Starting school is an exciting new journey for your family, and we warmly welcome your entire family, not just your children. We understand that the prospect of beginning "Big School" can be a bit daunting for some. However, we want to reassure you that with some preparation and encouragement, we are confident that your children will easily settle into school life.
Our experienced teaching staff are well-equipped to guide children through these transitions, and our small class sizes allow us to develop a deep understanding of your children. To help you prepare your children for this new adventure at our school, we've put together some friendly tips and advice.
Remember Burscough Library offers fun activities and free books!
Teach your child nursery rhymes, songs and read children’s poetry
Talk about everyday print on packages, adverts, newspaper, recipes etc.
Tell stories, sing songs in the car or bath and try to incorportate a bed time story in their routine.
Fgive your child access to books, posters,pictures and labels
Talk about the stories you read and the characters, what happens and where it is set.
Always praise and encourage your child to do their best
Firstly, do not worry, we don't expect your child to be able to read, write or do sums before they start school. Children start school with a wide range of abilities. Our experianced teachers will get to know your child and will help them progress at their own pace. What’s most important is that you and your child have fun together in those pre-school months and years – sharing stories, singing songs, playing games and talking about anything and everything.
For young children, maths is so much more than numbers
Children love number games, how many silver cars, how many sweets, how many jumps or steps.
Discuss words such as longer or shorter, wide or narrow
Talk about the hidden shapes in every day life, while shopping or around your home
Play shops or cafes and use coins and show your child the different coins.
Look for patterns, colour, shape, texture, or even sound.
Allowing children to help measure ingrediants
Children having hot meals are encouraged to use a knife and fork (practise at home), we also teach the children how to carry their meal tray. If your child is taking a lunch box, please practice opening food items and containers to help your child feel independant, our welfare staff will be on hand if they need help.
Get your child into the habit of hanging their coat up, putting their toys away, clearing the table, and so on, to prepare them for doing these things at school. Why not turn it into a game? Play their favourite song and do a dance tidy!
Let your child practise putting on their school clothes, taking them off and folding them in preparation for PE lessons, especially if there are fiddly fastenings such as zips and buttons. Elasticated clothes and Velcro® shoes are easier to handle. Teach your child tricks such as putting labels at the back, holding cuffs to stop sleeves riding up, & wrinkling tights to put toes in first.
Encourage your child to use the toilet independently, ensuring proper wiping using toilet paper rather than moist wipes. If you have a different phrase for going to the toilet? Letting us know what this is will ensure we understand what your child is trying to ask. Also promote good handwashing with soap and water, especially after going to the toilet.
We invite our new families to attend our link introduction sessions. This is a great opportunity for the children to see their new classroom and outdoor spaces, meet their teacher and make new friends. We also take the opportunityto speak with the families and answer any other questions.
