Getting Ready for Reception: Supporting Your Child’s First Steps into School Life

boys to the Nursery at Kent College Prep School 3

Starting Reception is a big milestone for both children and parents. This post shares some gentle ways to help your child feel ready for school, explains why the early years are so important, and gives an insight into Reception at Kent College, including details of their Ready for Reception day on Friday 23rd January.

Preparing for school

As we head into the new year and decisions start to be made as to where your child will begin their school journey, you probably have already started preparing them for what will be a huge step!

Playdates will have helped with social skills and everyday tasks like using a knife and fork, and practising self-care will have started building independence. By sharing books and reading together, you are helping them develop literacy skills and nurturing a lifelong love for reading.

Building skills at home

If you are enjoying playing together – board games, Lego, puzzles, crafts, drawing and card games – your child will be on their way to developing problem solving skills and enhancing vocabulary and motor skills which will help them thrive in their first year at school.

Why early learning experiences matter

In fact, research tells us that children’s early experiences have the biggest impact on their later life. In the first five years, children develop physically, cognitively, and emotionally at a faster rate than at any other time. According to CEM and Durham university research, it is believed that children who are taught well in their first school year go on to achieve better GCSE results in English and maths.

The foundations of future learning

Reception, the first year of school, is where children develop the ability to read, write and use numbers and these are the building blocks for all future learning. But they also learn a whole range of skills which support and scaffold learning across all areas of the curriculum. Three areas of learning in particular are key to this, and these skills underpin all other teaching in Reception class.

Personal, Social and Emotional Development helps them to negotiate, consider the ideas and needs of others, empathise and work successfully as part of a team.

Communication and Language enables them to process and follow instructions, have the confidence to communicate freely and express themselves as a learner, and be able to listen attentively in a range of situations.

Physical Development ensures they develop the control and coordination needed for both small and large movements, using tools effectively, negotiating space and understand the need for physical exercise, a healthy diet and how to keep themselves healthy and safe.

Reception at Kent College Pembury

Reception may be new territory for many parents and there is a lot to learn! At Kent College, in the expert care of our highly skilled and experienced staff, our Early Years provision ensures that each child is known and valued. With specialist lessons in French, music, drama and PE, there is a whole range of experiences and settings to put into practise the skills the children need to become well rounded, capable individuals.