Finding a school • When your child has a school place • Life at school

Thinking about school

Making Surrey a better place

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We’re a free and impartial information service for families with children aged 0 to 19 (up to 25 for young people with a disability or special educational need).

Go to www.surreycc.gov.uk/parentspages5to19 and subscribe to our Parents’ Pages online magazine, where we’ll keep you up-to-date with news, features and issues that affect you and your child.

Welcome to Thinking about schoolNo matter how young your child is, it’s never too early to think about what will happen when they go to school. Surrey Family Information Service has produced this booklet to answer your questions, explain the application process and provide information and tips on how you can help your child to prepare for school and what to expect when they get there.

There are links throughout the booklet to where you can find more information about the subjects it covers, as well as contact details for other services and organisations that can provide more information.

The booklet has been divided into the following sections:• Finding a school - how to find and apply for a school.• When your child has a school place - ideas and suggestions to

help you and your child be ready for their first day.• Life at school - what your child’s day will be like at school and

what they will learn.

Contact Ust 0300 200 1004 w www.surreycc.gov.uk/fise surrey.fis@surreycc.gov.uk

Section 1Finding a school

School admissions 04• Whentoapply• Choosingaschool• Admissionscriteria• Howtoapply• Appeals• Waitinglists• Schooltransport• Specialeducationalneedsanddisabilities

(SEND)

Out of school care 08• Breakfastclubs• Afterschoolclubs• Outofschoolactivityclubs• Holidayplayschemes• Ofstedregisteredchildminders

Paying for out of school care 10• Childcarevoucherschemes• ChildcareelementofWorkingTaxCredit• Howtoclaimtaxcredits• DisabilityLivingAllowance(DLA)

Contents page

Section 2When your child has a school place

Getting to know your child’s school 12• Wheretofindinformation• Thingstotalkaboutwiththeschool• Specialeducationalneedsand

disabilities (SEND)• Englishasanadditionallanguage• Twinsandmultiples• Lifeathome

Preparing for school 14• Talkingandlistening• Buildingconfidence• Copingwithfeelings• Learningthroughplay• Developingindependence• Lookingatbookstogether• Movingtowardswriting• Understandingtheworld• Behaviour• Wheretogoforhelp

Things to do and think about in the weeks before school 19• Makingfriends• Uniform• Schoollunches• Gettingintoaroutine• Thejourneytoschool

Section 3Life at school

The school day 22• Playtimesandlunchtime• Schoolmeals• Attendanceandpunctuality• Educationalwelfare• Bullying• Illness• Ifyourchildistakenillatschool• Vaccinations• Headlice• Glueear• Sunprotection• Theschoolhealthservice• Cominghomefromschool

What your child will do at school 26• Earlyhomework• Whatyourchildwilllearn• Yourchild’sprogress• TheNationalCurriculum

Time for you 28• Findingajob• Furthereducation• Helpinginschool• Volunteering

School admissions When to applyTo make sure that you have the best possible chance to get a place in your preferred school it’s really important that you apply for your child’s school place within the set timescales. Depending on when your child was born they may not even be three and a half by the time you need to apply.

•TheapplicationprocessopensinSeptember in the year before your child is due to start school.

•Theclosingdateforanapplicationtoinfant or primary school is the January before the September that your child would start at school.

•You’llbenotifiedinmid-Aprilwhich school your child has been allocated.

In Surrey children can start school in the September after their fourth birthday and you can request that they start on a part-timeorfull-timebasis.Youdon’tlegallyhave to send your child to school until they reach statutory school age (the beginning of the academic term immediately following their fifth birthday), but you must still apply for a school place by January, even if you don’t intend to take up the place immediately in September.

Please note:Offersofschoolplacesinreception classes must be taken up within the academic year. This means that if your childisagedfourbetween1Apriland31August,youwouldhavetotakeupyouroffer of a school place at the start of the summer term in order to keep your offer of a school place.

If you want to defer entry you should speak to the head teachers of the schools to which you are applying before the January deadline and let them know.

Go to www.surreycc.gov.uk/schools for more information on the application timeline.

Section 1

Finding a school

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Choosing a schoolGo to findaschool.surreycc.gov.uk to search for schools in your local area.

Allyouneedtodoisenteryouraddressor postcode and it will bring up a list of schools in order of distance from where you live. This measurement is calculated inastraightline.YoumustusetheSurreyadmissions process even if your preferred school(s) is located outside of Surrey.

EachschoollistedonSurreySMARTonlinehas a link to their website where they should have details of any open days that you can go to. It’s helpful to try and visit all of the schools that are in your area and speak to the staff. Take some time to read through each school prospectus and if there is something in there that you don’t understand give the school a call.

Each school will have been inspected by Ofsted(OfficeforStandardsinEducation,Children’sServicesandSkills)who’llproducea report based on their findings.

Go to www.ofsted.gov.uk to see a report for a school you’re interested in.

There are a number of different types of schools in Surrey which are run in different ways.Belowisalistalongwithashortdescription: • Academies (A) – independent of the local

authority and funded directly by the DepartmentforEducation.Academiesare able to set their own curriculum.

• Community schools (C) – maintained by the local authority.

• Foundation (F) – state funded schools that are run by their own governing body.

• Free schools (Fr) - a type of academy set up by a group, such as parents, teachers, charities, community groups and businesses.

• Trust schools (T) - a type of foundation school which forms a charitable trust with an outside partner.

• Voluntary aided (VA) - maintained by the local authority but strongly supported by thechurchauthorities(usuallyChurchofEnglandorRomanCatholic).

• Voluntary controlled schools (VC) - maintained by the local authority but have close links with church authorities. Some of the governing bodies are appointed by the religious foundation.

