Support in the first term

1. Make sure your child is organised before you take her to school for the first time: help her practise putting her uniform on and off - including school shoes - especially if she usually relies on you to help her to dress; show her how to open and close her lunchbox, bookbag and PE bag; remind her of her teacher's name.
2. If she had a place in the school's nursery, find out in advance which other children will be in her new class, and try to build up one or two friendships.
3. Practise what she could say in different classroom situations, including if she feels unwell: you play the role of her teacher and get her to suggest responses to your questions, then fine-tune them so that she is making herself understood.
4. As the term goes on, continue to support your child by checking her bookbag daily for school communications and homework. Remember, she's still very young and may forget what's in there!
5. Allow your child to regress: going to 'big school' is a huge responsibility - especially as some children are only four when they start. At home, she may very well either start having 'toddler' tantrums again or want to be babied. This is very normal, so just allow it to happen and respond sympathetically. If you tell her to grow up or say 'you're a big girl now', she'll be under unnecessary extra pressure. This phase will pass as she gets into her stride.

Mums' wise words
'If show-and-share sessions are part of your child's routine, find out which day they're held on and keep reminding her about them. Anna was reluctant to take part at first, but then we went to a safari park and she couldn't wait to show off her collection of zoo animals!'
Aimee Grimshaw, 33, from Bolton, and mum to Anna, four

'I took Sam on the journey to school a few times in the run-up to starting. It seemed to help that the route felt familiar on his first day.'
Gina Wallace, 29, from St Austell, and mum to Sam, five

'Organise a few school-day-length swaps with friends so your child gets an idea of how long she'll be away from you.'
Jenna Patel, 31, from south London, and mum to Raj, four

'Brief your friends, family and older kids to drop anecdotes about starting school into conversation. My best friend happened to say: 'I was really worried on my first day at school, but once I got there it was really good fun', which Saskia found very reassuring.'
Elise Durrant, 28, from Amersham, and mum to Saskia, five