In this episode I am joined by Becky, a mum of 2 and a reception teacher.

We discuss tips and advice for parents who have a child starting Reception in September, and Becky answers some of your questions. This episode is jam packed full of advice and hopefully lots of reassurance for any parents who are apprehensive about the transition and the change that is coming.

We cover:

• What are the most helpful things that parents can be doing to prepare their child for the transition to reception.
• How parents can prepare for the change
• Uniform
• Things you can be doing to encourage skills that will be needed for reading and writing
• Play
• How a teacher would understand a non verbal child's way of communicating
• What else parents need to buy
• How to deal with the lack of information after getting so much from nursery
• What to do if your child is a fussy eater
• Friendships
• How we can help summer born children to settle in reception

The most important thing is to talk; to your child, and to their teacher/ the school staff.

Thank you to Reading Fairy Lancaster for sponsoring this episode.

Here is the playdough recipe that I use:

1 cup of water

1 cup of flour

1/2 cup of salt

2x tbsp oil

2x tbsp cream of tartar (or 1 sachet)

Mix all ingredients in a pan and heat on a medium heat. Keep stirring. You will feel the mixture start to thicken, keep stirring until it sticks together and becomes playdough. Remove from pan, let cool and knead. wrap in cling film or put in an airtight container to store.

(If it's sticky, you've usually either not kept it on the heat for long enough or not added enough salt.)