Starting school - Parent Easy Guide

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Starting school - Parent Easy Guide (PDF 1.9 MB)

Starting school is an exciting milestone for children and families. There are many things you can do to prepare for this. Helping children to feel confident and positive about school will give them a good start.

A time of change

When children start school they have a lot to get used to. They will be in a new setting, with more children and new rules and routines. Some children will manage this easily while others may need more help from parents and teachers.

When will my child start school?

The first year of primary school is called Reception in South Australia. When your child can start school depends on their date of birth and whether you’re applying to a government or non-government school. Most children start school in the year they turn 5. All children in South Australia must be enrolled in primary school by the age of 6. Most children will attend preschool or childcare in the year before starting school.

Government primary schools have 2 major intakes a year. One is at the beginning of the year and one in term 3. If your child turns 5 years old:

before 1 May they can start Reception in term 1 of that year
between 1 May and 31 October they can start Reception in term 3 (mid-year)
after 31 October they can start Reception in the following year.

Children who start Reception at the start of the year will do 4 terms of Reception. Children who start in the mid-year intake will do 6 terms.

Orientation to school

Many schools, preschools and childcare centres help children during their transition to school. They arrange programs which may include:

visits to the school over several weeks
walks around the school to see where things are, eg playgrounds, toilets
spending time in a classroom with teachers and other children.

There may be time for parents to meet staff members and ask questions too.

Building confidence

There are things parents can do to help children feel confident and optimistic about starting school. You could:

talk with them about what it might be like and the structure of a school day
borrow library books with positive stories about starting school
share any happy stories from your own school days
identify any worries early on so you and your child can work through them before school starts.

It can also help to encourage children to develop a habit of positive thinking, eg by asking them to tell you about the good things that happen each day.

Getting ready

To prepare your child for school you could:

involve them in getting ready, eg shopping for their uniform, school bag, lunch box, water bottle
plan for healthy lunches, snacks and water to drink. Help them practise opening and closing their lunchbox and water bottle
help your child learn to dress themselves, and to use the toilet on their own
establish the bedtime and morning routine they will have when they start school. It is very important they get enough sleep
practise the route you will take when you walk, drive or ride to school
plan to take your child to school on the first day. Show them where you will pick them up at the end of the day. Try to be on time. A few minutes can seem like a long time to a young child.

If your child is worried, ask them what would help, eg who should take them to school, where they want to say goodbye, what they want to do after school. Having some control can help children manage their fears.

There are many things for children to get used to when they start school. Some will adapt more easily than others.

If you are stressed, your child may sense this and worry too. Staying calm can help your child feel secure and manage their own emotions.

Working with your school

It is important for parents and teachers to work together and communicate well.

It can help to:

let the teacher know if there is something happening at home that may be affecting your child
inform them of any health problems your child may have
read school communications and reply as soon as possible
get involved in school activities if you can, eg listen to children’s reading
encourage your child to share their interests and experiences with their teacher
make an appointment to see the teacher if you are concerned about your child.

Children do best at school when parents and teachers work together to support them. Practising social skills at home, eg personal space and sharing can help children in their new environment. It can also help to talk about being resilient and kind and about feelings, eg being sad, worried, disappointed, angry. There are many books available that can help with these conversations.

The first few weeks

Starting school can be overwhelming for children as they adjust to new routines, environments and social interactions. This can lead to big emotions or outbursts at home where they feel safe. Patience and understanding can help them navigate this transition. It’s important to have a daily routine and to stick to it. This helps children know what to expect and feel more secure.

For some children toileting at school can be hard to manage. Let them know they can ask their teacher at any time to go to the toilet, they don’t have to wait for recess or lunch. If children wet their pants at school encourage them to tell the teacher. Reassure them this often happens and is nothing to worry about. Pack spare clothing in their bag.

As your child settles into school:

they may be tired at the end of the day. Don’t plan too many after-school activities; make sure they have time to rest and for free play
they may be ‘starving’ after school. Take a healthy snack when you pick them up. Try giving them an early dinner as they may be too tired to eat later
they may want to tell you all about their day as soon as they see you. Be available to listen. Some children may want to relax first
make reading with them part of your daily routine. Bedtime stories are a great way to end the day.

Encourage your child to talk about what they learn at school and the good things that happen.

If your child is stressed

Children can show stress by:

being tearful
not wanting to go to school
having tummy aches or headaches.

You could help by:

encouraging them to talk about their worries and how they could solve any problems
letting them know you are confident they can manage
asking what they think would help them.

If the worries continue, talk to the teacher about the best way to support them.