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How to help your child deal with uncertainty and change

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How to help your child deal with uncertainty and change

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Maybe you've switched to a new nursery for your child. Or perhaps a family member is poorly, so you can't visit granny like you normally do. Even little changes to your family routine can unsettle your child.

"Children are very aware of who is looking after them, what is happening and any changes to that," says Elizabeth.

Even babies are aware of what is coming next.

"So they are very good at picking up when something is different in the household or their routine has changed."

"Explain what is happening in an age-appropriate way, even before you think they might understand. And give words to what they are experiencing. You could say, 'We can't see Granny at the moment as we don't want her to get sick and we feel sad.' If we don't give children explanations they start to think it's something they have done."

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How to help your child deal with uncertainty and change

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Child communication expert Dr Elizabeth Rapa from the University of Oxford gives us her tips for helping young children cope with uncertainty and change.

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A collection of activities and things to do with children aged 4-5 years old. 

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A collection of activities and things to do with children aged 4-5 years old. 

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A collection of activities and things to do with children aged 4-5 years old. Your child may be able to take turns in conversations, use more complicated language, and enjoy playing with friends.

Activities for 4-5 year olds: Playtime games

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Activities for 4-5 year olds - BBC Tiny Happy People

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A collection of fun learning activities and things to do with children 4-5 years. Our collection of fun and creative games for preschoolers will help develop their language and communication skills. Help them learn and have loads of fun while you do.

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What should you pack in your child's school bag?

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What should you pack in your child's school bag?

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Starting primary school is an exciting time for you and your child. There are some items they'll definitely need on their first day and there are others that will be handy to have. Here's five things your child will need to bring when they start school. Remember, some of these items can be reused from older siblings or picked up in a charity shop rather than bought new.

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What should you pack in your child's school bag?

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Five things a new starter at primary school will need to pack in the morning.

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10 ways to help your child work through their worries

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10 ways to help your child work through their worries

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10 ways to help your child work through their worries

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How can you help your child to have good mental health and stay happy and well? We chatted to child mental health expert Pooky Knightsmith to get some practical ideas to support children with worries.

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Lots of information and guidance to support with toileting.

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A pre-recorded workshop that provides emotional and practical support with your child's transition to school. It is 45 minutes and can be watched in your own time.

The Workshop is based on the Five to Thrive approach, along with the UNICEF model,

Ready Child

Ready Family

Ready School

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School Readiness Recorded Workshop poster

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Parenting Puzzle is a tried and tested programme that helps us think about what we do, why we do it and how it makes us feel. It is delivered over 4 weeks. It is for parents and carers with children aged between 3-5

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Parenting Puzzle is a tried and tested programme that helps us think about what we do, why we do it and how it makes us feel. It is delivered over 4 weeks. It is for parents and carers with children aged between 3-5

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Parenting Puzzle supports you in understanding your child's behaviour, encourage praise, boundaries and positive discipline, and managing stress and conflict, all strategies that support getting ready for school.

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This article was written with the help of Helen Stroudley, Early Years Consultant at Peeple. It goes through what school readiness means and how you can better prepare you and your little one for their first day of ‘big school’.

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Preparing your little one for school will have a positive impact on how well they settle in and interact with other children.

So, what can you do to better prepare you and your child for this big step?

1. Talk to your child about starting school

Bring the topic of starting school into daily conversations. Perhaps you could ask your little one what they expect from school or what they hope it'll be like.

You could tell them about your school days and show them pictures of you on your first day or with your school friends. Even if you didn't enjoy school, it's important to be positive about it around your child so they feel more relaxed about their new adventure.

New experiences can make us a bit nervous as well as excited, so if you or your little one has any worries about starting school do have a chat with their teacher.

2. Read books together about school

Swap out one of your bedtime books for one that talks about starting school. Whether your little one is excited or nervous to start school, reading fun stories about school adventures might help them get used to the idea. Visit your local library and ask the librarians if they have any suggestions for you, you might even bump into other families while you're there!

3. Practise the basic skills they'll need for starting school

Mark making is another fun activity. It's a simple way to encourage your little one to draw; whether it's a dot or a squiggly line, you could doodle together or take a bucket of water and paintbrush outside to get creative, all this helps them with their writing skills.

By incorporating these skills into their daily activities, children will learn through play and begin to understand the world around them during their everyday life.

4. Visit their new school

If possible, try to visit your little one's new school and ask for a tour. It'll help them feel at ease and get used to their new surroundings. Some schools even offer 'settling in' days which are a great opportunity for your child to get used to their new learning environment.

5.Practise self-care

If your child is not fully confident in going to the toilet alone or getting dressed, don't worry! Take some time to practise self-care with your little one until they become more confident. There's no rush and every child progresses at their own speed.

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What does 'school readiness' really mean?

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How can you help your child get school ready? We go through some useful hints and tips to help grow your child's confidence ready for starting school.

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All about how your child's language and understanding of the world around them develops as they reach primary school age. The science behind preschool development and communication.

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All about how your child's language and understanding of the world around them develops as they reach primary school age. The science behind preschool development and communication.

