As our year together is rapidly drawing to an end, I would like to spend our last week together, preparing your child for their move into Year 1.
Tell your child that changes take place all the time. Some changes are so regular that we think they are normal! Help your child to think about themselves when they were babies and show how much they have changed since then. Have a look at some photographs of them as babies and write down some sentences about how they have changed over time – you could even make a scrap book together which feature photographs and drawings of them as babies and them now.
Tell your child that other changes can be difficult. They might seem a bit scary because we are not sure what to expect. Changes such as starting a new class might worry us. Most of us feel some uncomfortable feelings when new changes happen, but we can also feel excited and happy as well.
How does change make you feel?
Please read the story below to your child and ask them to imagine that they are Ben who is starting school today in the Reception class.
It is Ben’s first day in his new school. He knows some of the children in his new class because they were in his playgroup, but there will be lots of children he has never met before as well. In Ben’s new classroom there is a brilliant train track, some computers and a big water tray. Ben is really looking forward to playing with everything, but he is worried about staying to dinner for the first time and getting used to all the new people. Ben finds a peg with his name on and hangs up his coat, but everything looks strange and new to him. He holds very tightly onto his special, tiny bear that he has brought in his pocket. Ben’s tummy is going up and down and he decides he wants his mum to stay with him today.
Ask ‘What do you think Ben is feeling?’ Try to think of some good feelings as well as some uncomfortable feelings.
Write down the feelings that the children suggest. You should write the comfortable feelings and the other the less comfortable feelings.
You may wish to refer to the following words to help the children to name some of the feelings they recognise in the stories: butterflies in tummy, nervous, frightened, scared, anxious, worried, uneasy, wobbly, unhappy, lost, small, lonely, isolated, fed up, disappointed, bewildered, angry, cross, happy, excited, looking forward, grateful, warm, safe, belonging, kind.
Can you thing of some kind things your could do that would make people feel better when changes happen? How can you help someone who is sad? How can we change the way we feel? (By doing something that makes us feel happy)
Talk through the following pictures with your child. Use the situations below to help your child make links between the feelings of the children and how they behave. Discuss the most appropriate action (sharing feelings with someone), as well as what might actually happen in each situation.
Jacob is trying to make a model by balancing some blocks on top of each other. They keep falling down. He is getting more and more cross. How might he behave next if he is feeling cross?
Aishu is drawing a picture of her mum. It keeps going wrong, and she is getting very frustrated and angry with herself. What might she do in a minute?
Aishu is drawing a picture of her mum. It keeps going wrong, and she is getting very frustrated and angry with herself. What might she do in a minute?
Atiq has just been pushed over when he was running outside. He fell and hurt his knee. What do you think he might do now? What will his feelings of hurt and sadness make him do?
How can you help your child to prepare for Year 1
Use positive language about the move to year 1 and don’t show your own anxieties about the move if you have them. For instance, instead of saying ‘You’ll have to work a lot harder in year 1’, say, ‘It will be exciting to learn about new things? Discuss what is coming up in September. As the summer holiday is a longer one, it helps to keep the changes fresh in your child’s mind. Talk about their new teacher and what they are looking forward to in September, for instance, seeing all their friends again and meeting their new teacher.
In Year 1 your child will still benefit from a play based curriculum. The Y1 curriculum builds on and extends the experiences children have had during the Early Years Foundation Stage where a practical approach to teaching and learning is maintained and built upon to offer a creative and kinaesthetic curriculum.
During the first 2 terms in Y 1 your child will still have the opportunity for: an outdoor classroom, using construction equipment, writing/reading corner/creative area and sand and water play. Your child will be working in small groups, but they will start to experience more whole class teaching and will start to work a little more independently.
Why not have a look at the KS1 pages on the school website in order to get an idea of the types of activities your children can expect to do in Year 1.