Admissions criteriaSurrey publishes details about the number of available places and the criteria used for allocating places in each Surrey school.

Go to www.surreycc.gov.uk/schools or call 0300 200 1004 for information and advice.Call0300 200 1015 to request a paper copy of the admissions information.

Readthroughthisinformationcarefullynoting the criteria used to allocate school places, including the furthest distance for a child who did not meet the other criteria. This information can be used as a guide to how likely it is that your child will be offered a place in each of your preferred schools. It is important to know that the distance given is only a guide as this will change every year based on the applications received.

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How to applyGo to www.surreycc.gov.uk/schools and follow the step-by-step guide to apply online. If you’d like a paper copy of the admissions form email schoolbooklets@surreycc.gov.uk or call 0300 200 1015.

Some schools, particularly faith schools, also require a supplementary information form as well as the application form.

Go to www.surreycc.gov.uk/learning/schools/directory-of-surrey-schools to find out which schools require supplementary information forms, or contact the school directly.

If you would like help in filling in your school application, your local Sure Start Children’sCentrewillbeabletoassist.

Go to www.surreycc.gov.uk/childrenscentres to find your nearest children’s centre.

Appeals If you’re not happy with the school that your child has been allocated you have the right to appeal. The letter you will be sent notifying you of the refusal will have information about how to appeal.

Go to www.surreycc.gov.uk/schoolappeals or call 0300 200 1004 for further information and guidance about the appeal process.

Waiting listsIf you don’t get your first preference of school, your child will automatically be placedonthewaitinglistsofCommunityorVoluntarycontrolledschoolsthatyou listed as a higher ranked preference. CommunityandVoluntarycontrolledschools are only required to have waiting lists until the end of December in the year that a child starts school. Waiting lists will be maintained according to each school’s admission criteria.

Youshouldcontactschoolsdirectlyregarding waiting lists if they are one of the following:

•Academies•Foundation•Free•Trust•VoluntaryAided.

Manywillautomaticallyplacechildren’snames on the waiting list if the school was named as a higher preference to the school that has been offered. Some schools require parents to request that their child’s name is added to the waiting list. For these schools you will only be able to add your child’s name to a waiting list if you have made an application through your home local authority.

School transportSurrey provide free home to school transport if you meet the required criteria.

Go to www.surreycc.gov.uk/schooltransport to check if your child should get free transport or call 0300 200 1004 for information.

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Special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)

In 2014 new legislation will change the way families with a child with SEND are supported. Go to www.surreycc.gov.uk/send to learn more about the changes.

In Surrey, mainstream schools are given money that enables them to support children with a special educational need or disability. For some children their level of needs mean that it would be better for them to go to a specialist provision, this could be a special school or class within a mainstreamschool.Usuallythisdecisionwould be made by a specialist panel based on a recommendation from someone who is already involved with you such as an educational psychologist or Special EducationalNeedsCoordinator(SENCO).

Childrenwithahighlevelofneedmaybe assessed to receive a statement of special educational need or, from 2014, an Education,HealthandCarePlan(EHCP). This statement or plan is a legal document that will set out the support your child will receive.

Mainstreamschoolsdecidehowtousethemoney that is given to them to support children with a special educational need or disability, so you may want to ask them this question when you are looking at schools. The support on offer will vary according to your child’s needs but may include one-to-one or small group support from a teaching assistant. The assistance required may be different depending on the time of day so the school may provide more support at lunchtimesforexample.

If your child will be going to a mainstream school you should apply using the same admissions process covered earlier in this booklet. If specialist provision is recommended, you would usually be encouraged by the professionals involved with you and your child to visit particular schools.Applicationsaremadethroughapanel process and you can specify which school you would like your child to go to.Youshouldbeconsultedthroughoutthis process. In case your child is not given a place at a special school or centre it is advisable that you also apply for a mainstream school at the same time.

Go to www.surreycc.gov.uk/send for more information about SEND.

Usefullink www.surreyparentpartnership.org.uk

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Out of school careSchool age children may need childcare before or after school and during the holidays. There are lots of different, good quality childcare arrangements available to suit your daily schedule such as childminders, breakfast clubs, after school clubs and holiday playschemes.

Go to www.surreycc.gov.uk/ childcarefindertofindOfsted registered childcare in your area usingourChildcareFinder.

Breakfast clubsThese usually take children between the agesof4to12yearsold.Mostbreakfastclubswillopenbetween7.30amand8amand run until 9am when the children start school. They will provide opportunities for play suitable for your child’s age and some will provide a healthy breakfast.

They may charge between £2.50 and £5 per session, depending on the length of time the club is open and the food that is on offer.

After school clubsThese will usually be based at the school or in a local community hall or building. They typically take children between the ages of 4 and 12 years old, but this is worth checking first. They run from the end of the schooldayuntilaround5.30pmor6pm.

They will provide opportunities for play appropriate to children’s ages. They may also provideasnackanddrink.Chargeswillvarydepending on the club but will typically be between£8and£15persession.

Not all clubs need to be registered with Ofsted,thereareanumberofexemptionsbased on things like the age of the children they look after as well as how long and often they are open.

Go to www.ofsted.gov.uk to find out moreaboutOfstedexemptionsorwww.ofsted.gov.uk/inspection-reports/find-inspection-reporttoviewOfstedinspection reports.

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Out of school activity clubsThese are short sessions run by teachers or outside agencies, that give children experiencesoutsideoftheschoolcurriculum but are not a form of childcare. These might be activities such as dancing, football, cooking or art and craft clubs. Activitieslikethesemayhaveasmallfeetocover materials or tuition and this cannot be paid for by childcare vouchers or the childcareelementofWorkingTaxCreditunlesstheclubisregisteredwithOfsted.