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Preschool learning and communication - BBC Tiny Happy People

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All about how your child's language and understanding of the world around them develops as they grow older.

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The Individual Local Authority will set the date from which you can start applying for primary school place. When the date is set you can then apply for your child's primary school

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The Individual Local Authority will set the date from which you can start applying for primary school place. When the date is set you can then apply for your child's primary school

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Use this link to access the application form

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You can apply for a place at a state primary school online or by using your council's application form.

You apply through your local council even if you're applying for schools in another council area.

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Apply for a state primary school place through your local council

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Your child will be added to a list for each of the schools you’ve named on the Application Form. The list for each school is then ranked by whether children meet the admission criteria for that school, and this will determine if a place can be offered. If a child is not offered a place at any of the schools a parent has named on their form, the Local Authority will offer a place at the nearest school with a space available.

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Your child will be added to a list for each of the schools you’ve named on the Application Form. The list for each school is then ranked by whether children meet the admission criteria for that school, and this will determine if a place can be offered. If a child is not offered a place at any of the schools a parent has named on their form, the Local Authority will offer a place at the nearest school with a space available.

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Things to think about and questions to ask when visiting a primary school

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Things to think about and questions to ask when visiting a primary school

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Things to think about and questions to ask when visiting a primary school

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Headteacher Dave McPartlin reveals his top tips for what to look out for and ask when visiting a primary school

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A Guide for when Applying for a primary school place

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A Guide for when Applying for a primary school place

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The school application process can be daunting, so if you are not sure where to start, this guide gives you a detailed overview of how to apply for a school place across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland - as well as links to plenty of other helpful resources.
Also check out our handy guide to the questions to ask when looking round a primary school, written by headteacher Dave McPartlin.

When do children start school?

Children are eligible to start school (Reception) in the academic year following their fourth birthday.

Although most children start school in the September after their fourth birthday, children don't have to be in education until a 'set date' following their fifth birthday; this is known as the Compulsory School Age. The set dates are the 31st December, 31st March and 31st August.

There is the option to delay a child's start date if you feel your child is not ready to start school full-time in the September following their fourth birthday. We would recommend discussing delayed admission and part-time admission with the schools you are applying to.

'Summer-born children' are those born between 1st April and 31st August. Parents of summer-born children can request that their child start Reception in the September following their fifth birthday, rather than going straight into Year One alongside children of the same age group. It is important to note that it's generally agreed that it's best for children to be educated in their normal age group, so the decision to admit a child outside of their normal age group is only made in limited circumstances - for example, where there is professional evidence in support of the request.

Important dates for admission

The individual Local Authority will set the date from which you can start applying for primary school places. This information will be available on your Local Authority website or by phoning or writing to the Local Authority directly.

The deadline for 'on-time' applications is usually in the middle of January. Late applications will still be considered but there is less chance of getting a place at one of your preferred schools.

Primary Schools National Offer Day is 16 April or the next working day if the 16th is a weekend or bank holiday.

The application process

You can make an application for a school place through your Local Authority - find yours here.

Each Local Authority should publish an admissions booklet online that explains their application process and should include a directory with a list of schools' details, admissions policies etc.

It's a really good idea to do some of your own research in the lead up to applying for a school place. This could include:

This is to check that your child is eligible for the schools that you want to apply to.

Local Authorities must provide a Common Application Form (CAF) for you to put in your preferences for a place at state-funded schools. You must be able to name a minimum of three schools in order of preference and the form should allow you to provide reasons for why these are your preferences. Listing three schools means that if your first preference school is unable to offer a place, there are other options to go with.

It is important to be truthful about the information you give on the application form. The information will often be checked and a place could be withdrawn if it's found that you submitted a fraudulent application.

School admissions criteria

All applicants must be offered a place if the school is not oversubscribed.

If a school is oversubscribed, that is when more parents applied for a place than the number of places available, then the school uses its oversubscription criteria to decide the priority order in which places are allocated.

The government allows the admission authority some leeway in how they decide on their oversubscription criteria, but in all schools the highest priority must be given to looked-after children and previously looked-after children - that is children who are, or have been, in the care of the local authority such as foster care.

Other examples of criteria that are often used are:

Allocation of places

Your child will be added to a list for each of the schools you've named on the Common Application Form. The list for each school is then ranked by whether children meet the admission criteria for that school, and this will determine if a place can be offered.

Admission authorities are now legally required to operate an 'equal preference system'. This means that places are purely allocated according to the admissions criteria and not on the basis of where the school was listed on the parent's application. Therefore, even if a parent put a school as a second choice their child could still be offered a place ahead of another child whose parents had put the school down as a first choice. It is all about the extent to which the child meets the oversubscription criteria.

If a child is not offered a place at any of the schools a parent has named on their form, the Local Authority will offer a place at the nearest school with a space available.

Waiting list and appeal

A child's name can be added to the waiting list for any school that you've applied for but have not been offered a place at. Schools must keep a waiting list for at least one term and you can ask the school how the waiting list is ordered. It is important to note that children can move down the waiting list if other children who have greater priority, in accordance with the oversubscription criteria, join the list.

