Helping your child to have a Flying Start to school life

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Starting school is a significant milestone in a child’s life. So what can you do as a parent to help your child prepare? The Flying Start to School poster (see the downloads to the right to view poster) outlines some of the essential skills and experiences a child must be exposed to by the age of 5. Click on the tabs below to find out more information and groups that are available in West Berkshire.

Accelerate your child’s learning from the ground up

Chat and Sign

You can never start chatting with your child too early. Look at our West Berkshire Every Child A Talker website:

ECAT -http://www.westberksecat.info/

For local information on speech and language therapy

https://cypf.berkshirehealthcare.nhs.uk/

How is your child doing – useful resource from Speech and Language UK:

https://speechandlanguage.org.uk/media/3557/small_talk_final.pdf

Look at books with your child from birth

Useful tips to support reading:
http://www.wordsforlife.org.uk/

Nursery rhymes are an important way of learning language and supports spelling and reading later.
https://www.booktrust.org.uk/books-and-reading/have-some-fun/rhymes/

You can find more great tips and activities that involve books and reading on the Council's 50 things to do before you're 5 app:

https://westberks.50thingstodo.org/app/os#!/welcome

Active Children

Did you know that it is crucial children have good muscle development in order to be able to learn how to write? Activities to support this are:

Gross Motor Skills

Gross motor (strengthens large muscles for large movements) eg. running, hopping, skipping, jumping, throwing, catching. If you are worried about your childs development West Berkshire offer advice and support https://cypf.berkshirehealthcare.nhs.uk/support-and-advice/gross-motor-skills

Fine Motor Skills

Fine motor (strengthens small muscles for small movements) eg. threading, cutting with scissors, painting, drawing, play-doh, creating models, engaging in messy activities.

 See the below sites for further suggestions:

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/physical-activity-guidelines-children-under-five-years/

https://www.nhs.uk/change4life/activities

You can join messy play sessions at your local Family Hub
https://info.westberks.gov.uk/familyhubs

Encouraging your child to dress independently is another way to help develop fine motor control. Practising  fastenings (eg. buttons, zips, buckles,  & laces), putting on  a coat, shoes and other items of clothing  all help to improve self-care and fine motor skills. This can be done when playing dress up as well as in everyday situations. Why not try dressing a teddy or a favourite toy?

Use of Technology –Balance screentime and physical activity

TV – If you choose to watch TV with your child try to watch it together and then turn it off and play a game.

Balance using technology with being active outdoors:

https://www.internetmatters.org/issues/screen-time

 

Inquisitive Children

Phonics

Did you know that a child needs to develop their listening and rhyming skills before learning letter sounds (phonics) in order to read and write? Try some of the activities using the link below to help prepare your child for reading and writing independently:

http://kings-meadow.oxon.sch.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Top-20-things-to-do-before-reading.pdf

Join the Library

The Literacy Trust say that “Children and young people who enjoy reading are five times more likely to read above the level expected for their age compared with their peers who don’t enjoy reading (17.0% vs 3.5%)
Joining your local library is a great way to inspire a life-long love of reading!

https://westberks.spydus.co.uk/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/MSGTRN/WPAC/JOIN

Using their senses and getting outside

Children learn far more if it is a subject of personal interest and fascination. Try to engage in discussions, explore books and visit places that support your child’s interest.

West Berkshire Council's '50 Things to do before you're 5': 

https://westberks.50thingstodo.org/app/os#!/welcome

Explore maths and have fun in every day activities:

Count with me leaflets - tips for parents of 0-5s - Surrey County Council (surreycc.gov.uk)

Healthy Children

A child needs a healthy body in order to thrive. As a parent you need to ensure your child:

Has a healthy diet:
See NHS Change for Life for meal suggestions, tips and activities
https://www.nhs.uk/change4life

See NHS guidance for babies and toddlers
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/understanding-food-groups/

Sleeps a minimum of 11 hours each night. See below for further information

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/sleep-and-tiredness/how-much-sleep-do-kids-need/ 

Can independently go to the toilet and wash their hands. Advice on how to achieve this and age expectations can be found here

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/potty-training-tips/

If your child is struggling with using the toilet, visit the following site for guidance and advice:

https://www.eric.org.uk/

 Visits the dentist and brushes their teeth correctly. See NHS guidance

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/taking-care-of-childrens-teeth/

Social Child

Did you know young children experience their world as an environment of relationships, and these relationships affect virtually all aspects of their development? Establishing successful relationships with adults and other children is crucial.

https://www.verywellfamily.com/seven-social-skills-for-kids-4589865

7 Important Social Skills For Kids: 1. Sharing; 2. Cooperating; 3. Listening; 4. Following directions; 5. Respecting personal space; 6. Making eye contact; 7. Using manners

Play

Play gives children a chance to practice different social skills.

Sharing is an important skill. Every child is unique and some children will master this quicker than others.

Making Friends

There are Six stages of Social Development: 

https://parents.actionforchildren.org.uk/stages-development/social-emotional-development/child-social-skills/

 Taking your child to group play sessions at a Family Hub or sending them to a childminder, pre-school or nursery will also support your child in developing socially

 Children who develop warm, positive relationships with other adults and children are more inquisitive, self-confident and positive about starting school

Supporting your child’s well-being:

Helping children recognise and understand their emotions is an important part of supporting their development:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/joinin/help-children-cope-with-emotions

Books can also help children explore and discuss emotions:

https://www.booktrust.org.uk/news-and-features/features/2018/august/how-books-help-children-discuss-difficult-feelings---and-feel-less-alone/

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