Holiday playschemesThese can be run by the school, a private company or a voluntary organisation. They include a wide range of activities such as sports, outdoor and indoor games, arts, crafts and drama. They usually take children between the ages of 4 and 12 years old, however it’s best to check this. The hours they open will depend on the scheme but somewillofferextendeddaysfrom8amto6pm for an additional charge.

Ofsted registered childminders Childminderslookafterotherpeople’schildren in their own home and must be registeredbyOfstediftheylookafterchildren up to eight years old for more than two hours a day for pay or reward. Childminderscanlookafterchildrenfrombirth right through to secondary school and many offer before and after school care and school holiday care.

Go to www.surreycc.gov.uk/fis formoreinformationaboutOfstedregistered childcare.

Useful linkswww.surreycc.gov.uk/childcarefinder forOfstedregisteredchildcare. www.surreycc.gov.uk/directory for groups and activities.

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Paying for out of school careChildcare voucher schemesSome employers choose to be part of a childcare voucher scheme to help employees with childcare costs. These schemes save you money as you will avoid paying tax or national insurance contributions on some of your salary. Government schemes such as this are often called salary sacrifice.

YoucanonlyusethevoucherstopayforOfstedregisteredchildcareincludingchildminders, breakfast clubs, after school clubs, out of school activity clubs and holidayplayschemes.Youwillneedtocheckwith them that they are happy to accept childcare vouchers and if the voucher doesn’t cover the full cost of the childcare agreehowyouwillpaytheextracost.

The value of childcare vouchers will depend on your tax rate.

• basic rate tax payers - £55 per week or £243permonth

• higher rate tax payers -£28perweekor£124permonth(£55perweekor£243per month if you joined a scheme before 6April2011)

• additional rate tax payers - £25 per week or£110permonth(£55perweekor£243per month if you joined a scheme before 6April2011).

Receivingchildcarevouchersfromyouremployer can affect your entitlement to WorkingTaxCredit.

Go to www.hmrc.gov.uk/calcs/ccin.htm andusetheHMRevenue&Customsbetter off calculator to find out whether you’d be better off receiving the vouchers or claiming for help with childcare costs throughtaxcredits.

Go to www.surreycc.gov.uk/childcare vouchers to see if you’re eligible.

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Childcare element of Working Tax CreditThis is aimed at helping working parents cover childcare costs. Working parents can claim up to 70% of their childcare costs, up toamaximumof£122.50(70%of£175)perweekforonechildand£210(70%of£300)fortwoormorechildren.Anycoststhatyou pay above these amounts are not used in the calculation.

The childcare must be registered with Ofstedandcanincludechildminders,breakfast clubs, after school clubs, out of school activity clubs and holiday playschemes.

If you are receiving childcare vouchers from your employer it can affect your entitlementtotaxcredits.Byreducingyour salary you may be entitled to a higher elementoftheWorkingTaxCreditbutthis could reduce your entitlement to the childcare element of the credit.

Go to www.hmrc.gov.uk and search for the better off calculator, to see if you’d be better off receiving the vouchers or claiming for help with childcare costs throughtaxcredits.

How to claim tax creditsAlthoughtheHMRCadministertaxcredits,theyarenottaxallowancesandyouhavetoclaim them.

Go to www.gov.uk/tax-credits-calculator and find out if you are eligible by using theonlinetaxcreditcalculator.Ifyouarealreadyclaimingtaxcreditsandyourcircumstances change, make sure you tellHMRCasitcouldaffecttheamount oftaxcredityoureceive.

Go to www.hmrc.gov.uk/taxcredits or calltheHMRCTaxCreditHelplineon 0345 300 3900 for more information abouttaxcredits.

Disability Living Allowance (DLA)IfyoureceiveDisabilityLivingAllowance(DLA)foryourchildyoucanalsousethecare element to help pay for your childcare costs, which can be between £21.55 and £81.30perweekdependingontherateyouare entitled to.

Go to www.gov.uk/disability-living-allowance-children to find out more aboutDLA.

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Section 2

When your child has a school place

Getting to know your child’s schoolOnce you have accepted an offer of a place, you’ll start to receive information from the school. They’ll usually send you the term dates and all of the information you need to know well in advance.

Yourchild’steachermayvisityouand your child at home before they start school. This is a chance for your child to meet them in their own home. They will spend some time chatting to you and getting to know your child. This should help on the first day of term, as your child will recognise them and may not feel so worried.

The school may organise events before term starts, giving your child a good opportunity to make new friends.

Where to find informationThere are lots of other ways you can get to knowyourchild’snewschool.Makesureyou get a copy of the school prospectus and information packs, you will be able to get both of these from the school.

The prospectus will tell you all about the school and the information pack will include practical information such as school times, uniform, lunchtime and all the arrangements for your child starting school.

Anothergoodplacetogetinformationisontheschool’swebsite.Manyschoolshavetheir prospectus on their website as well as lots of other useful information about how the school works.

If you wanted more detailed information on how the school is run you can always ask to speak to one of the school governors by phoning the school office. School governors are representatives from the school staff, local authority, parents and the community. They are responsible for making sure the school provides an education that helps all the children achieve the best possible results. They do this by:• settingtheaimsandvaluesfortheschool• beingawareoftheschool’sstrengthsand

weaknesses• agreeingtheschool’sbudgeteachyear• planningtheschool’sfuture• appointingseniorstaffincludingthe

head teacher • communicatingwithparentsandthe

community.

Things to talk about with the schoolThere may be things you want to talk about with your child’s teacher before they start school.

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Special educational needs and disabilitiesAllschoolssupportchildrenwhohavespecial educational needs or disabilities (SEND). If you think or suspect that your child has a special educational need or disability, you may want to talk this through with the school ahead of your child starting. This will give you the chance to see what additional support will be put in place for your child.

