Education | ED03 | Summer 2016

100 Years of Education, 1000 Years of History
Sponsored by
Tunbridge Wells
bitterly about children who demand that
their teacher hang up their coat for them,
or do up their shoes, because this is what
the au pair has always done at home.
I’ve heard, too, of pupils who have to be
taught how to eat with a knife and fork
because they have always eaten pizza on
their lap in front of the television, and of
little boys standing sodden and sobbing
in the toilet because they haven’t been
able to figure out how to undo their
new uniform trousers quickly enough.
Of course, the odd muddle and
mishap is a normal part of daily life
in reception classes, and absolutely
nothing to worry about, but the more
you can ensure your child is socially
and physically prepared for school, the
more they are free to enjoy making
new friends and learning new things.
To help this process along, make
sure any outings to buy uniform and
school supplies are light and enjoyable,
and encourage your child to take new
steps in independence, maybe by paying
for things in shops or deciding what
they would like in their lunch box.
Don’t be surprised if your child is
unusually quiet after starting school.
Think back to how it feels to start
a new job. We all get exhausted and
worn out by trying to absorb new
names, routines and challenges.
Your task now is to provide a long,
gentle wind-down to an early bedtime,
making sure there is no screen time
for an hour before bed. Instead go for
a warm bath, allow lots of time for a
story, and a bedroom that is dark and
well-ventilated to promote sound sleep.
In the morning, your child needs
plenty of time to enjoy a good, healthy
breakfast, get their things ready and
get to school promptly. Again, many
reception class teachers will tell you
that frazzled children who arrive late
to school after an early morning of
shouting, hassle and hurry take a long
time to settle down and be fully present
in the classroom. Try to develop a routine
that builds in more time than you need,
so that you aren’t thrown by morning
emergencies such as lost gloves or having
to scrape ice off the windscreen.
As a reception class parent, don’t
immediately bombard your child or
the school with too many questions,
or expect new friendships to form
overnight. Everyone needs time
to adjust and take stock. On the
other hand, if you feel that it is not
going as well as it should be, have a
quiet word with the teacher to see
what’s what. And do communicate
clearly about any special issues you
want the school to know about.
Get involved with your child’s
new school – everyone will benefit –
and start practising the art of asking
gentle, open questions, so your child
will feel comfortable talking to you
about life in the classroom. Not, ‘Did
you have a good day?’, but maybe
‘What’s the best thing that happened
to you today?’ This basic coaching
skill will be invaluable both now and
in all the school years still to come.
Hilary Wilce is an education writer,
writing tutor and life coach. Her books
Backbone: how to build the skills
your child needs to succeed and
The Six Secrets of School Success
are available on Amazon
Battle Abbey School 1912 - 2012
Battle Abbey Prep School has been
included in the Times Top 100
Independent Prep Schools for 2015.
The only Prep School which
makes this prestigious list in
East Sussex!
www.battleabbeyschool.com
Battle Abbey Prep School - Times Top 100!
13 www.wealdentimes.co.uk
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