A parent will automatically have a right of appeal to each individual school their child has been refused a place at. Visit the Child Law Advice Service website for further information on lodging an appeal in England.

There are some important differences between England and Wales when applying for a primary school place. The first decision is whether to choose Welsh-medium or English-medium education for your child. You can find out about all the schools available to you on your local authority website.

Details of how to apply for a school place in Wales can be found here.

Important dates

The date when the application process opens and closes varies from local authority to local authority, so it is important to check the website of the council where you live. You will find out which school your child has been offered a place on Primary Schools National Offer Day. This is 16 April or the next working day if the 16th is a weekend or bank holiday.

The application process

You can make an application for a school place through your local authority - find yours here.

Each local authority should publish an admissions booklet online that explains their application process and should include a directory with a list of schools' details, admissions policies etc.

It's a really good idea to do some of your own research in the lead up to applying for a school place. This could include:

* Attending Open Days

* Reading the Schools Admissions Criteria (see below)

* Consulting Estyn inspection reports

This is to check that your child is eligible for the schools that you want to apply to.

Local authorities will provide you with an application form, check their website. Most local authorities' application forms will offer you the opportunity to put down more than one school. It is important to use all the preferences available to you, as this will give you other options if you aren't accepted for your first choice.

It is important to be truthful about the information you give on the application form. The information will often be checked and a place could be withdrawn if it's found that you submitted a fraudulent application.

School admissions criteria

If a school is oversubscribed, that is when more parents applied for a place than the number of places available, then the school uses its oversubscription criteria to decide the priority order in which places are allocated.

The government allows the admission authority some leeway in how they decide on their oversubscription criteria, but in all schools the highest priority must be given to looked-after children and previously looked-after children - that is children who are, or have been, in the care of the local authority such as foster care.

Other examples of criteria that are sometimes used are:

* Children with a sibling attending the school

* Children living in the catchment area (you can contact the schools in advance and ask for details of their catchment area)

* Children whose parents have expressed a preference for a school

When do children start school in Scotland?

Children born between...

1 March 2018 - 28 February 2019 will start School August 2023

1 March 2019 - 28 February 2020 will start School August 2024

1 March 2020 - 28 February 2021 will start School August 2025

1 March 2021 - 28 February 2022 will start School August 2026

1 March 2022 - 28 February 2023 will start School August 2027

1 March 2023 - 28 February 2024 will start School August 2028

And so on...

Deferring the start of school

If you child is still only four years old on the date they are due to start primary school, you may defer their start date by a year.

Check here to find out about early years and childcare funding.

The application process

The admissions process in Scotland is different to that for England and Wales in a number of ways.

In many local authority areas, the council will send out a letter offering your child a primary school place, all you need to do is send a reply confirming the place. In other areas, you need to enrol your child with the local council in the year before they are due to start school. Check the website of your local authority for details or search via your postcode here.

How places are decided

The local council decides which school your child will attend based on the catchment area of each school - that is the defined area around the school. Check your local council's website to see which school your child will be offered a place at.

If you don't want your child to attend the catchment school, you can send a placing request for a different school and this must be approved as long as there are places. If there are no places you will need to find another school that does have places, or accept the catchment school.

For more information about schools in your area go to the Parent Zone website.

Important dates

You can apply for a school place in the January of the year your child is due to start school. There is an online application process via the Education Authority website. You need to list four schools you prefer, or more than four if there are likely to be more applications than places. Letters offering school places are sent out in May. If you are not offered a place at one of your preferred schools you will be given information about schools that still have places available.

How decisions are made

Schools make decisions about who is offered a place based on their admissions criteria, which are drawn up by the Board of Governors and published on the school's website. Criteria vary from school to school but they must be fair, clear and based on facts.

If you feel that a school has not applied its admissions criteria accurately you may appeal. Find out more about the appeals process here.

Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)

Written in association with Mairead Meadows and Richard Oldershaw of the Coram Child Law Advice Service. Know someone who has recently started school or will be beginning next September? Check out the rest of Starting Primary School which has lots of ways to help prepare children for different aspects of school life - both practically and emotionally.

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How to apply for a primary school place in the UK

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A detailed overview of how to apply for a school place and the application process across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

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We operate a two-tier system of schools with 48 local authority maintained schools or academies which are made up as follows:

38 primary schools for pupils aged four to 11

six secondary schools for pupils aged 11 to 19

one all-through school for pupils aged four to 16

two mixed-sex special schools. One for primary aged pupils and one for secondary aged and sixth form pupils

one Pupil Referral Unit for pupils aged four to 16

View our location map for primary schools.

View our location map for secondary schools.

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Find out primary and secondary school locations

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We have put together a contact list for all the schools on the Isle of Wight for you to download. This list contains the following details for each school/college:

The list will be updated on a regular basis.

Open or download a copy of the Schools Contact List (PDF, 207KB, 5 pages).

To obtain the contact details for a specific school or education establishment on the Isle of Wight please browse the list below. Select the link for the appropriate school or establishment.

