Christopher Jones, 39, is a graphic designer from Cardiff. He has one daughter, Alice, who started school in September 2002.

"My daughter, Alice, started school in September. I was really apprehensive on her first day, even though she had already been attending a nursery for nearly three of her four years. I was glad that we'd visited the school beforehand, so we'd had a taste of what was behind those big doors. It was still really daunting, and she just seemed so tiny in her little grey skirt and school jumper.

Even though Alice had mixed really well with the other children in her nursery, being faced with 100 new school friends, all of who seemed to dwarf her, was quite scary, even for me. Even the children who were just a year older than her seemed so streetwise and unfazed by it all and so big compared to Alice.

I felt better the first time I saw the classroom - it was a real joy, full of colour, music, artwork and, rather surprisingly, a mirror ball dangling from the ceiling. I just wondered if it was an early sign of future nights out clubbing perhaps? Alice seemed quite unfazed by it all - she let go of my hand straight away and shot to the corner of the room, really excited by it all.

I stayed for perhaps 10 minutes that first day. I felt happier by the minute and I think Alice had forgotten that maybe I was not staying too.

When I started edging towards the door, she did look a bit distressed and insisted on a cuddle, but when a classroom assistant led her away, she seemed OK - probably happier than me!

I was really proud of her. Each time I've taken her to school since that first day, I've made it a little quicker - she's even walked in through those doors, with her new friends, on her own a few times now.

I still wait outside a few minutes each day, just to be sure. I reckon it's much harder for parents to let go!

Alice seems to have settled brilliantly. She tells us of her new adventures just a little bit at a time - which is quite sweet. It's such a huge step and I can't believe the change in her character and her development in just one month - it's really staggering.

Advice
Go and see the school and, if you can, the classroom, with your child before the first day. And don't stay too long on the first day - it'll make it even harder for you and them."

Christopher, Cardiff