English as an additional languageIf English is not the language you speak at home or if you come from a particular cultural background, it’s worth making sure thattheschoolknowthis.Youcanletthemknow anything that your child may find new or confusing. They will then be able to find the best way to support your child at school.

Twins and multiplesIf you have more than one child starting in the same school year, you may have a view on whether you want them to be in the same class as their sibling(s). It’s best to talk this through with the school well ahead of the start of term.

Go to www.tamba.org.uk or call 0800 138 0509 for advice and informationfromtheTwinandMultipleBirthAssociation.

Life at homeThere may be other things you want to talk to the school about before the term starts. If you contact the school before the summer holiday you should be able to talk to someone. If things happen at home, maybe a death in the family or a situation that may be upsetting for your child, you can always speak to someone at the school. It is important that the school know about anything that may be affecting your child so they can offer the right support.

If you need more information or advice, you can contact the following organisations.

Family support and information• TheFamilyandChildcareTrust

www.familyandchildcaretrust.org• FamilyLiveswww.familylives.org.uk

0808 800 2222

Adoptionandsupportservices• AdoptionUK www.adoptionuk.org

0844 848 7900

Oneparentfamilysupport• www.gingerbread.org.uk 0808 802 0925

Relationshipsupport• Relatewww.relate.org.uk

Separated or divorced• SurreyFamily&MediationServices

www.sfms.org.uk 01372 749911

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Preparing for schoolThere are many ways you can help prepare your child for school. Everything you do together will help your child learn, develop and grow as an individual. By seeing what stage your child is at, you can look to encourage them and do things that will help in the next stage of their development.

Playing with other children and going to a childcare provider is also an important part in helping your child get off to a positive start in their new school.

Talking and listeningThe way we talk to our children shows them how we would like them to talk to other people.Makingthetimeforone-to-onecommunication is one of the most important things you can do to help your child.

It’s best to talk to your child in the language youuseday-to-dayathome.Youwillbeabletoexplainordescribethingsinmoredetail. This will encourage your child to use wordsandexpresstheirfeelings.

If English is an additional language, you will want to continue to develop your child’s home language when they are learning English. If your child learns to speak your home language well, they will also learn English more quickly.

For ideas and tips on helping your child develop their communication skills you could visit your local children’s centre. They offer children and parents opportunities to play together and develop the speaking and listening skills needed for school. Their play and learn sessions support parents to understand how their children learn through play and each children’s centre will have sessions for children of different age groups. Some centres also offer groups to develop a child’s confidence in speaking andlistening.Contactyourlocalchildren’scentre for more details.

Go to www.surreycc.gov.uk/childrencentres to find your local children’s centre.

Go to www.surreycc.gov.uk/ earlylearning for more information on how to communicate with your child.

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Building confidenceConfidentchildrenmakepositivelearnersand we build their confidence through our relationship with them. It’s by spending time with and being accepted by a loved and loving adult that a child’s confidence andselfesteemgrows.Childrenlovetobepraised and this gives them the confidence andcouragetoexploreandtrynewthings.

Go to www.surreycc.gov.uk/fispublications andtakealookatourBeing,BelongingandBecomingsectiontogiveyoumoreinformation on developing your child’s self confidence.

Coping with feelingsYoungchildrencanfindithardtocontroltheir anger and frustration when things go wrong, when they can’t have their own way, when they lose a game, or when they can’tquitemanagethings.Youcanhelpyourchild by staying calm and describing their feelings.Letthemknowthatyouunderstandhow they feel and make it clear it is ok to feel angry but not to hurt other people.

Afteranoutburstwaituntiltheyarecalmagain before talking to them about how they feel and about different and better ways to behave. Praise them as they begin to control tears and temper.

Go to www.surreycc.gov.uk/fispublications andtakealookatourBeingsectionunderBeing,BelongingandBecoming,formorehints and tips.

Learning through playMostchildrenhavehadlotsofpositiveplayopportunities at a childcare provider and at home by the time they start school. It’s through play that children learn the most at this age.

Byhavingawidevarietyofplayactivitieschildren will be able to develop their language, thinking and understanding of theworld.Theyneedtoexperienceplayingon their own and with other children, playing inside and outside, with toys and playing imaginatively.

Atschoolyourchildwillbeclosetootherchildren, sharing books, crayons and equipment. If children have brothers or sisters or have been to a childcare provider, they will be used to playing with others, sharing and taking turns, and may find this easy. If you think your child may find it more difficult, you can encourage this by inviting friends home to play or dropping in to a stay and play session at your local children’s centre.

Go to www.surreycc.gov.uk/fispublications andtakealookatourBelongingsectionunderBeing,BelongingandBecoming,for more ideas on developing your child’s social skills.

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Developing independenceThe first thing that children do when they come indoors, at home and at school is to takeofftheircoat.Latertheywillhavetodress and undress themselves for Physical Education(PE).Yourchildwillfeelmoreconfident if they can do this without much help.

You can help by:• choosingclothesthatareeasytogeton

and off• avoidingclothesthatfastenattheback• choosingtrousersthatyourchildcanpull

down easily• buyingshoesandplimsollswithVelcro

fastenings.

Childrenalsoneedtobeabletogotothetoilet on their own. If your child is not yet toilet trained, it is a good idea to try now, unless you have been advised not to by a medical professional.

Go to www.eric.org.uk for more information on teaching your child to use the toilet without help.

Go to www.surreycc.gov.uk/fispublications andtakealookatourBecomingleafletunderBeingBelongingandBecoming,formore hints and tips on developing your child’s independence.

Looking at books togetherBeforetheybegintoreadchildrenneedlotsofexperienceoftalkingandlookingatprintall around them.