Special Educational Needs (SEN) provision information

All Isle of Wight providers will use their best endeavours and adopt a similar approach to meeting the needs of pupils with Special Educational Needs. Schools are supported by the Local Authority to ensure that all pupils, regardless of their specific needs, make the best possible progress in school. All schools are supported to be as proactive and inclusive as possible. The needs of pupils with a Special Educational Need/s should be being met in a mainstream setting wherever possible, and where families want this to happen.

As part of this process all schools on the Island are completing an SEN information report. This provides their arrangements for:

admission of disabled children

the steps being taken to prevent disabled children being treated less favourably than others

the facilities provided to enable access to the school for disabled children

their accessibility plan showing how they plan to improve access progressively over time.

All-through schools - for pupils aged 4 to 16 years

All-through school website

All-through school Special Education Needs information

# Denotes school offers specialist provision - please see 'Specialist Provision' heading below

Referral units and tuition centres

Working in conjunction with other professionals, tuition centres give support to children who, for a variety of reasons, are unable to attend school. The service aims to ensure that pupils return and re-integrate into school as soon as possible. In 2014, Clatterford Tuition Centre and Thompson House Tuition Centre moved sites and are now both located at The Island Learning Centre, but their provision remains separate.

Tuition centre website

Tuition centre Special Education Needs information

The following main stream schools offer specialist provision as follows. For more information, contact the schools directly.

Brading Primary School has a unit that offers specialist provision for children with ASD= Autistic Spectrum Disorder

Greenmount Primary School has a unit called Greenhaven and offers specialist provision for children with ASD= Autistic Spectrum Disorder and SLCN = Speech, Language & Communication Needs.

Hunnyhill Primary School has a unit which offers specialist provision for children with SEMH = Social, Emotional and Mental Health.

St Francis Primary School has a unit that offers specialist provision for children with ASD= Autistic Spectrum Disorder and SLCN = Speech, Language & Communication Needs.

The Bay CE School has a unit called The Cove which offers specialist provision for children with ASD = Autistic Spectrum Disorder.

Carisbrooke College has a unit called Einstein and offers specialist provision for children with ASD = Autistic Spectrum Disorder.

Medina College has a unit called Aspire which offers specialist provision for children with SEMH = Social, Emotional and Mental Health.

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Keen readers are good readers. The best way to help your child become a good reader is to encourage them to love books, you could visit your local library.

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Keen readers are good readers. The best way to help your child become a good reader is to encourage them to love books, you could visit your local library.

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Tios to encourage your children to read

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Keen readers are good readers. The best way to help your child become a good reader is to encourage them to love books. Take your kids to the library. See our libraries' opening hours (PDF, 255KB, 1 page).

Tips on how to encourage you child to read:

Read aloud to your child. Learning to read is hard work, and the books that new readers are able to read by themselves limit vocabulary to aid in learning. It's important that they still have books read aloud to them because what you read will introduce them to new and more complex words. It also reminds them that books can still be fun. Children are more likely to persist with the hard work of learning to read if they can see that the end result is worth it.

Let your child choose their own books. Research has shown that children are more likely to finish a book if they have chosen it themselves. Just like adults, children sometimes want to reread an old favourite, or stick with a favourite author, or relax with a book that is 'too easy.' And like adults, kids just 'can't get into' a book, and may not want to finish it. Forcing them to finish it will only turn reading into an unpleasant chore. All libraries sort their children's book by broad age group, to help you direct your child to a range of books that are likely to be suitable for them.

Value your child's reading, no matter what it is. Reading doesn't just mean story books. Some children prefer nonfictional information books about subjects they're interested in. Magazines, comics, websites and computer game manuals are all reading too.

Let your child see you reading. Children follow your example, so if your child has never seen you enjoying books, they are less likely to believe you when you tell them that reading is worthwhile.

Enrol your child in the Summer Reading Challenge, held in all libraries during the summer holidays. Every year, we get comments from island parents saying that the summer reading challenge made their reluctant reader enthusiastic about books.

Reading Matters has book reviews written by children and teenagers.

Booktrust has lots of book-related activities, along with reviews, hints and tips, booklists, and a book finder.

LoveReading4Kids has loads of book suggestions and booklists for all ages.

The Guardian Children's books webpage has reviews and recommendations.

Words for Life has lots of information for parents on how to help children love books and develop their literacy and communication skills.

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Our website uses analytics cookies to understand how visitors interact with our site, allowing us to improve performance and content.

These cookies collect information in an anonymous form.

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Our website uses analytics cookies to understand how visitors interact with our site, allowing us to improve performance and content. These cookies collect information in an anonymous form.

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Support on Getting your Child Ready for School

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Support on Getting your Child Ready for School

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by Laverne Antrobus, Child Psychologist

Getting children to speak with siblings or friends can give them a different point of view and may allow them to ask questions about what it is like to have a new teacher and to make new friends. Being able to speak to a younger child will more likely settle any worries they have as they realise that all children have similar questions.

Making and keeping friends can often be a huge challenge. It's good to remind your child that others in their class may also be feeling a bit unsure and so saying hello, smiling and asking another child if they want to play is a good place to start.

Over the summer holidays, why not try to create opportunities when your child can mix with other children. This could be playing with their siblings or with their friends. Sharing is an important skill, so encourage them to ask others if they would like to play with them, especially if they see a child who looks shy or upset.

