Where have the last 7 weeks gone? My eldest has finished her first half term in reception. I’m so proud of her in many ways as not once has she said she didn’t want to go to school. She’s not as keen on the after-school club but she only goes once a week. If your child is starting school soon, read on to find out what to expect during their first term.
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She’s learning so much already. Her confidence with numbers is increasing and she can recognise a lot of letters. She loves the Jolly phonics songs and is always singing one of them. She loves p.e. and library book days. She changes her books twice a week. One library book and one reading book. She recognises lots of letters but is not ready for blending them together yet.
We attended her first parents evening last week. We learnt that she is getting used to the school routine and what is expected of her. She struggles to concentrate for long but this is improving and can be seen in her drawings that are increasingly detailed. She is sociable and has lots of friends.
Here’s what I’ve learnt in my first half term as a school mum:
- I’ve learnt to sort all our bags out the night before. Mornings can be chaotic and having all our bags ready the night before is a massive help.
- Expect themed none uniform days. We’ve had two, the first one was in her second week! The first was book themed fancy dressed and the second was on the last day of term, colourful clothes for their Diwali party.
- I’ve had to get used to knowing very little about what she does each day. At nursery, you get used to being told if they’ve eaten and what they have been doing all day. Our nursery also had an online book where they recorded achievements and share photos. At school, the teachers obviously do not have time to share this information. She is not one to tell us much about what she has been doing each day either.
- Phonics, I feel like we are learning phonics as much as her. She loves the Jolly phonics songs. I can see the benefits of phonics but I’m not sure why 4-year-olds have to learn terms like “phoneme” and “grapheme” etc.
- Support your child’s learning at home with fun activities like using these Name Tracing Editable Mats to help them progress at school.
- I’ve learnt to expect lots of random emails from school but that we never get very much notice (not great as a working mum so I have to accept I can’t do everything).
- That 6 sets of uniform are about right for us. I don’t keep up with washing and ironing as much at the beginning of the week when I’m working. The spare set (that school insists she takes each day) doesn’t get that much use, mostly just the cardigan.
- That it was worth spending time labelling her uniform. She has come home with other peoples cardigans on more than one occasion. She even came home in someone else’s shoes once. They were the same design but 2 sizes smaller!
- That as soon as I pick her up from school she will declare she is hungry. Some nights we can’t fill her at all.
- That she needs plenty of sleep. We do our best to get her to bed as early as possible but she still gets more tired as the week goes on.
Next week she will start her second half term and I hope it goes just as well. I can’t wait to see how much she learns in the next 8 weeks.
Where to next?
Here are my best back to school tips
Find 5 ways to support your child as they start school here
Perhaps you’re looking for some books to help prepare your little one for starting school. Here are our favourite books about starting school.
If you’re reading this ahead of your child starting school, find top tips here – Getting Ready For School
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My eldest starts school next year and I know I’m going to find it really hard. I’ll definitely have to get used to labelling everything and not knowing as much about his day as I do now.
It’s surprising how quick we have all adjusted. I’m sure you will too.
Wow, it’s crazy how quickly they pick up things. My little lady has just finished her first half term and nursery and she is learning so much. It’s sounds like more exciting adventure in the next term.
They do learn so fast. I hope your little lady enjoys the next half term.
My eldest is in year 3 and my youngedt starts next year. I think i will need a diary just for school stuff. The theme days, the assembly’s, the trips. So much to remember!
I know! Someone described it to me as being their PA! Sometimes it feels like that. School, swimming, parties etc never ending.
The dreaded phonics! I reckon I could easily teach it myself now after 2yrs of it! Great to her your little one is settling in well!
Thanks. I don’t think I’m far off being able to teach it either.
Loved this. I am dreading the non uniform days because I know I’ll forget about them till the last minute.
We only get a weeks notice here so not really long enough to forget.
I think that first half term is a bigger for the parents than the child! All the text messages, emails and letters its never ending. There is always something going on that you need to be aware of. And yes they are always hungry, this doesn’t change!
Some days the emails do feel never ending! I’ll have to get better with snacks then!
You do get used to it. I can’t get over how many texts/emails they send some days!
Yes, watching them learn is lovely.
Thank you. I’m sure it will. I think they’ll have a great time in the run up to Christmas.
You’ll soon pick it up too. I’m going to be sharing some resources for parents in the next week or so.
It is a big change for all of us.
Labeling every item of clothing is the best thing you can do! My son came home in another kids shoes once (before I knew to label the insides of shoes too) and they were two sizes too small. It took me awhile to figure out what had happened! That’s fab she is adjusting so well & is confident going to school x
Ha ha, that must have been confusing!). My daughters shoes were labelled but they can’t read yet.
I know. I’m loving half term and spending time with her.
The mornings are manic so anything that can be done the night before is a bonus.
I wrote a similar post to this, it is such a learning curve for everyone isn’t it. I thought I would be prepared for it all as Meme has been in school for the last couple of years but I wasn’t – Harri is such a different child it really is like starting all over again.
That sounds like a wonderful start for F. The whole food thing after school hasn’t improved for Monkey moving into year1. Although at least now I remember to put a snack in the car for pick up. Can totally relate to the lack of notice as well! x
It’s so exciting seeing them grow and enjoy school isn’t it. (I do a school days linky each sunday if you do any other posts you want to link up to)