It seems nowadays that as soon as a child is out of nappies parents are starting to think about preparing for the big day ' starting school. With a multitude of choices available for pre-schoolers, the decisions start early, and once a child is approaching four, many parents feel under pressure as they struggle to assess the school options available. It can all seem extremely daunting and more so when the sheer volume of opinion, jargon, bureaucracy and choice is taken into account.GETTING READY TO START SCHOOL covers everything from choosing and applying for primary schools, to preparing your child in order to making their transition as smooth as possible, to what to expect once they get there, including the impact on parents, as they adapt to the politics of the school gate and to life fitting round the school days and terms.With input from childcare professionals, and experienced teachers, the book will include detail of what you can expect educationally and socially for your child, familiarising parents with theFoundation Stage, and how school has changed in the twenty, thirty or forty years since they were at school. It tells you how to prepare your child, including getting used to routines, what the school will expect your child to be able to do, making friends, what they'll need.It includes valuable advice on how to manage on the all-important first day, giving lots of suggestions from parents who have been there on how to ease the separation and making sure they'll be eager to go back the next day!GETTING READY TO START SCHOOL is the only book a parent will need when they come to plan their child's first step into education.