If however, your child is shy (and plenty of children are, so please don't worry!), this may involve supporting them that little bit when they are with other children. For example, you could make suggestions about games they play well that they could ask others to join them in.

Being able get in to a good routine with your child is also important and creating good habits early on during the holidays will really help. As you do this, it's also a nice idea to have a calendar that gives them a visual reminder of how many weeks/days are left before they start school.

A good night time routine is a great example: children who get the right amount of sleep will be ready for learning and the rigours of all aspects of school life and they will be able to focus during what will initially feel like long days at school. So, get in to the habit of getting your child settled and ready for a good night's sleep.

A good bedtime routine that includes a chat about the day and a story will start what will most probably be a routine that guides them through the early primary school years. This time will also help children develop a way of reflecting on the day, naming the things that went well and planning how to tackle the more tricky aspects of being at school which might be learning a new skill, developing friendships and feeling confident.

All children want to feel that they have the right equipment when they start school - from a pencil case to a lunch box. Help your child to make a list (they can draw the items) of all the things they will need for school - you could even make a game of finding some of the items around the house. Then, plan the trip to buy everything. Remember that labelling clothing and equipment will also help children feel that they know what belongs to them, which can help children feel organised.

Getting ready can also be about anticipating meeting different people. Up until this point children may have been in smaller settings - for example a small nursery, so in going to a bigger school they will encounter lots of different children which will be new to them. So, help your child look forward to meeting new people, and help them be open to the differences there might be between themselves and others. will help them feel part of a rich and diverse society, where everyone can feel they belong.

All of the preparation ahead of starting school will help children to develop the emotional and psychological resilience that everyone needs. The earlier a child can be helped to feel successful and supported in all they do, the easier it will be for children to be ready for life-long learning. This learning will help them understand that to feel happy it is key to build good relationships by treating others with respect. Helping your child feel confident in the run up to their first day will help them feel that this new experience is one that they can manage and enjoy. But don't worry if this doesn't happen straight away - all children develop skills at different speeds; the main thing is to make sure that you child knows they are supported by you, and then they can settle in at a speed that is right for them.
For further information check out the rest of Starting Primary School which has lots of ways to help prepare children for different aspects of school life - both practically and emotionally.

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Child psychologist Laverne Antrobus gives her top tips for preparing children emotionally and psychologically for starting primary school this summer.

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For Further Information on other courses, please use this link 

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For Further Information on other courses, please use this link 

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Welcome To Isle Of Wight Family Centres : Isle Of Wight Family Centres

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Involving your child in the application process

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Involving your child in the application process

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by Dave McPartlin, Headteacher at Flakefleet Primary School

Dave McPartlin is Headteacher of a Primary School in the North West of England. He knows all about the disappointment parents feel when they don't get their first choice of school, often because they're simply out of catchment. It can be frustrating and stressful for parents, but as Dave says, it's important to remain positive about your child's education, wherever they end up.
All over the UK, primary school applications are rushing in, ready for the various deadlines. However every year some pre-schoolers are not offered a place at their first choice school. If you are concerned that your child may fall into this category, here are some helpful tips to deal with any disappointment.

Every child should look forward to their new school and although it might be difficult, parents need to hide any disappointment towards the allocated school place and make the experience of starting school as positive and as exciting as possible. Walking past the school and pointing out features can help your child to become more familiar with where they will soon be spending lots of their time.

In addition, make the most of any opportunities to pay a visit to the inside of the school - many offer familiarity sessions with their new teacher, or stay-and-play sessions for parents and children to meet each other.

Educational establishments are very much accountable to Ofsted and systems are in place to ensure that children get an excellent deal. The reputations of schools can take a long time to change and most parents are very pleasantly surprised when they visit their school by how much they like them. The gulf between perceptions and reality can be huge and often only backed up by hearsay. So, please try not to be too disheartened if you've not got your first choice; go into the new school experience with an open mind.

It's important to note that, in reality, a child's education is only in part down to what schools do; parents have an even bigger part to play. There is such a wide range of things that families can do to support their children, including reading, practising spellings, completing homework, talking to them about their interests, and generally just giving them a wide range of experiences and opportunities outside school.

One option many parents immediately think of if they don't get their first choice of school, is to appeal the school's decision. However, the reality is that most appeals are unlikely to succeed - families need to prove that the admissions criteria were not applied correctly, or that they are in fact illegal. Infant class sizes are limited to 30 children and appeals panels are usually reluctant to exceed this number unless there are exceptional circumstances. Possible reasons for a review of a decision may include a child moving in to the area, a sudden change in personal circumstances, an undisclosed medical issue, a child having an EHCP (Educational Health Care Plan) or they may be a looked-after child. Parents need to be very clear about why they wish to appeal, based on facts rather than emotions.

Further down the line, if you still think that the school you have been given is not right for you and your family, you are within your rights to change schools, if you can find somewhere with a place. All schools will operate a waiting list, so be sure to ask how long they will keep your name on record for, as you may need to ring back and confirm that you are still interested in a place after a given period of time.