Enjoying books is a good start for learning toread.Atschool,childrenlistentostoriesread to a group or the whole class. They also look at books quietly on their own or with afriend.Athome,youcanencourageaninterest of books and stories by reading to your child and looking at pictures together as well as encouraging them to look at books on their own.

Youcanvisitthelibraryoryourlocalchildren’s centre to access a wide range of books.Don’tforgettheBookstartbooksyour child will have received as a baby and at age three to four they will receive their nextBookstartpack.

Go to www.surreycc.gov.uk/bookstart formoreinformationonBookstart.

Go to www.surreycc.gov.uk/earlylearning for more helpful tips and advice on encouraging a love of reading.

Go to www.surreycc.gov.uk/libraries to find your local library.

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Moving towards writingAttheirchildcareproviderchildrenwill havehadlotsofexperienceinusing paints, crayons and pens to draw.

Childrenneedthisexperiencebeforetheybegintowrite.Youcanencouragethisby providing large sheets of paper with crayons, chalks and felt pens for your child to use, or you can visit your local children’s centre for access to a variety of materials. To begin with your child may use both hands and it may take them some time to settle on using their left or right hand.

Childrenalsoneedtounderstandwhatwritingisfor.Letyourchildseeyouwriteshoppinglistsandletters.Letthem”write”theirownlistforwhenyounextgo shopping. This will only be scribble or unrecognisable marks to begin with, but still encourage your child to ”read” their list to you and praise their efforts.

When your child begins to make shapes that look a bit like letters, they will be ready to be shown how to make letters correctly.Checkthattheyareholdingthepencil correctly between thumb and first finger and encourage them to rest their otherhandonthetable.Youcouldaskyourchildcare provider or children’s centre to let you have a writing style sheet, which your child can practice on at home.

Understanding the worldChildrenarenaturallycuriousandliketo find out how things feel, look, taste andsmell.Byfindingoutabouttheworldaround them children start to learn about science. Every day they are learning abouttheworldtheylivein.Manydailyactivities will teach them something new.

Activities such as:• splashinginmuddypuddles• digginginmudandsand• watchingwaterdrippingfromatap• tastingsomethingnew.

Yourchildwillfrequentlyask”Why?”Youcanhelpthemunderstandwhatishappening by answering their questions andexplainingwhatisgoingon.Youcanalso encourage them to learn more by saying ”I don’t know, shall we find out together?”.Thisalsoletsthemknowthat it is ok to not know the answer.

Childrenalsoliketoknowhowthingsworkandhowtheyaremade.Bytakingthings apart and making things, children start to learn about technology. They like tomakethingsoutofscrappaper,boxes,stringorbitsofwood.Youcanhelpbyproviding them with different materials to use.Yourlocalchildren’scentrewillhavea range of materials available during their stay and play session, which your child can experimentwith.

Go to www.surreycc.gov.uk/earlylearning for more ideas on how you can provide yourchildwithdifferentexperiences.

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BehaviourAllschoolsusepositiveapproachestodiscipline. Teachers encourage good behaviour and correct children when necessary.Yourchild’sschoolwillhavesimple rules so the classroom is a safe and happyplaceforeveryone.Youcanhelpyourchild by having simple rules and boundaries at home too.

The time you spend developing a relationship of love and trust with your child will help them behave in ways that youwant.Children’sbehaviourcanoftenbe challenging, but by having boundaries, routines and a few family rules, your child willlearnhowtobehave.Explainwhattherules are, why they are in place and set a goodexample.

Childrenfeelmoresecurewithroutine,so try to follow the same routine, such as tidying toys up before bed and they will soonlearnwhatisexpectedofthem.

If other people care for your child, it helps if you all deal with your child’s behaviour in the same way and back each other up.

If your child displays challenging behaviour, responding in a calm and consistent way will help your child learn that their behaviourisnotacceptable.Youngchildrenbelieve their parent or carer is right and though they may sometimes disobey you, for them what you say is the law. So it is important that your child understands that yousupporttheteacherinexpectingyourchild to keep to the school rules.

Go to www.familylives.org.uk for more tips and advice on encouraging good behaviour.

Where to go for helpLifeisfullofupsanddowns.Mostofusneed advice and support from our family and friends when we meet new challenges orifthegoinggetstough.Youmayfindit helpful to have the opportunity to talk about everyday family issues, such as how to manage bedtime routines, rivalry between siblings or to find out more about children’s development.

Yourlocalchildren’scentrewillhavelotsofinformation on all aspects of life affecting families with children up to the age of five. They’ll run some sessions where you can visit for a chat and speak to one of their outreach officers. They will also run a variety of sessions and groups that will help your child develop in the areas mentioned in this section of the booklet.

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Askyourlocalchildren’scentreforatimetable of activities for that term.

Go to www.surreycc.gov.uk/childrencentres for information on what your local children’s centre offers.

IfyoufeelyourchildorfamilyneedextrasupportyoucouldasktohaveanEarlyHelpAssessment.Thisisavoluntaryprocessused by professionals together with children, young people and their families. Theaimistohelpworkoutwhatextrasupport a child or young person may need and what support is available.

Go to www.surreycc.gov.uk/earlyhelp for more information or talk to a professional involved with you or your child such as your GP, school teacher, health visitor or school family support worker.

Youcanalsocontact

Familyline Surrey www.familyline.org.uk 0808 800 5678

FamilyLives www.familylives.org.uk 0808 800 2222

Things to do and think about in the weeks before schoolMaking friendsIf your child won’t know anyone who is going to be in their class, you could ask at the school open day to be introduced toothersinthesamesituation.Youcould arrange to meet up at the local playgroundorsoftplayareaforexample,so that the children have an opportunity to get to know each other and you get to meet some other mums and dads.

