By Cheryl Lambert, Operations Manager, The Montessori People Nursery
The prospect of moving on from nursery to primary school can be a daunting one, not just for the children involved, but for parents and siblings too. Strong bonds have been formed and friendships made. Nurseries have a vital role to play to ensure the young people in our care are ‘school ready’ and experience a smooth, calm and happy transition from their early years education onto ‘big school’.
How do nurseries prepare children for primary school?
‘School readiness’ skills are taught all day, every day at The Montessori People. These are the basic skills that all your children will master by the end of their early years education. However, every April – when dozens of our pre-school families with four-year-olds learn which primary school their children are moving onto – our early years’ experts ramp up their efforts to prepare your young people for the next step in their educational journey: primary school.
10 ways nurseries can help ensure a smooth transition to primary school
Below are some of the approaches we take to ensure your child’s transition to primary school is a positive experience for the whole family:
- Partnership approach: Your child’s key person and setting manager work closely together to share the information and resources needed to fully support your child’s transition to school. Staff call each primary school to discuss every child and share important details such as if they are shy or gifted and talented. Children who need additional support are identified and transition support is tailored to their needs.
- Familiarisation materials: Our local primary schools gift school uniforms to us.The children are encouraged to try these on in pre-school and role play ‘being at school’ using books, white boards, trays and other items they will use when they move on. Our Montessori curriculum focuses on ‘readiness for school’ and is an integral part of the children’s time with us. We also have photographs of the schools for the children to look through which can help to reduce anxiety as they have a clearer idea what to expect on day one.
- Personalised summary: A ‘Moving Forward’ document is prepared for each pre-school child and shared with the child’s chosen primary school. It helps to inform the new school of each child’s academic progress, any important transition issues such as how they prefer to learn, and takes into account both the parent and child and any questions they have.
- Getting to know you visits: We invite reception teachers into nursery so they can meet the children moving onto them and observe the environment and practises within the nursery.
- Social skills: Many of the activities, routines and skills your child learns during their time with us help to prepare them for school and ease their transition. Their attendance at nursery naturally extends your child’s social development by forming key attachments outside the family unit, so that when the time comes to move on, children feel prepared.
- Confidence and independence: Developing independence and self-management is key to the Montessori ethos. By ‘having a go’ rather than being told how to do something, your child naturally develops resilience which in turn fosters self-confidence. This firm foundation will prepare them for new experiences at school and in the wider world.
- Practical skills: At mealtimes, children know to wash their hands and learn to use jugs, cutlery, wear napkins, drink from open top cups, wash plates and cups and scrape plates as part of the Montessori way of teaching. As soon as they can drink from open topped cups, we introduce them to the drinking station which they can use independently. Accidents inevitably happen, so we show the children how to mop up their own spillages and explain that this is important to avoid others slipping and having accidents. Children are encouraged to sit on chairs correctly, tuck them in when finished and use table manners. Our pre-school children practise using and walking with lunch trays as they will be expected to do this at primary school.
- Parental support: We work with you – our parents – to plan and prepare your child for school. Effective two-way communication is the key to ironing out any issues and pre-school nerves. If we’re clear what you are doing at home to prepare your child for school and vice-versa, we can move forward together and ensure the transition is as smooth as possible.
- Montessori materials: We extend circle time to encourage children to sit still for longer periods of time, engage in lengthier conversations and follow more complex instructions. The use of Montessori materials encourages the children to engage in activities designed to improve concentration, independence and focus.
- Graduation ceremony: Graduation is an important milestone that marks the transition to primary education. The graduation ceremony itself helps your child to understand that this is a moment of change – but also that they are prepared for what comes next.
We’re here to help
By working together with you, your children and our local primary schools, we ensure that the transition to primary education is an enjoyable and rewarding experience for all. If you have any questions or would like to know more about how we are working with your child, please call me on 01642 308611 or email cheryl.lambert@themontessoripeople.co.uk