School might not be out yet and the summer holidays haven’t even begun but many parents across the country are thinking about September already as their 4 year olds are preparing to start school for the very first time. Our Parent Panel mum of 5, Amy has put together a handy list of things to help you and your child get the most out of their school taster sessions and  and ease the transition  worrries.

After applying for a place at primary school and then getting the confirmation letter that my child is indeed going to school, I went through a phase of panic and shock.

My baby is going to school….all day!!!! I’ve since had a think about what I would have liked to have known upfront to help this transition and have come up with this:

●         Attend any information evenings that the school provides about how they will introduce your child to full time education.

●         Write a list of any questions you’d like answering about how they look after your child.

●         Don’t be frightened to make the teacher aware of any known issues you might think your child may have.

●         Get an idea of what the school routine is so you can try to prepare your child for it.

●         Decide in advance whether you want your child to have school dinners or packed lunches, my school wouldn’t allow a change within a 2week period which was a bit annoying.

●         Find out where the school sells its jumpers or blazers, sometimes they can be bought at school uniform shops or on site.

●         Buy polo shirts and other items in the back to school events at the supermarkets, most do a 3for2 offer and you can pick up some bargains even this early in the summer.

●         School shoes are a big expense, my biggest tip is to get your child’s feet measured and then look in the outlet alternative of a popular shoes company. I saved a fortune this term!!

●         Next on the list is any extras such as book bags, P.E bags and lunch boxes. Once again look out for offers and maybe start buying things as early as possible to spread the cost.

Once you have everything, remember it is also something to be super proud of, it’s such a big step for you and your child, so make sure you enjoy it as well as feeling slightly nervous.

Is your 4 year old starting school in September? How are you planning to help them prepare? If you’ve already been through this experience we’d love you to share your tips with Amy and the BornFree Mum & Dad community.

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