Youcouldalsovisityourlocalchildren’scentre. They will offer stay and play sessions, where you can play with your child and meet other local children and parents. Some schools may hold a social event leading up to school starting, so it’s worth asking if they have any events planned.

Go to www.surreycc.gov.uk/directory and take a look at the Family Information Directory, which has ideas on places to go to with friends.

Go to www.surreycc.gov.uk/childrenscentres to find your local children’s centre.

Onceyourchildhasstarted,theschoolmay run an information meeting or coffee morning for new parents. If you are able to go along, this is a great opportunity for you to meet other parents and make new friends too.

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UniformYou’llbetoldaboutuniformwhenyouvisitthe school and information will also be in theschoolprospectus.Youcanbuyschooluniform without school logos in many well known high street stores and supermarkets. Schools will also be able to tell you who supplies their uniform with the school logo on. Some school offices will sell their school badge for you to put onto items of uniform.

Mostschoolswillalsoholdsecondhanduniform sales, you can find out if they do bycontactingtheschooloffice.Makesureyou buy the uniform in advance and allow plenty of time to get everything labelled with your child’s name.

School lunchesIn the weeks before your child starts school, you may want to think about whether you would like your child to take a packed lunch or have a school meal. From September 2014 all children in reception, year 1 and year 2 will get a free hot, nutritious meal at lunch time. Some schools allow your child to have a school meal just on a certain day, such as a Friday, but this will need to be booked in advance with the school.

If your child takes a packed lunch, the school may provide guidelines on what you should and shouldn’t include. This will include making sure there is a balanced diet, including starchy foods, protein, dairy items, vegetables, salad and fruit. Some schools ban chocolate, sweets and crisps. There may also be children at the school with severe allergies, so it is common for all foods containing nuts to be banned from lunchboxes.Makesureyougetalunchboxthat your child is able to open and also that they are able to open all the packets and pots that you put inside.

Go to www.childrensfoodtrust.org.uk/parents for more information on how to keep lunches fun, tasty and varied.

Go to www.myschoollunch.co.uk/surrey and take a look at the school meals providedbySurreyCommercialServices,including a sample menu.

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Getting into a routineIt can be hard for you and your child to suddenly follow a routine if you haven’t had to before. To make things easier for you it can help to start getting into the new routine a few weeks ahead.

Start with your child having a regular bedtime,iftheyhaven’talready.Yourchildwill be more willing to get up and dressed in the morning if they have had a good night sleep.

Go to www.nhs.uk/LiveWell/Childrenssleep for advice on how much sleep your child needs and getting into a bedtime routine, or speak to your health visitor.

Don’t worry if your child still wets the bed. Bedwettinginchildrenundertheageofsixisquitenormal.Ifyourchildwasdryatnight and starts bed wetting there may be an underlying reason. This could be an emotional upset or a physical cause. If it carries on you may want to speak to your GP or health visitor.

Go to www.nhs.uk/conditions/bedwetting or www.eric.org.uk for more information on bed wetting.

Manyparentsfinditeasiertogettheirchild ready if he or she is not distracted bywatchingtheTV.Tomakethingseasierin the morning you may find that getting things like bags and uniforms ready the night before helpful.

The journey to schoolIt will help you and your child if you are both familiar with the route to school before their first day. If you go past the school when you are out and about with your child, point the school out and chat about what they will do there. It may be worth seeing how long the journey takes in morning traffic during term time to know what time you’ll need to leave by.

Findoutifyourschoolhasawalkingbus.Awalking bus is a group of parents, organised through the school, who volunteer to walk children to school on foot. There are usually variouspickuppointsontheroute.Adultsandchildrenallwearbrightreflectivejackets for safety.

Go to www.travelsmartsurrey.info and use the journey planner to get an idea of how long the journey might take by walking, cycling or using public transport.

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Section 3

Life at schoolThe school dayIn the months and weeks leading up to your child starting school, the school will give you information on their start date and the settling in routine.

The start date won’t always be the same day that the older children start back. Yourschoolwillplantoeasechildrenintoschool gradually. This might mean that they are not at school for the whole day to start with.

The school will give you the start and finish times and details of where to drop off and collect your child. Teachers are used to settling children into school so be guidedbywhattheythinkisbest.Childrenpick up on how you’re feeling so being happyandrelaxedwillhelpthemtofeel the same.

It helps children to settle quickly if they know who is picking them up and when. If you think your child is going to have difficulty settling, talk to the teacher before they start so together you can work out how to overcome any difficulties

Playtimes and lunchtimeManyreceptionclasseshaveeithertheirown playground or a special time when they can use the larger playground when the older children are inside. There will always be an adult in charge during play and lunchtimes, this could be a teacher, a teaching assistant or a lunchtime supervisor.

School mealsDuring lunchtimes the supervisors look after the pupils in the hall and playground. They can help your child cut up their food and will encourage them to try new foods.

Attendance and punctualityWhen your child starts school it’s your responsibility to make sure they go every dayandarethereontime.Achildmayonly be off school if they are either unwell, observing a religious holiday or have permission from the head teacher.

If you need to request that your child has time off, ask your school if there is a form that you need to fill in. The head teacher decides whether or not to authorise the leave, so put as much information as you can on the form.

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Taking holidays in school term time is stronglydiscouraged,sodon’texpecttheschool to agree to your child being away. Whenever possible, you should make GP and dental appointments outside school hours. If your child is off school you must let the school know the reason that day or as soon as possible.

Go to www.surreycc.gov.uk/schoolattendance for more information or speak to your child’s school.

