Starting Primary School is a huge milestone for any child. There are many questions your child may have, and you want to prepare them as much as possible for their exciting time ahead.

The first day of school is a big deal, not just for you, but for your child as well. Starting primary school does not have to be a bad thing, it can be an exciting and positive journey. Being prepared will help both of you start this new adventure with ease.

Here are our top 10 tips for starting primary school:

1. Explain the Routine of a School Day.

The more your little one knows, the less scary it will seem. Your school should have hopefully sent you an outline of the school day, however if they have not, all you need to do is ask or check their website. You can explain how the day starts by taking the register and tell them the name of their teacher.

You could describe what generally happens at school, normally there are a few lessons and a couple breaktimes (morning and lunchtime).

It may help to explain how they be expected to behave in school and that the school will be teaching them new things.

2. Prepare by Working on Key Practical Skills.

Hopefully your child will be able to do some of these skills by the time they start reception or P1. If you can help them to manage these skills more or less on their own, it will help them when it comes to starting primary school.

  • Going to the toilet & knowing how to wipe their bottom, flush the toilet and wash their hands.
  • How to hang up their coat or bag on a peg.
  • How to use a knife and fork (This will help if they have hot school dinners).
  • Carry a tray (again school dinners often come on a tray).
  • How to take off their shoes and put them back on.
  • How to blow their own know or how to wipe it.
  • Teach them the importance of taking turns & sharing.
  • Understand the notion of tidying up after themselves (Like tidying up their toys).

This is just a recommendation so do not panic if your child can’t get the hang of everything. Many Reception & P1 teachers can manage children who struggle to do the skills above and will help them. However, it is a good idea to advise your teacher if your child is struggling with something in particular.

3. Try the uniform on (if the school has one).

Majority of schools across the UK have a school uniform, so we would recommend purchasing the uniform early. This will help you be prepared and It will also prepare you child for what they will wear 5 days of the week. Help they become familiar with what goes where, how the fastenings or buttons work and how to take it on and off.

best school coat

You will want to make sure you have a decent waterproof school coat for your child to wear on their way to school and during their lunch breaks.

If you want the perfect school coat, we recommend reading this: Best Waterproof School Coats for 2024.

Many schools will require a School uniform, PE kit and outerwear (some schools provide outerwear). Outerwear for school can include either a puddle suit or a two-piece set, along with a pair of wellies. Puddle Suits are ideal for little ones, especially under 4 years old. We would recommend a two-piece set for children 4 and above, as a rain set will last much longer as they grow taller.

Here are links to school outerwear essentials:

4. Explain the Hands-up Rule.

If your little one has attended a nursery or a preschool, they may already be used to having rules in place. This is a great one to teach your child, as they need to understand that shouting is not allowed. Many schools use the ‘rule’ of raising your hand when you need something or need to speak.

5. Familiarise the School Environment.

If you are able to attend an induction day to visit the school, this is a great time to your child around the school. This will help them familiarise themselves with the building and the classrooms. If your child has already attended the nursery or preschool, they may be used to the building, however they will be in a new classroom.

If your child is not familiar, you can always walk or drive past the school. You could point out the playground and maybe even their classroom, if you know where it is.

If you leave near to the school, you could even get up early, put your wellies & coat on and take a walk to the school and back.

starting primary school wellies and coat

6. Label Everything.

This one is essential in schools. With so many children, and all wearing a uniform, it is easy to lose or mix up items in primary school. Use name tapes, labels or write on the tags inside clothing. We would recommend labelling everything, this includes shoes, lunchboxes, jackets and even pants. It is easy for little ones to lose items, but it will be easier to find them if they are labelled.

7. Help Them Recognise Their First and Last Name.

This is important for your child to know, even if they are not able to read properly yet. Majority of children often get their own box or tray in their classroom. They also get their own peg & have their uniform labelled. It will help your child to find their own belongs, and to find their tray on their own if they are able to recognise their name.

starting primary school

It is also important to let your child know if that their may be other children with the same name as them, so learning their last name will help them to know how to tell the difference when the teacher calls register or when they must find their school peg. We have also found that if you call your child by a shortened nickname, for example Max. But their full name is Maxwell, they need to be aware as the teacher may call them by their registered name at first.

8. Talk About Starting Primary School Memories.

Starting primary school can be normalised by talking about your own memories. Or perhaps the memories of one of their siblings starting primary school. You could talk about how you felt shy at first (most children feel a little anxious at first) but then you can talk about how it gets better; you get to know your classmates and it becomes a routine before you know it.

If you didn’t have the best start at primary school, we would recommend not sharing that right away. You want your child to feel positive about the whole experience. If they have a sibling that can give them reassurance, this will help too.

9. Get Prepared the Night Before.

Rushing around on the first morning of school is the last thing you want. It can create a panicked, rushed environment.

getting ready for school

You want the school morning to be as relaxed and positive as you can. So, get everything ready the night before.

Pack the school bag, get the lunch ready(if needed) and lay out the uniform & hang up their school coat.

10. Start the Routine Before School Starts.

We know that over the summer holidays, routine can go out of the window. However, this is a really great way to ease your child into the time routines of school. This could be in the last couple weeks of summer before starting primary school.

The main aim is the get yourself and your child into the time routines of school. Getting up early (most schools start between 8:45 & 9:15am), making sure you eat breakfast early, maybe even get dressed and teeth done. Even if you are not heading out anywhere, this is just to help become prepared for the early starts. You also want to apply this to the rest of your day, if you can plan food around the same time as their school breaks. It will all help with your child getting used to being tired out by 4pm and having their dinner and downtime after that.

Things to Consider After Starting Primary School.

- Check Their School Bag After School.

Many schools often send children home with letters, notices or notes. Although we are now in a generation of sending info online or via emails, it is still important to check for anything that may have been handed to your child and popped in their bag. Also, if your child has a packed lunch, there may be uneaten food items left in their bag or lunchbox, so we recommend checking this every day.

- Expect a Blip

Your child may seem completely fine for a few days or a few weeks. However, it is common for a wobbly to happen and all of sudden, they do not want to go to school. This is usually when the novelty of going to school starts to wear off and they realise this is a permanent change. Just remember to stay strong with them, do not let them skip school over it. Be kind, the blip will not last long.