--- title: "Starting Reception" url: "https://corpusprimaryleeds.org/parents/starting-reception" school: "Corpus Christi Catholic Primary School" --- # Starting Reception We understand that all children develop at their own pace, and that we’re all learning from birth. When it’s time to start school, some children will need more help than others. Below are some tips to support you and to help support your child and be ready to start Reception. Starting Reception 2.16 MB [Open for printing](https://files.schudio.com/corpus-christi-catholic-primary-school/files/documents/Starting-Reception.pdf) School Ready Langauge Skills 2.33 MB [Open for printing](https://files.schudio.com/corpus-christi-catholic-primary-school/files/documents/school-ready-language-skills.pdf) ### Useful Links Growing independence - [Check out Parentkind’s online advice hub and magazine for parents ‘Be School Ready’](https://www.parentkind.org.uk/for-parents/be-school-ready#heading547662) - [Enjoy Family Corner’s 5 tips to help your child get ready for Reception](https://www.familycorner.co.uk/5-tips-help-your-child-prepare-transition-reception) - [Guidance for parents and practitioners - PACEY](https://www.pacey.org.uk/starting-school/) - [Download the free EasyPeasy mobile app for tips and activities to support everyday parenting moments](https://easypeasyapp.com/for-parents-and-carers) Taking care of themselves - [How can you make separating easier? - Family Corner](https://www.familycorner.co.uk/how-do-i-make-separating-my-toddler-easier) - [Getting dressed and ready for the day - backward chaining information sheet - NHS](https://www.leicspart.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/416-dressing-skills-2.pdf) - [Getting ready for the Day - BBC](https://www.bbc.co.uk/tiny-happy-people/articles/zdxvy9q) Toilet training - [The Institute of Health Visiting has advice and tips on toilet training](https://ihv.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/PT-Toilet-training-FINAL-VERSION-17.04.23.pdf) - [Simple and supportive toilet training advice - ERIC](https://eric.org.uk/potty-training/) - [Potty training and bedwetting - NHS](https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/baby/babys-development/potty-training-and-bedwetting/how-to-potty-train/) - [Pants4School - Down Syndrome UK](https://downsyndromeuk.co.uk/parents/toilettraining/) Playing, creativity and curiosity - [5 steps for brain building through serve and return - Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNrnZag17Ek) - [How to follow a child’s interest in play - National Literacy Trust](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXImT5QNWpw) - [How to role play with your child - Pretend role play - BBC](https://www.bbc.co.uk/tiny-happy-people/articles/zvp88xs) - [How to role play with your child - Playing pretend animals - BBC](https://www.bbc.co.uk/tiny-happy-people/articles/z6jggwx) - [Fire up their imagination with drawing - BBC](https://www.bbc.co.uk/tiny-happy-people/articles/z4j8d6f) - [What is mark-making and why is it important for learning? - PACEY](https://www.pacey.org.uk/mark-making/) - [Sharing story books on World Book Day - BBC](https://www.bbc.co.uk/tiny-happy-people/world-book-day) - [Nature activities for children - BBC](https://www.bbc.co.uk/tiny-happy-people/articles/zj6nsk7) - [Learning and having fun on the bus - BBC](https://www.bbc.co.uk/tiny-happy-people/articles/zvcbgwx) - [Play a game of 'What's that sound?' - BBC](https://www.bbc.co.uk/tiny-happy-people/articles/znnqmfr) Building relationships and communicating - [The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood’s Shaping Us Framework outlines how these skills develop in early childhood](https://centreforearlychildhood.org/our-work/research/the-shaping-us-framework/) - [Top tips for enjoying stories together and book recommendations for starting school - BookTrust](https://www.booktrust.org.uk/how-we-help/parents-families/getting-ready-to-start-school/) Being with others - [Learn how to support your child to make friends - Family Corner](https://www.familycorner.co.uk/how-can-i-help-my-child-make-friends%20) - [Understand your child's social development - Words for Life](https://wordsforlife.org.uk/activities/milestones-4-year-olds/) - [Practice sharing with toys - BBC](https://www.bbc.co.uk/tiny-happy-people/articles/zxfbg7h) Communication and language - [You are your child’s first teacher – help them learn how to write their name - Words for