Starting school can be an anxious time - especially for parents. You need to prepare yourself and your children for the experience.

Before they start:

Social skills
In the run-up to school, and well before then if possible, give children a head start by encouraging them to develop good social skills - these skills are the key to making and keeping friends at school.

• give them lots of opportunities to mix with other children (attending mother and toddler groups, playgroups, soft play etc.)
• encourage your children to share and take turns.
• give them firm boundaries for acceptable behaviour. They have to learn that No really means No!
• encourage them to tidy away toys at the end of an activity.

Practical skills
Before they go to school, children should be:

• confident going to the toilet by themselves.
• able to wash and dry their own hands.
• able to attempt dressing completely themselves, and able to put on and do up their own coat.

Preparing for school
Prepare children for their new school life:

• get them used to spending short periods of time without you. Get a family member or friend to look after them whilst you enjoy some quality me time!
• talk to them about going to school. Walk or drive past the school as often as possible.
• find out the name of your child's class teacher so the child can recognise the name.
• take up any invitations to visit the school. Most schools will arrange a time for you and your child to visit and spend time in the classroom before they start school.

On the day:

• trust the staff! If your child is being clingy, take your lead from the staff about when to leave, however difficult - and leave with a smile!
• be on time to collect your child - there is nothing more upsetting for a young child than being left waiting when everyone else has gone home.