Starting School Topic

DEALING WITH TEARS

Going to school for the first time is exciting, but it can also be pretty scarey, for the child and for the grownups!  Teachers agree that helping small children settle happily into school is the most delightful, rewarding part of their job. Have confidence that the teacher will welcome and treasure your child and understand what a big step they are taking when they start school.  Look at these few simple tips, chances are you’ll already be doing a lot of these things and your child will take to school like a duck to water!

Make sure that you have all the equipment and clothing required well ahead of time to avoid a last minute panic. If you panic so will your child!Let your child enjoy the fun of getting a new school bag, pencils and so on. If possible avoid any major changes at home in the weeks around the start of school, so that your child has a secure base. Its not a good week to begin your own new high flying career!If your child has special needs or health issues talk to the school about these before the start of the term. Don’t worry, they will have the right experience to cope.Make sure you know when and where your child should go on the first morning, Act naturally, don’t overdo promises that school will be fun or warn about how different[or difficult] it will be. Just talk pleasantly and sensibly about ‘going to school’ and remember that its a normal part of  childhood- everyone does it!Give your child a simple description of what to expect, for example outline how the day will be organised, ending with ‘and then you come home.’   Remind them that the teacher is there to help them or answer any questions they might have, Remind yourself that teachers understand that starting school is a big step for small children and will be experienced and skilled at helping your child to settle in. Provide healthy but familar food if you send snacks or lunch to school with your child. Find out about any rules the school may have about the food children may bring (for example many schools do not allow peanuts  in any form)

FIRST FEW WEEKS

Be prepared for your child to be very tired for the first few weeks, there is a lot to learn and take in at school. So I advise early bedtimes and normal routine while they are settling in. If your child does cry when you leave them, follow the school rules on what to do. Some schools will allow parents to stay for a little while before they have to leave, other schools will expect parents to leave as soon as school starts, even if their child is upset. My advice is to show your child that you are confident that they will be fine very soon. Children  generally cry because they are upset at separating from their parent, not because they don’t like being at school. So remind your child that you will see them soon and remind yourself that separating is not going to be any easier whether you do it now or in half an hour’s time!Some children don’t settle at school well because they think they are missing out on better things at home. My advice is to keep a low profile on what you have done with younger brothers and sisters at home and save extra special treats for all the family to enjoy.

FREE SCHOOL MEALS

Every child in reception, year 1 and year 2 in state-funded schools will receive a free school lunch from September 2014, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has announced. The government will fund schools in England to provide every child in reception, year 1 and year 2 with a hot, nutritious meal at lunch time. The aim is to improve academic attainment and save families money – over the course of a year the average family spends £437 on school lunches per child. Universal free school meals for primary school pupils were a key recommendation in a recent review of school food produced independently for the Department for Education. The review found that, in pilots where all children have been given a free school dinner, students were academically months ahead of their peers elsewhere and more likely to eat vegetables at lunchtime instead of less healthy food like crisps. At the same time, the government will extend free school meals to disadvantaged students in further education and sixth form colleges.

What to put in your childs lunchbox?

Theres loads of choices to go for with Wraps, Bagels, Rolls Sandwhiches, Crackers, pita breads

You can have a chicken roll or a ham sandwhich or a cheese bagel or cheese on crackers or a tuna wrap

Please remember not to put peanut butter or nutella in your childs choice as other children may have nut allergies.

You can also put in a yogurt or a piece of fruit like a banana or a packet of raisens.

Some schools dont let you put in crips fpr your child as the seem to be 'unhealthy' for them so as a substitute you could put in some rice crackers orsome bread sticks or some babybells or some cocktail sausages.

For juice it is best to give them sugar free juice or fresh orange or apple juice

Breaktime Snacks

When your little ones first start school some schools let you have breaktime snacks so here are some options if your not sure what to do

You could give them:

 a little pot of dry cereal

Some cucumber and carrot sticks

a cereal bar

a packet of raisins

fruit eg. an orange or a banana or an apple

Some schools have a snack bar for them at school if they wish to buy something, my sons school charges 20p a snack and 20p for a sugar free juice drink.

Starting school means the start of a huge list for School supplies! School supplies vary depending on how old your child is buy Here are some of the items you may require when starting school:

Uniform

school bag

pencil case

pens

pencils

scissors

glue stick

rubber

crayons

pencil sharpener

Ruler

Compass

notebook

folders

Assistance with school uniform is available if you claim any of the following:

Income Support

Income based job seekers allowance

Income related Employment and support allowance

Child tax and your income is less than £16,010

If you are 16-16 years olfd and receive any benefits for yourself 

The clothing allowance is made once per school year, and payment is made directly to the applicant for the sum of £50 for every eligible child in primary or secondary school. For claims received after December, the sum of £25 is paid for every eligible child.

To apply you can dowmload an application pack from your local council's website