Starting school should be an exciting experience, although not one that can always be planned with much precision; children are much more resilient than we give them credit for and often deal with setbacks better than adults. Be assured that most schools are incredibly warm, friendly and caring places full of fun and laughter; stay positive for the sake of your child and help them look forward to a new stage in their life - they really will be fine!

For further information check out the rest of Starting Primary School which has lots of ways to help prepare children for different aspects of school life - both practically and emotionally.

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Talking to your child about their school application

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Dave McPartlin, a primary school headteacher, offers his advice on how to discuss school applications and choices with your child.

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Supporting Children with Additional Needs Settle into School

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Supporting Children with Additional Needs Settle into School

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Supporting special needs children settle into school

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Read our advice for helping children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) settle back into school.

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Phonological awareness is an understanding of the different sounds that make up spoken words in a language. It is the ability to recognise when these sounds are the same and when they're different.

It also involves skills like recognising how many beats (syllables) are in words , recognising that some sounds rhyme and that some sounds are similar .

As children get older and they start to become more confident talkers, they'll start to recognise things like rhymes - a sign that they are aware of what sounds make up words.

This is a big step towards being able to read , as they learn which letters on the page create those sounds when they're read out loud.

Phonics games for pre-schoolers

There are lots of activities you can do together to help build your child's phonological awareness.

is a classic activity to get children thinking about the different sounds that start words. Try saying 'I spy with my little eye something beginning with...' and then the letter sound rather than the letter name, so 'buh' instead of B - this way they will think about the sound they make as they say the word.

Sound treasure hunts are a great variation on I Spy that are a little more active.

Sound sorting box games are another fun way to explore phonics - piece together a bunch of everyday objects in a box and get your child to help sort them by which sounds they start with

Besides the sounds starting words, rhyming games can help children think about other word sounds.

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Tools for Talking 4-5 years: Exploring word sounds

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Help grow your child's understanding of phonics by playing with rhyming and sounding out different words so they can hear things that sound the same or different.

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Phonological awareness is the understanding that spoken words are made up of sounds and recognising how they come together to form words.
Children usually develop this skill at around 4 or 5 years old, and it's really important when learning to read.

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Phonological awareness is the ability to recognise and work with sounds in spoken language. Phonological awareness is especially important at the earliest stages of reading development when your child is around 4 years old. Early years practitioner Jamel shares his top tips for teaching children ph…

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What to do now you've got an offer for a Primary School

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What to do now you've got an offer for a Primary School

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Primary school places: what to do now you’ve got an offer

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All you need to know now you’ve received a primary school offer, including how to appeal if you didn’t get your first choice

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Choosing a mainstream school for your child with SEND

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Choosing a mainstream school for your child with SEND

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by Madeline Pilbury, mum to four-year-old Eleanor

Choosing a school for your child is always a big step, but when they have additional needs, there is even more to think about. Here's why we chose our local mainstream primary school for our daughter Eleanor, who has Down's Syndrome.

Any parent worries about how their child will cope at school but this is especially heightened when they have additional needs.

Eleanor's physical skills are delayed compared to her peers, but the local primary school is all on one level and we felt she would cope with the physical environment.

Because Eleanor isn't able to express herself verbally, we worried that she might be isolated in a mainstream setting. During the EHCP process, we identified strategies such as Makaton training for staff to ensure her communication is supported.

We had to feel that Eleanor would be truly part of her class and not just a child sitting on the periphery with a full-time helper. After visiting the school and speaking with the staff, we were confident that Eleanor would be very much part of the class, learning with her peers and not just alongside them.

We also feel that it is important for the community to have positive experiences of people with additional needs. If children grow up with friends with disabilities, they are more likely to become adults with a more inclusive and positive attitude.

We feel confident that we have made the right choice for Eleanor and for our family as a whole, and we are excited to see her thriving at school.
Know someone who has recently started school or will be beginning next September? Check out the rest of Starting Primary School which has lots of ways to help prepare children for different aspects of school life - both practically and emotionally.

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Choosing a mainstream school for our child with SEND

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Madeline explains her decision to send her child with Down's Syndrome to a mainstream school

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Things to consider on a school visit for your child with SEND

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Things to consider on a school visit for your child with SEND

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What areas of need does the school cater for - is there a suitable peer group for my child?

Do staff have qualifications in teaching children with my child's particular needs?

Therapies - are there therapists on site? Are therapies delivered on an individual or group basis? Is this by therapists or therapy assistants? How is the therapy integrated into the curriculum?

What kind of medical support is available? Is this on site?

What alternative communication methods are used, for example Makaton/PECS? Are staff trained in these? Is assistive technology available for children who need it?

Does the school have specialist facilities, such as a hydrotherapy pool or sensory room?

How does the school manage behaviour? If they use physical restraint, what is the policy for this?

Are there links with mainstream schools?

(If you are looking at a SEND unit within a mainstream school) How much time would my child spend in mainstream classes?

If the specialist school requires transportation from home, your local authority may provide help if your child meets the criteria. Check your council's school transport policy and seek advice on your rights if in doubt.

