Get your child off to a positive start in their Reception Year

As children up and down the country settle into the familiar pattern of the academic year, there is a group among them experiencing it for the first time. Fresh-faced and unknowing four and five year olds, who have only just begun in the Reception Year, have ventured over the threshold where they will be encouraged to learn through play, grow in independence and build confidence. Sarah West, Marketing and Communications Manager of PTA UK, explains how, with a parent’s support, young children can thrive and develop a positive approach to learning at school that will set them up for years to come.

The Reception Year at school opens up a whole world of opportunity for young minds. Children will be introduced to learning mostly through play, develop their social skills by interacting with others and be given the chance to express themselves and share their ideas through structured learning. The aim is for teachers to ensure a happy, active and secure experience for each child while giving every one of them the support required for their specific development, care and learning needs.

When children start in Reception, there are three development areas which will be encouraged and which will help them to flourish. These are:

Communication and language
Communicating basic needs to their teacher or interacting with peers is important in your child’s development. Many parents worry about this but the reality is that most children happily progress and go on to make friends quite quickly. However, if your child appears unsettled, speak to their teacher and work with them to find ways to help. By getting involved like this, you will be working in partnership and reinforcing what is being taught in school, at home.

Physical development
During the Reception year, children will be encouraged to develop their fine motor skills - the small movements needed for writing. They will also be encouraged to develop their gross motor skills which involve big movements of the arms and legs to help with coordination and to build muscle strength.

Personal, social and emotional development
Children will learn personal, social and emotional skills in a number of everyday activities. For example, learning to dress themselves, doing up buttons and putting on their shoes by themselves, will give them a real sense of achievement and confidence in their own ability. They may start to empathise more with other children, joining in on a joke that makes them laugh or trying to cheer up a companion if they are hurt.

All these skills are important as children start to learn to read, write, count, understand the world around them and express themselves. Knowing what to expect can help parents support their children. Getting to know the teachers, attending information sessions and engaging with them is the best way to find out how best to support your child’s development and at the same time proactively help them to reach their full potential.

Support your child’s Reception Class learning with these activities at home:

Build up their physical strength and develop their motor skills with these ideas:

For further information on how to support your child at school visit www.pta.org.uk and join PTA UK’s Facebook page for parents https://www.facebook.com/ForParentsbyPTAUK/

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