Educational welfareIf your child is reluctant to go to school, talk tothem,theremaybeasimpleexplanationas to why they don’t want to go. There can be any number of reasons, even something like being scared of a character in a story thatwasreadrecently.Yourchild’steacherwill be able to let you know if they’ve noticed anything so it’s worth asking them.

If the problem continues, you can talk to anEducationWelfareOfficer(EWO).AllSurreyschoolshaveanallocatedEWOwhose job it is to support schools and parents to make sure that every child attendsschoolregularly.EWOscanreceive referrals and act upon enquiries from schools, parents, other agencies or members of the public when a child is not attending school.

AsktheschoolfortheirEWOcontactdetailsorcallSurreyCountyCouncilon0300 100 2004.

You can also contact

Family line Surrey www.familyline.org.uk 0808 800 5678

FamilyLives www.familylives.org.uk 0808 800 2222

BullyingIf your child does not want to go to school because they are having friendship problems with other children talk to your child’s teacher. They will be able to keep an eye on what happens in class and the playground.Youngchildrenplaywithlotsof different children at this age and fall in and out of friendships easily, so try not tojumptoconclusions.However,ifthesituation continues for some time, speak to the school as they will have an anti-bullying policyandprocedures.Youcanasktheschool office to see a copy of the policy or look for it on the school website.

CallSurreyCountyCouncilon 0300 200 1004 for more information.

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IllnessIt’s normal for children to pick up bugs and germs when spending time with lotsofotherchildren.Youcanhelpthemunderstand how germs are spread by telling them how important it is to wash their hands. Teaching them to put a tissue or their arm in front of their mouth when they cough and using a tissue to wipe their nose, will also help them understand how germs are spread.

If your child is unwell, it’s important to keep them off of school if they are too ill to go or if the illness can be passed onto other children.

Youmustkeepyourchildrenawayfromschool until they are fully recovered in the cases of:• Chickenpox• GermanMeaslesorMeasles• Mumps• Scarletfever• Flu.

It’s also important that you keep your children at home if they have:• Sickness or diarrhoea – they should not gobacktoschooluntil48hoursafterithas stopped

• Scabies – they should not go back to school until they have finished the treatment

• Impetigo – they should not go back to school until the sores have crusted over or48hoursafterstartingtreatment.

Youshouldalwaysspeaktotheschooltotell them that your child is ill and will not be coming into school.

Go to www.nhs.uk,callNHSDirecton 111 or speak to your GP or health visitor for more information.

If your child is being prescribed medicine, ask your GP if it’s possible to plan doses outside of school time. If your child needs to be given medicine during school hours, you will need to go into the school and fill in a ‘medicines in school form’. The school will ask that the medicine is in the original packaging with the original label from the chemist.

If your child is taken ill at schoolIf your child becomes ill the school will contact you so it’s important that they have up to date contact numbers that they can use in an emergency. They may also ask for another adult that they can contact, in case they can’t get hold of you. If your child has to go to hospital and the school are not able to contact you, a member of staff will go with them and stay until you get there.

VaccinationsBeforeyourchildstartsschooltheyshouldbe offered the following vaccinations:

• Age two to three years -fluvaccination– in a nasal spray form for children

• Age three years and four months - MMR(seconddose)andpre-schoolbooster – diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus and polio.

Go to www.nhs.uk/Conditions/vaccinations for up to date information on vaccinations, or speak to your GP or health visitor.

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Head liceIt’s so easy for head lice to spread when children are together at school, so it’s recommended that you check your child’s hair regularly using a fine tooth comb.

If your child does get head lice, it’s a good idea to check the rest of the family. For advice on treatment speak to your pharmacist or your health visitor.

Go to www.nhs.uk/conditions/head-lice for more information on how to treat head lice.

Glue earThis is one of the most common childhood conditions.It’scausedbyabuildupoffluidin the middle ear. If children have glue ear, it can affect their hearing, speech, development, behaviour and learning. It’s usually caused by an ear infection but can sometimes develop unnoticed. It’s worth taking your child to see your doctor if they develop the following signs:

• theydonotrespondwhencalled• theybecomeeasilytiredandfrustrated• theylackconcentration• theyprefertoplayalone.

Go to www.nhs.uk/Conditions/glue-ear for more information.

Sun protectionIn the summer months children need to be protected from the sun at home and atschool.Mostschoolsaskthatyourchild brings in a sun hat and sun cream to schoolinthewarmerweather.Childrenareencouraged to apply sun cream themselves with adult supervision. Some children may need an adult to do this for them. Speak to the school and ask them about their policy in helping children apply sun cream.

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The school health serviceEach school has access to a school nursing team. They will be on hand to help with thingsyoumaybeworriedabout.Youcan ask the school for the phone number of the school nursing team and you can phone them and talk through any concerns you may have. This can be anything from bedwetting, worries about your child’s behaviour or managing a health condition in school. They should be able to address your concerns or refer you onto other services who may be able to help further.

Coming home from schoolWhen you pick your child up from school youmayexpectthemtobekeentotellyouabout their day but don’t be surprised if your child is tired and perhaps a bit grumpy. Youmightwanttoofferthemadrinkanda snack when they get home. In the early days of school you may find that an early bedtime can help.

What your child will do at schoolEvery school arranges its own day but all will have a variety of activities which will be listed on a timetable, these may include:

• timetotalkandsharenewsfromhome• listeningtoastoryinagroup• choosingfromtheplaythingsavailable• creativeactivitieslikepaintingand

playing with sand or water • cuttingandsticking• smallgrouptableactivities• outdoorplay• playtimeandlunchtime.

When children move into year 1 and progress through the school, they will spend more time working at tables and listening to the teacher as a class. However,mostlearningstilltakesplaceingroups doing practical activities.