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Things to consider on a school visit for your child with SEND

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Questions to ask while visiting a mainstream or special school for your child with SEND

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How to help your child transition from home to school

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How to help your child transition from home to school

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How to help your child transition from home to school

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Early years expert Helen Stroudley explains how you can help your child transition from home or nursery to primary school.

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This is a great game to play with your child when preparing to start primary school. Help your child to create their character and pick a school jumper, then explore the school and find all the different activities to play.

Once the register has been taken, have a go at painting, block-building or making a calm jar. Keep an eye out for fun things to explore in the classroom - is that a butterfly?

Next it's lunchtime, remember to wash your hands, eat up and then to pop to the toilet afterwards. Then, why not explore the playground?

Then it's home time, wave to all your new friends - you'll see them again tomorrow.

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Play the My First Day at School game and build an avatar! This BBC Bitesize primary year 1 and 2 game is also suitable for parents to play.

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One school, two homes: how to co-parent when your child starts school

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One school, two homes: how to co-parent when your child starts school

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by Nsimire Bisimwa, Family Psychotherapist

Going to school for the first time is a big event for children, whatever their previous experience of pre-school. Living in two homes adds another layer for a child and their parents to manage. So if you are able to work together, your child will really benefit from your joint support during the changes ahead.

1. Applying for a school place

Whilst it may be difficult, it's important that you both try to talk about what you want for your child, and which school would suit them best. Gather information about potential schools in both your areas and try to visit them together. As with all school applications you'll need to check with your local authority how the process and criteria work, but for co-parents there will be extra things to think about.

Talk about who'll take responsibility for completing the application, and note the deadline for this.

Applying for a school place usually means having to provide one home address, even if the custody is split 50/50. This might be the first time you've had to formalise your child's shared living arrangements and it's your responsibility as parents to agree which address to use and to provide supporting evidence. Check how the application process works in your area, as policies vary. Local authorities sometimes have specific advice for families in 'special circumstances', or ask you to complete split residency forms, but often only one address can be used.

If you don't nominate an address, or you're not able to agree on which one to use, the local authority might decide for you. They'd base this decision on where your child lives for most of the school week, where your child benefit is paid, or a doctor's address.

2. When you get your school place offer

Most children in the UK get the school place they want, but this isn't always the case. This can be disappointing and you may decide to appeal, but stay positive, focus on your child and work together.

When the offer comes through, talk about whether to accept the place - it's a decision which can have a big effect on your shared parenting.

If you accept the place, decide who will respond to the offer.

If you decide to appeal, draw up a detailed plan with clear tasks; identify things that you need to do together and separately, like paperwork, phone calls or school visits.

Whilst you're appealing, it's essential you accept a backup place so that your child isn't left without an alternative if you're unsuccessful. Keep talking positively about this option, as your child may end up there - see this article for more tips.

Your child will not understand most of these processes, but regardless, working together will help to show your child that you're interested in their school life.

3. Money

Talking about money is challenging and it can be even more uncomfortable discussing it when you're separated, but starting school comes with costs like uniform, school trips and clubs and possibly wrap-around childcare too. Think about the financial implications of your child starting school and work out a clear and reasonable budget and how this would fit into your current arrangements. Have these conversations early on.

4. Starting school: rules and routines

Research shows that routines help children navigate through change. Multiple sets of rules can cause confusion, so it's really helpful to work out some mutual principles to follow.

Identify which routines are key in your home and discuss these with the other parent. It's common for parenting styles to be different, but agreeing on some standard approaches is crucial.

Put similar routines in place in both homes - doing homework after dinner or reading before bedtime, for example. Try to talk about how they're going in each home and if adjustments need to be made, talk to your child too so they don't come as a surprise. Involve them in the planning using pictures, drawing or toys. But where possible try to make as few changes as you can.

Establish when your child will be staying at each home and make clear how and where pick-ups and drop-offs will happen.

Share these routines with your child in a simple and understandable way; timetables, charts or posters to look at are helpful.

5. Your child's homes

Each parent only has one home, but your child has two and it's crucial that they feel comfortable in both, and never like just a visitor in either. They should have an allocated space in both homes with a place for their clothes and toothbrush, a toy box, and a simple learning table. This means that your child is likely to need two sets of everything if possible, and you'll need to keep track of things like PE kits. Creating a sense of belonging will help them to feel safe, emotionally secure and ready to learn.

6. Communicating with school

It's really helpful to talk to school from the beginning about how your family works. The more the school understands about your child's life, the better they will be able to support them as they settle in.

Share information about your arrangements for drop-off and pick-up.

Most schools will ask for emergency contacts in order of preference. Let the school know how you would prefer to be contacted, taking into account your availability and who your child is living with on particular days.

Let the school know about any adults who are and are not allowed to be involved in your child's school life.

Make sure both of you receive newsletters and notices about events like parents' evening, and decide who'll attend.

Keep each other informed of anything going on for your child at school including school trips, birthday party invites, and even fallouts with friends.

7. Communicating within the family

You'll need to communicate with each other about how your child is getting on, and doing this in a calm and respectful way will reassure your child and help them feel secure. This goes for talking to your child about each other too, even if you're not getting on.

