During the Summer Holiday
–    Ideally your child will have had a taster day at the school, met their teacher and explored their classroom.  If you have been given any literature, information, instructions from school, make sure that you have read it all and check that there were no outstanding jobs to be done or equipment to be brought in to school.
–    If you can, invite a current pupil and their parents to your house.  This will give your child a friendly face to look out for on their first day and give you the opportunity to ask questions
–  Practise the journey to school – preferably at drop-off and pick-up times so that you are confident about your transport arrangements before Day 1.  If you are getting in a panic because you are late or do not know where to park, your anxieties will be picked up by your child
–    Make sure that your child has tried on all of their uniform and everything is labelled with their name
Before school starts
–    Start your family routine for the morning:
–    getting up at the same time,
–    having breakfast,
–    getting dressed etc
It is important that this is not a shock to you or your child on Day 1!
–    Try not to fly back from holiday the day before term starts.  Jetlag will not help your child (or you) have the energy to deal with the excitement of their first few days at school
–    Revisit any photographs on the school’s website/in the school’s prospectus to remind your child about the staff/classrooms
The first day of school
–    Get everything ready the night before
–    Accept that you will be feeling nervous
–    Accept that your child may or may not be feeling nervous but you can make them feel worse or better depending on your behaviour
–    Try to stay calm, positive and reassuring
–    Leave home in good time so that you are not rushing to get to school
–    When it’s time to leave them, say goodbye and go. Don’t linger as this will give the message that you are anxious and your child will pick this up. Children nearly always settle down quickly once you have gone, and the teachers are very used to calming children in these early days
–    Make sure the school and your child know who is collecting them
–    If you are not going straight to work, then create a busy day for yourself so that you do not spend the time worrying about your childAt the end of the first day
–    Be positive and reassuring
–    Don’t ask too many questions: talk about your day too
–    Read their mood- they may want to talk non-stop or not at all
Finally – this may be the first day at school for you and your child but the staff in charge of your child will be highly professional and experienced in making these early days as smooth as possible.  If in doubt, ask the school for advice – they will be more than happy to give it.Mrs Jo Wallace, Head of Putney High Junior School, www.putneyhigh.gdst.net

Do you remember your first day at school or has your little one had a very unique first day at school? Let us know your stories.