Life](https://wordsforlife.org.uk/parent-support/when-should-my-child-be-able-to-write-their-name/) - [Explore a range of approaches to language learning and development from NHS Start for Life](https://www.nhs.uk/start-for-life/toddler/learning-to-talk/learning-to-talk-3-to-5-years/) - [Build your child’s imagination and language by making up stories together - BBC](https://www.bbc.co.uk/tiny-happy-people/articles/zbkc47h) Listening and engaging - [Follow the walk and talk trail with the National Literacy Trust](https://wordsforlife.org.uk/activities/talking-to-your-child-when-out-and-about/) - [Practice language and listening skills at home with these games - Playing with a cardboard telescope - BBC](https://www.bbc.co.uk/tiny-happy-people/articles/zb8nydm) - [Practice language and listening skills at home with these games - Red Light, Green Light - BBC](https://www.bbc.co.uk/tiny-happy-people/articles/zgvthcw) Physical development - [Getting moving for 3 hours a day - NHS](https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/physical-activity-guidelines-children-under-five-years/) - [What is core strength and why is it important for children? - Department for Education](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjxXBZeFcmg) - [Fun games to get them moving - BBC](https://www.bbc.co.uk/tiny-happy-people/articles/zf8v3j6) Healthy routines Understand what 'healthy' levels of screen time are, by age - [World Health Organization guidance](https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/24-04-2019-to-grow-up-healthy-children-need-to-sit-less-and-play-more) - [Health Professionals for Safer Screens poster](https://healthprofessionalsforsaferscreens.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/%C2%A90-5_poster_HPFSS.pdf) Get insights on internet safety, how screen use impacts young children and recommended screen time - [Help for early years providers: Internet safety](https://help-for-early-years-providers.education.gov.uk/health-and-wellbeing/internet-safety) And for those with younger children, the NCT covers advice for babies and toddlers too: - [Screen time for babies and toddlers - NCT](https://www.nct.org.uk/information/baby-toddler/caring-for-your-baby-or-toddler/screen-time-for-babies-and-toddlers-how-much) Help children build a strong relationship with food and make the right choices from the start - [Nutrition guidance - Department for Education](https://help-for-early-years-providers.education.gov.uk/health-and-wellbeing/nutrition) - [Healthier families - NHS](https://www.nhs.uk/healthier-families/) - [Five tips for helping your kids to eat healthily all year round - BBC](https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/z8h7dp3) - [Eating Well - First Steps Nutrition Trust](https://www.firststepsnutrition.org/eating-well-resources) - [Factsheet for healthy children's diets - Association of UK Dieticians](https://www.bda.uk.com/resource/healthy-eating-for-children.html) Brushing teeth - [Toothbrushing SOS with the singing dentist](https://www.bbc.co.uk/tiny-happy-people/articles/z6jbydm) Sleep guidance - [Sleep and young children - NHS](https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/baby/health/sleep-and-young-children/) - [Struggling to get children to sleep: How to establish a bedtime routine - BBC](https://www.bbc.co.uk/tiny-happy-people/articles/zyv6xbk) ### Parents - [E-Safety](https://corpusprimaryleeds.org/parents/e-safety) - [Virtual Office](https://corpusprimaryleeds.org/parents/virtual-office) - [School Calendar & Holidays](https://corpusprimaryleeds.org/parents/schoolcalendar) - [Applying for a Secondary School Place](https://corpusprimaryleeds.org/parents/applying-for-a-secondary-school-place) - [Supporting your child](https://corpusprimaryleeds.org/parents/supporting-your-child) - [Starting Reception](https://corpusprimaryleeds.org/parents/starting-reception) - [Uniform](https://corpusprimaryleeds.org/parents/uniform) - [![CEOP](https://files.schudio.com/corpus-christi-catholic-primary-school/images/partners/ceop-button(1).png)](https://www.ceop.police.uk/safety-centre/should-i-make-a-report-to-ceop-yp/) ##### Location Corpus Christi Catholic Primary School Halton Moor Avenue Leeds Yorkshire LS9 0HA ##### Contact Us 0113 2483095 ##### Stay Connected - [X](https://twitter.com/CCPrimaryLeeds) © Copyright 2019–2026 Corpus Christi Catholic Primary School School & Trust Websites by [ ![Schudio logo](https://corpusprimaryleeds.org/img/logo/light.png) ](https://www.schudio.com/)