Top tips for returning to school

BACK to school is an exciting time for students and families. It can be a big step  particularly for those starting prep or moving to secondary school.

Starting primary school - The year before school:

• Ask your child what they think about starting school.

• Encourage your child to ask questions about going to school.

• Help your child stay healthy. Make sure they have regular health and dental checks and keep immunisations up to date.

• Encourage your child to do things on their own. This could be dressing, going to the toilet, washing their hands, unwrapping their food and opening and closing their drink bottle and lunchbox.

• Talk to friends and other families about what school is like.

• Talk to your child’s early childhood educator about things you can do at home to help your child.

• Talk to the school about how you can engage in your child’s learning and development at school.

• Ask the school what time your child starts on the first day and where to take them.

During the summer holidays

• Show your child where the school is and talk about how you will get there.

• Arrange play times with other families whose children will be going to the same school. It helps if your child knows another child at their school at the start of prep.

• Practise the things your child will need to do to get ready for school (e.g. putting things in their bag, remembering to take a hat).

• Confirm your before or after school care arrangements and explain these to your child.

• Be positive about starting school and enjoy your child’s excitement.

• Visit your local library and read books with your child about starting school.

The first day of school
 

• Make sure your child knows who will take them to school and pick them up on the first day.

• Help your child to organise their clothes, hat, shoes and socks the night before.

• Help your child to pack their school bag with a snack, drink, lunch and a hat.
• Place a spare pair of underpants and a change of clothes in a plastic bag. Let your child know these clothes are in their bag in case of any accidents at school.

• Put sunscreen on your child in the morning if it’s needed.

• Show your child where you will meet them at the end of the school day.

• At the end of the day talk to your child about what happened at school.

The first year of school

• Find out about what your child is learning at school. By doing this, you can support your child’s learning and find out how your child is adjusting to school.

• If your child is having difficulty at school, talk to their teacher. Your child can also say what they think might help them.

• Keep talking to your child about school. Ask them about their new experiences, what they like and what they find hard.

• If your child goes to care before or after school, find a way of sharing your child’s school progress with the staff.

• Share feedback about your child’s experience of starting school with the school and early childhood service.

• Organise time for your child and their new friends to play together outside of school.

Early childhood services and schools will organise programs to help your child settle into school. Talk to your child’s early childhood educator or the school.

10 tips to get ready for prep

1.  Practise the journey to and from school.

2.  Arrange play dates with families who will have kids at the same school.

3.  Encourage independence  skills like dressing, packing and carrying a bag, applying sunscreen and going to the toilet.

4.  Label all belongings.

5.  Talk about and practise any after school arrangements.

6.  Check start and finish times and where to drop off and collect your child.

7.  Be positive, get your child excited, and talk about any worries they have.

8.  Visit a library and read with your child.

9.  Start using the name of their new teacher to help build familiarity.

10. Establish predictable routines including dinner, bath time and bed time.