Reception to Year 1 Handover Toolkit by Hannah Cartwright

The summer term looms, the school reports arrive - and suddenly the move from Reception to Year 1 feels very real. Parents are asked for information, teachers are trying to get to know a new class, and somewhere in the middle is a four- or five-year-old who still seems very small.

Designed for busy families and classroom staff, this toolkit keeps the handover simple and focused. Clear, print-ready one-page profiles help you capture what really matters: how a child learns, what helps them settle, and which early reading skills are already in place. No long forms, no jargon - just the information a Year 1 teacher can actually use on day one.

Alongside the profiles sit thirty fully scripted 5-10 minute phonics and reading sessions you can do at home on the sofa or at the kitchen table. Each script tells you exactly what to say, which sounds to practise and how to respond if your child is stuck, distracted or racing ahead. The sessions build decoding, confidence and enjoyment without turning home time into another lesson.

With ideas for quick check-ins, sample emails and notes to school, guidance on sharing information safely, and adaptations for children with EAL, SEND or different developmental paths, the toolkit creates a joined-up picture between home and school. Parents gain a realistic way to support early reading; teachers receive clearer, more practical insights into each new child.

For Reception parents, Year 1 teachers and teaching assistants, this is a pick-up-and-use resource to smooth a big school leap in small, manageable steps.