Notice any changes in your child's behaviour and talk to each other about how they're coping. Think about how your living arrangements are affecting them, and be prepared to make adjustments where necessary. Crucially, communicate with your child. Make time to talk with them, asking them about the details of their day, and be available to listen to what they say.

Shared parenting is not half the parenting job - it can often be harder. It takes focused effort as you live in separate homes and have to overcome your differences. But aiming for perfection is a fool's errand. All parents, separated or not, make mistakes and miss things to do with school; bear in mind that things usually work out fine. And remember that in order to be a good parent, you need to look after yourself too!

Nsimire Bisimwa is a Family Psychotherapist at the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust.

For further information check out the rest of Starting Primary School which has lots of ways to help prepare children for different aspects of school life - both practically and emotionally.

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One school, two homes: How to co-parent when your child starts school

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Family psychotherapist Nsimire Bisimwa offers her tips for co-parenting from two homes when your child is starting primary school.

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How to support your child if they don't want to start school

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How to support your child if they don't want to start school

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Starting primary school can be daunting for young children and they may feel reluctant in the weeks and days before their first day. Reception teacher Colette knows all about this - here are her tips to help you prepare your child for a happy start at big school.

Colette's tips

Every child will have their worries before school starts - this is normal - but others might feel this worry more strongly.

Help them to get familiar with their teacher - take advantage of home visits and taster days (where this is possible).

Get into school routines ahead of time.

Let them know that they might feel tired in the first few weeks, but that this is normal.

However, don't bombard them with too much information.

Have conversations about school!

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How to support your child if they don't want to start school

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Reception teacher Colette explains what to do if your child doesn't want to start school.

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Tips for Helping Children Understand their Emotions 

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Tips for Helping Children Understand their Emotions 

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Children’s emotions: How to help children understand their emotions

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We’ll go through some top tips from child psychologists to help you and your child regulate their different emotions and support their emotional wellbeing.

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Hi I'm Charlie, your virtual assistant. I will explain how to use this online noticeboard (Padlet). 

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Hi I'm Charlie, your virtual assistant. I will explain how to use this online noticeboard (Padlet). 

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Please use the column headings to find the information you need

Then scroll down the column to see the information

Click on the links to view the information

To find other headings please scroll right

If you are using a mobile you can click on the 3 dots on this post and choose start slide show. This makes it easier to look through the information on a smaller screen.

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Immunisations

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Childhood Vaccinations - Essential guide

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Childhood Vaccinations - Essential guide

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Read more information about going back to school, how to establish routines, deal with anxiety and get help for children with Special Educational Needs.

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Helping your child feel ready for school is a team effort — everything you do at home, alongside the care and learning they receive in childcare and early years education play a big part.

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There are no wrong questions when it comes to your child’s development.

Best Start in Life brings together trusted information and support from pregnancy through your child’s early years and beyond.

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Everyone ready for school information

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Building Blocks for Toddlers aims to support you to bring up happy and confident children over two, 2 hour Teams workshop sessions and covers:

The importance of play

Talking and communication

The art of praise and encouragement

Positive discipline

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Starting Reception - Potty training Guide

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Starting Reception - Potty training Guide

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The new, Government-backed guide to when and how to potty train your child

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The Potty Training Guide - Starting Reception

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Potty training is an important milestone in your child’s development. We understand that all children develop at their own pace, but research shows it’s best for your child’s bowel and bladder health to stop using nappies, including reusable nappies, pull ups and training pants, between 18 and 30 months.

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Are you more than 10 weeks pregnant or have parental responsibility for at

least one child under four years old?

In addition, receiving any of the following:

Universal Credit

Pension Credit (which includes the child addition)

if you're under 18 and more than 10 weeks pregnant, even if you don’t receive any benefits.

Follow this link to find out more and apply for the Healthy Start Scheme.

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What is Healthy Start?

If you're more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under 4, you may be entitled to get help to buy healthy food and milk.

If you're eligible, you'll be sent a Healthy Start card with money on it that you can use in some UK shops. We'll add your benefit onto this card every 4 weeks.

You can use your card to buy:

plain liquid cow's milk

fresh, frozen, and tinned fruit and vegetables

fresh, dried, and tinned pulses

infant formula milk based on cow's milk

You can also use your card to collect:

Healthy Start vitamins - these support you during pregnancy and breastfeeding

vitamin drops for babies and young children - these are suitable from birth to 4 years old

If you live in Scotland

You can get help from Best Start Foods (opens in a new tab) instead.

Advice on healthy eating

For more advice on healthy eating, visit:

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If you're more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under 4, you may be entitled to get help to buy healthy food and milk. If you're eligible, you'll be sent a Healthy Start card with money on it that you can use in some UK shops.

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Whether squeezing it in before the school run in the morning or before bed on busy midweek evenings, preparing your child's lunchbox can seem like just another thing on the list.

School meals are a great choice, but if you do make a packed lunch for your child then we've got you covered with our range of quick, easy, healthier lunchbox ideas and tips.

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Lunchbox ideas and recipes - Healthier Families

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Simple, tasty recipes and tips for hassle-free healthier packed lunches.