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Starting school: tips for parents

Just as you will have established a working relationship with your child's previous carers, it will stand you in great stead if you take a little time and trouble to get off on the right foot with school staff

'Most teachers will do their utmost to make the transition from home to school enjoyable, and not as traumatic as some might imagine it to be,' says Annabel Chalmers, a primary school teacher from Hertfordshire. Similarly, you can ease the pressure on your child's teachers and carers by establishing great communication between yourself and the staff - and by going along with the everyday regulations of school life.

Focus on:

• Supporting your child with any homework or research he's asked to do
• Buying the correct items of uniform
• Ensuring your child's clothes and property are easily identifiable
• Adhering to school rules regarding hairstyles, jewellery and so on
• Settling any expenses (school trip money; school dinner payments) promptly
• Attending as many school events as possible
• Lending support when asked (manning a stall at the fete; helping in school with reading; contributing to Christmas fairs, cake sales and so on)

It can all seem a bit overwhelming at first, but most schools communicate clearly and efficiently with parents, so there's quite a lot of 'handholding' to guide you along!

Mums' wise words
'I scored extra brownie points for labelling my daughter's school shoes - something other mums hadn't thought of. They'd just expected that the shoes would all be different and easily identifiable, but it was amazing how many of us had bought the same style from the same shop!'
Eleanor Roberts, 32, from Cambridge, mum to four-year-old Sophie

'I asked in advance whether my son could swap between school dinners and packed lunches, just in case he didn't like school food. Lucky I did, because the school rule is that once the decision has been made, you have to stick with it for a half-term at a time. I plumped for packed lunches in the end, because I could provide things I knew Daniel would enjoy. Now he's seen the school dinners, he might give them a go next term.'
Margi Antoniou, 28, from Bourne End, Herts, mum to five-year-old Daniel

'I was really worried about getting to school in time for the 3.15pm pick-up, as I have to rely on trains from work, so I warned the school office staff on day one and assured them that I would have as many contingency arrangements in place as possible. Luckily I have only had to ask them to hang on to my little boy once in a school year, but I think they appreciated the efforts I had been to in order to avoid it happening.'
Angela Prescott, 31, from Derby, mum to four-year-old Liam

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