What to do a few months before your prep child begins their first day of school.

Make sure you familiarise yourself with your childs school:

Attend any information nights. If you have missed them then call up the Principal to sit with you and go through what was covered. When are the transition to school sessions scheduled to start?

The primary school will look completely different in terms of lay out and organisation of the pre school so make sure you familiarise yourself with this.

Where are the classrooms and how are they organised? Where are the toilets, drinking taps, out of school hours care rooms and play equipment?

The schools time tables. What time does school start and finish? When and how long are the play times?

How does this routine differ to your child’s previous routine at home or in their early childhood setting?

Prep teachers will want you to bring certain things on the school day so make sure you find out what children are expected to bring to school each day.

Each school communicates differently with families, particularly in prep so find out how communication between the school and home will happen.

The before and after school care arrangements for working familiesSchool boards and committees gives you the opportunity to become involved in your child’s school so you need to know how you can get involved in the school community and meet other families starting at the school