The Queen lived a long and extraordinary life during her 70-year reign, meeting 13 U.S. Presidents and appointed 15 British Prime Ministers. Rest in peace, Ma’am. God Save the Queen.
Reception: Ready or Not, Here We Come!
We bid a fond adieu to a fun-filled summer with nursery graduation, summer camp, beach trips, lavender fields, playdates, sleepover, visitors and Wicked: The Musical. The summer culminated with a fabulous family holiday to Paphos, Cyprus. Now it is time to focus on a new milestone: starting Reception.
We have been talking about starting school with Lady Yeya since her first settling session at her new school in June. I was probably more excited (and nervous!) about starting school than my own daughter. But Lady Yeya did great! Kenz and I along with Buddy walked Lady Yeya on her first day of Reception. At the school gates, she didn’t even look back to say goodbye. Instead, she smiled ear to ear and confidently joined her new Reception classmates. We are so proud! Now that we made it through the first week of school, here are my tips for a smooth and easy transition.
Uniforms and Name Labels
I would recommend purchasing your uniforms early to avoid any stock issues. But that said, purchase what you need instead of stock buying to account for mid-year growth spurts. I was surprised at how long the uniform list was. There are summer and winter uniforms, PE kits, house-coloured T-shirts, swimming costumes, puddy suits, wellies, velcro trainers, and formal black leather shoes. Phew. I’m still double checking the list to ensure I did not forget anything.
I would also suggest your kiddos try on every item and be comfortable with the new uniforms. It will feel more formal, and the fabric may feel itchy and slightly uncomfortable. Then practice dressing and undressing themselves for PE and swim sessions and when needing to use the toilets.
Let’s talk about name labels. It is important to label every article of clothing, rucksack, and water bottle. On the first day alone, there were parents messaging the WhatsApp group about missing unlabelled maroon jumpers and jackets. Remember to label everything! It is also useful for your child to write and recognise their own names, especially helpful when finding their own jackets.
Independence and Social Skills
I would encourage parents to work on their child’s independence and good social skills especially at meal times. Unlike a nursery, students have lunch in the cafeteria with their year group. Therefore, it is important that your child can eat independently with their utensils, clean themselves after eating, and wait patiently until their peers are finished.
Children at Reception should be able to use the toilets independently and practice good personal hygiene. But also accept that accidents may happen especially if they are not familiar with their new environment. The first half-term at Reception is all about settling into a new school. There is also emphasis on developing social skills including sharing, taking turns, good listening and good behaviour.
New School Routine & Be Prepared for a Tired Child
Yes, there will be a new school routine. The biggest one is being at the school gates on time before tardiness is recorded. At Lady Yeya’s school, the gates open at 8:20am and any late arrivals after 8:35am get recorded as tardiness. I would suggest doing a few trial runs with your child (and yourself too) before school starts to test the morning routine, including the time to get to school.
In addition to your morning routine, be sure to plan for your evening routine with quick meals. You’ll be surprised how hungry and tired your child is after an exciting day of learning. Therefore, it is sensible to keep the first few weekends free whilst you get into the new routine and get lots of rest (parents included!). Likewise, if your schedule allows, slowly add after school sports and/or wraparound care over the next few weeks to ease your child into a full schedule.
New Friendships and Networks
Starting Reception may feel daunting for a four year old. If you know, or know of, any children attending your child’s new school, it would be great to meet up for a playdate before the new academic year. At Lady Yeya’s settling sessions, I was lucky to meet a fellow mum who was moving to Southeast London from East London. We’ve organised a few playdates and our girls ended up going to the same summer camp. These days with social media, it is easy to connect with fellow parents at your child’s school. It is also important to build your new network of ‘parent’ friends who you get on with and share similar parenting styles.
Starting Reception is a big milestone. And with everything in life, preparation is key. This includes talking about school and nurturing the love for learning. We are so excited to see Lady Yeya blossom at school, form new friendships and enjoy new discoveries. Wishing everyone a great school year ahead! Reception, here we come!
