School Gate: What you need to know before your child starts Reception

Every September, hundreds of thousands of four and five-year-olds leave the security of home to face the excitement, uncertainty and challenge of Big School. After the cosiness of nursery and playgroup, the move to primary school is a huge step, faced with as much trepidation by parents as by their children: both generations must learn to navigate new surroundings, strange faces and mysterious rules. Last month, The Times Magazine was on hand to witness this momentous rite of passage as it unfolded around the country – a day of hopes, fears, wobbly lips and clean shoes.

Isabella Cousans, 4, Brooklands Primary School, Cheshire
Parents: Lesley Harrison, works in a bank, and Paul Cousans, photographer

Despite returning to the school she attended for nursery, and setting off full of excitement, things didn’t turn out as Isabella and her parents had hoped. “She was looking forward to it, so there were no problems going,” says Paul. “She was proud of her uniform and had her name stitched into her tie, which she loved.”

But when it transpired that Isabella would not be in a class with all her friends, her parents became anxious. “I was with another mum whose child was in this different class,” recalls Lesley. “We wanted to walk them into the classroom, because they had to walk in through a different playground to their friends, but we were stopped by the teaching assistant. So this other mother started to cry and that set me off.” By the end of the day, Isabella was also upset. “She was in tears when we picked her up,” says Paul, “because she wanted to be with her friends, although I think that is more about the excitement. She’ll be fine tomorrow.”

Sure enough, all Isabella remembers is that she had the prettiest shoes in her class. “I have beautiful shoes with bows on them and they are black and shiny,” she says. Luckily her mum spent a small fortune on them. “They are meant to wear plain black shoes, but they were all so boring, so as a treat I went to Selfridges and bought her a pair of really flashy ones.”

Wants to be strong when she grows up.

Wahida Ratiman, 4, Hermitage School, Wapping, London
Parents: Yasmin Ratiman, stay-at-home mum, and Shahidur Ratiman, chef

As the youngest of four girls to start at the Hermitage School, Wahida’s first day there was something Yasmin and her husband Shahidur were prepared for. “I used to work at the Hermitage part-time,” says Yasmin, sounding completely relaxed. “All of my daughters have gone to the school, and it is only about six minutes’ walk away. Wahida also knew she was starting school today and was fine as she has been to the toy library there, so it is familiar to her.”

Although her older sisters have moved up to the local secondary school, Wahida’s first school day held few worries or surprises for her, although with her dad being a chef, she did face one disappointment: “The only thing she said when she got home was that she couldn’t finish her lunch,” says Yasmin.

Wants to be a teacher when she grows up.

Megan Linton, 4, St Bridget’s Roman Catholic School, Glasgow
Parents: Claire Linton, travel agent, and David Linton, HR manager

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