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Getting ready to start school in Reception class for children with additional needs
Published
The Early Years Service provides information and guidance for Parent Carers on preparing a child for the move to primary school.
All children develop at their own pace and when it is time to start school, some children will need more help than others.
If your child needs additional support to settle into Reception, make sure you share as much information as possible with their new teacher. They can work with you to find strategies to support your child.
Early Intervention
If you know or suspect your child has special educational needs (SEND), developmental differences or delays, some skills may not be achievable for them at this point.
Early intervention makes a big difference - ask your child’s nursery, school, health visitor, local children’s centre or Family Hubs for help. As well as the Family Hubs in Gloucestershire, the Virtual Family Hub can also support Parent Carers with more information on the 'Best Start in Life', including ‘Starting Reception’.
Why not visit your local children’s centre who will offer a range of groups to support your child to learn the skills to be ready to start school or will be able to signpost you to support groups within your local area.
What should I do if I have concerns about my child’s development?
- If you're worried about your child's progress, talk to your childminder, nursery, pre-school team, health visitor, local children's centre or Family Hub.
- If your child has developmental delays or SEND (suspected or confirmed), speak to their pre-school, nursery, childminder, or health visitor team well before they start Reception and discuss their needs when you are selecting schools.
- You can work with your child’s early years setting to help your child with self-care, managing emotions, social skills and communication in a way that suits their stage of development.
- ​You might want to share details about: their development, needs, what motivates them, what might trigger difficulties, how they learn best, and what strategies work well.
- Make sure you share important information with everyone supporting your child, including their new Reception teacher.
Resources for families with additional needs:
There are many Gloucestershire-based and national organisations who can support you with information and strategies to prepare you, your child and their educational setting, ensuring a smooth transition and setting them up for future success.
These include:
The Speech and Language Therapy Service
Dingley’s Promise Gloucester and Cheltenham
Specialist early years stay & play - Allsorts
Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP)
If your child has an EHCP, their case worker will support this phase transfer and you can read about the process on the EHCP page on Support for Families with SEND or in a recent Families in Partnership article - Transferring between Key Stages of education if your child has an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) | Gloucestershire County Council .
If you want to know more about starting Reception for children with additional needs, please visit Support for families with SEND website, Gloucestershire's Local Offer
Contact details for Early Years Service
Guide to the Inclusion Fund for Parent Carers