Registration

Managing transitions from kindergarten

Things that we do

We provide educational childcare supporting children's learning and development using the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), working towards Early Learning Goals supporting children's readiness for school stages including Key Stage 1 (KS1).  The EYFS covers preschool ages of children up to and including reception stage children (up to 5 years).  In supporting children in getting ready for their next stages we aim to deliver the following:

• Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) including literacy (reading and writing), mathematics (numbers, shape, space and measure), understanding the world (people & communities, the world, technology), expressive arts and design (exploring & using media & materials as wells as being imaginative).
• Experiences that promote children's independence
• Experiences that promote children's self-confidence, self-belief and self-esteem
• Experiences that promote children's social skills with peers and others including staff
• Additional experiences that support the needs of successful participation in society and communities (such as school).  Examples include:
  • Respect for themselves
  • Respect for others
  • Respect for nature
  • Respect for property and belongings
  • Exemplary behaviour
  • Sharing and taking turns
  • Sitting together (eg lunch)
  • Focused learning
  • Changing clothes (eg outdoor clothing, boots, gloves)
  • Listening and paying attention skills
  • Speaking in groups
  • Basic hygiene (including going to the toilet and washing hands)
  • Physical skills

Children's next stages after kindergarten typically include the following​

• infant schools
• primary schools
• independent schools
• home education
• other settings

​Our aim is to support children to their next stage so that the transition is as smooth as possible.

We aim to build links to schools and other settings and provided parents are in agreement we are happy to communicate with the new organisation to support this transition, keeping parents informed throughout.  Note: some schools and other organisations are proactive in supporting this transition, others are not so open to communication, so we welcome parent support in establishing these links accordingly.

An increasing number of parents appear to be choosing alternative paths to mainstream education, such as home education.  We are happy to support parents and children on this path, however we often find that parents who consider this option are already well-read around the subject.  Again, we are happy to discuss how this can be supported.

The majority of parents choose for their children to go on to primary schools and independent schools.  Starting school is a big step for both parents and children.  However, there is plenty that can be done to assist children to settle and to enjoy school quickly.  At kindergarten we aim to enable children's independence, learning and development, including readiness for school.  

General things that parents can do

There are also many things that can be supported by parents such as:

• some schools enable 'open days' for parents and children to visit, to explore and to ask questions
• some schools enable settling-in sessions for new children
• talk with children about school and reassure them about their anxieties
• read to children about starting school
• role play, pretending to be in school
• try on school uniform
• encourage children to share and take turns
• frequently read fiction stories together
• sing nursery rhymes and songs together
• encourage children to paint, glue, draw and making things through craft activities
• encourage children to be active, running, climbing, jumping, hide and seek, playing with balls (e.g catch)
• encourage children to make marks for writing e.g. making birthday cards including holding a pencil / pen correctly
• encourage children to count lots of different things
• encourage children to dress and undress on their own e.g. coats, tops, trousers, shoes, socks, boots
• encourage children to go to the toilet on their own and to manage wiping themselves clean and washing hands
• practice eating packed lunches, opening food wrappers, eating healthy food first and using cutlery
• recognise their own name
• recognise their own clothes, lunch box and belongings
• enable play with other children
• talk with different grow-ups e.g. shop keeper, dentist, doctor, other parents
• enable children to spend time in safe situations without parent present e.g. play at friends house
• visit different places e.g. library, swimming pool, sports centre, museum, walks, parks, family fun days
• experience different styles of toilets (e.g. different flushes, urinals for boys) and taps for washing hands (e.g. turn, push, electronic)
• enable situations for sharing and taking turns
• enable situations for not always winning and to keep trying

Parents often feel anxious about their children starting school.  This is perfectly normal as it is a big change in life for both parent and child.  Parents should talk to friends and other parents who are also experiencing the same changes.  Parents are welcome to discuss the transition with us and we will support as far as possible.  It is also important to begin building closer communication links with the school including the teaching staff and support staff.  

More specific tips for parents

Children should be able to understand or do the following:
​
Self care:

• Know when (and how) to wash hands
• Be able to wipe their nose
• Be able to ask when they are not feeling well

Speaking and literacy:

• ​Have an interest in reading stories and looking at picture books
• Be able to talk about themselves, their needs and their feelings
• Recognise they own name when written down

Getting dressed and undressed on their own:

• Be able to button and unbutton their clothes
• Be able to put on their own socks, shoes and boots
• Be able to put on their own waterproofs (e.g. coat) and use the zip/buttons

Interest in the world and new activities:

• Be interested in the world around them
• Be interested in exploring new activities or environment
• Keen to ask questions

Eating:

• Be able to use a knife and fork
• Be able to open packed lunch on their own
• Be able to open wrappers and packaging

Writing skills:

• Be able to trace patterns and colour in shapes
• Be interested in holding pens and pencils for drawing and writing

Going to the toilet:

• Be able to go to the toilet on their own, clean themselves properly and flush
• Be able to thoroughly wash hands without help

Independence:

• Be happy to be away from their mum, dad or main carer
• Be happy to tidy their belongings and look after them
• Be confident meeting new people (children and adults)

Listening and understanding:

• Be able to sit still and listen for a short while
• Be able to follow instructions
• Be able to follow rules

​Sharing and taking turns:

• Be able to share toys and take turns
• Be able to play games with others
• Be used to socialising with other children

Counting skills:

• Be able to count objects
• Be happy to play counting games
• Be able to recognise some numbers when written down

Routines:

• Be able to put on their school uniform
• Be ready to leave for school on time
• Have a good bedtime routine so that they are not tired for school
• Learn to eat at times that match the school break times