Astheybecomesettledthechildrenwill use the hall for physical activities, singing, drama and perhaps assembly with other classes. Everyone in the school understands that some young children can find moving away from the security of their own classroom a bit daunting.

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Early homeworkMostchildrengotonurseryorplaygroupand will be used to bringing books home. Afterasettlinginperiodatschool,childrenwill again bring books home to share with you.Lateryourschoolmaysendotheractivities home so you may need to keep check with your child’s teacher. There may be a record book for you to write comments in.

What your child will learnWhen a child starts reception class they willcontinuetofollowtheEarlyYearsFoundationStage(EYFS)framework,whichincludes three prime areas and four specific areas.

Prime areas• Personal,socialandemotional

development• Communicationandlanguage• Physicaldevelopment.

Specific areas• Readingandwriting•Maths• Understandingtheworld• Expressiveartsanddesign.

Atthisstagechildrenlearnbestthroughpracticalactivitiesandplay.Manyofthe activities and ways of learning in reception class will be similar to those they are familiar with from pre-school. When childrenmoveintoyear1theystartKeyStage1andfollowtheNationalCurriculum.

Your child’s progressDifferent schools will have different ways of assessing your child’s progress. Some may keep a learning journey detailing what your child has been doing and what they have achieved, others might write a report at the endofeachtermoryear.You’llhavetheopportunity to discuss your child’s progress at open evenings during the course of the year.Contactyourchild’sschoolformoreinformation about how they assess your child’s progress.

Go to www.foundationyears.org.uk tofindoutmoreabouttheEarlyYearsFoundation Stage.

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The National CurriculumThis sets out what children should be taught at different ages. The years children spend in school are divided into key stages:• 5 to 7 years-KeyStage1• 7 to 11 years -KeyStage2• KeyStages3,4and5takeplacein

secondary schools and colleges.

The subjects they have to do in Key Stages 1 and 2 are:•English•Maths•Science•Designandtechnology•InformationandCommunicationTechnology(ICT)

•History•Geography•Artanddesign•Music•PhysicalEducation(PE).

ReligiousEducation(RE)hastobetaughtin schools but you can stop your children taking part in all or some of the lessons. Schools are advised to teach personal, socialandhealtheducation(PSHE)aswellas one modern foreign language, which is usually French.

Schools will be able to help by telling you how they teach reading, letter formation, spelling and maths and also how you can helpathome.Bylaw,theschoolhastoallow you to see the schemes of work and syllabuses that the teachers follow.

Go to www.education.gov.uk/curriculum for more information.

Go to www.literacytrust.org.uk to download information on how to help your child with reading at different ages.

Every school has its own way of giving parents information about children’s progress.Yourchild’steacherwillassesstheir learning informally to help plan for their future teaching needs. They may do this by listening to your child read or looking at their activities.

It’s sometimes possible to have a quick word with the teacher when you pick your child up at the end of school. The start of the day is a busy time so not the best time to talk to the teacher.

Manyschoolssendhomeareading/homerecord book in which you and the teacher can write comments.

Schools should hold regular meetings with parents and carers, usually once a term, to discuss children’s progress. These are often held in the evening to make it easier for people who work during the day.

Time for youFor parents without younger children this time could be an opportunity to work more hours, train to do something different or evenvolunteer.Youmayalreadyhaveplansand know what you are going to do once your child starts school. If you don’t you may want to think about the following:

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Finding a jobIt can be difficult to find a job that fits in with school hours, but with lots of out of school care available and the opportunity to pay with childcare vouchers, this may be somethingyouwanttothinkabout.Youmay also find that an employer would allow youtoworkflexiblehours.

Go to www.gov.uk/flexible-working/overview for more information on flexibleworkinghours.

Go to www.gov.uk/jobsearch and use the GOV.UKUniversalJobmatchtooltofinddetails of jobs in your local area.

Go to www.gov.uk/contact-jobcentre-plus or call 0345 604 3719 to find your local Job CentrePlusoffice.

Go to www.surreycc.gov.uk/workwithchildren to find out about careers in childcare.

Further educationYoumaydecidethatnowistherighttime to go back to education, or just learn something new.

Go to www.surreycc.gov.uk/ adultlearning and find out what’s available.Youcanalsosearchforyour local college on the Surrey Family Information Service directory at www.surreycc.gov.uk/directory

Go to www.learndirect.com or call 0800 101 901 for free and impartial advicefromLearnDirect.

Helping in schoolMost schools will welcome you to help:• inthelibrary• listeningtochildrenread• preparingartandcraftmaterial• cookingwithchildren• atschoolclubs• onschooltrips• talkingaboutyourjob,familycustoms,

festivals or culture.

If you want to help out on a regular basis you will have to have a Disclosure and BarringService(DBS)check.SomeschoolsinsistthatallvolunteershaveDBSclearance.The check is free for volunteers and is in place to protect the children.

Go to www.homeoffice.gov.uk/dbs and www.surreycc.gov.uk/safeguarding for more information.

VolunteeringVolunteeringcanbeagreatwaytouseyour skills to help others, and at the same time learn something new and meet new people. There are many local and national organisations that would welcome a few hours of your time.

CallSurreyCommunityActionon 01483 566072 or go to www.surreyca.org.uk for more information.

The laws that protect children are also in place for vulnerable adults. If the activity involves being with vulnerable adults you willhavetobeclearedwiththeDBS.

Go to www.surreycc.gov.uk/safeguardingadults to find out more.

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Email surrey.fis@surreycc.gov.uk Tel03002001004Web www.surreycc.gov.uk/fis

This booklet was accurate when it was updatedinMarch2014.Somelegislationand government policy may have since changed. To keep fully up to date visit www.gov.uk

www.surreycc.gov.uk

Making Surrey a better place

www.surreycc.gov.uk