Moving from Reception to Year one transition help .

Working in an infant school is great , being their inspiration means the world to me, I say this because at the term received many gifts. It wasn't the wine or the chocolate that touched me but the cards, one in particular that had a sentiment from a parent. "............. comes home speaking of you fondly, thank you for making her Year 1 a magical time" I know that this child will make a happy transition into year 2 with absolutely no problems. For some children this however is not the case, so here are a few tips they make help the transition from reception to year one. pre Year one is know as EYFS ( Early Year foundation Stage) with a huge emphasis on play and free flow between the classes. There are structured activities within this but it is more relaxed.

So my top tips from moving from  Reception to year one are:

1. Remind them that when they moved from nursery to reception they had less play than when they did at nursery.


2. If they have siblings explain that will will leaning things to teach them and even yourself as parents. We all like to learn new things don't we?

3. Factor in treats and rewards to counteract the fact that there will be less playing, This doesn't have to cost you any money even a trip to the park can help.

4. If its of real concern have a word with the new class teacher before they start, sometimes they may have be split up from their friends. This is less likely to happen in year 1 but nether less it might, this is more of an issue in the transition from Infants to Juniors.


4. Don't forget they have just had  six weeks off, that is enough to confuse and disorientate the adults let alone the children.

5. Remind them that their Play times will be an opportunity to let off steam. I know that at my school time we have 'Golden Time ' where some sort of treat comes into play.


6. Routine is key try and keep to a routine during the holidays. They may go to bed later during the holidays, but week by week gradually bring this make to their usual bed time that they have when they are at school. Also always  make sure that they have had breakfast before they go to school, and not on the way to school. it is hard sometimes when you have a line line of children behind you making you look like ' The Old woman who lived in a shoe'

6. Encourage their development of characters they are keen to  be individuals , but need the safety nerd of the herd of the classroom!

7. Any child can find it hard to make the transition , I am not going to say its just boys that have these problems. It is the step up in concentrating that can also before an issue, So play games that help with with this situation again from snap - junior monopoly. Perhaps have a toy that will help them  go to school and be waiting for them when you pick them up.

8. Accept it is going to me a little tough for the first few weeks and don't forget the teacher/ teacher assistant is just as likely to be stressed ( despite it being their job)

9. Make them part of the process I can stress how important this is. Let them within reason choose their school shoes, bag etc. It really does make them feel grown up, though at the same time it has to be fun they are only children after all.

10.  Don't mourn them going into year one , I know its hard seeing them grow up. Try and focus on what joys and achievements this next stage will bring.

Also my school each class has its own bear which you can take on holiday or for the weekend . This teddy bear follows the class through their time at the Infant school, I think this is very sweet and another nice touch that makes the transition from school year to another school year that much easier.

Mr Stink a day at the Lowry a Dirt Devil review

I was lucky enough to be chosen by Dirt Devil to go and have a play with their new vacuum cleaners as well as go and See Mr Stink at the Lowey along with J. Boys and stink just go together now don't they!. Myself and J were happy to go anything to avoid the brain drain of the summer holidays... this was very handy for me as I have a very fluffy cat that well fluffs everywhere. It would to have to be a high quality hand held vacuum so Mr T didn't have to go to work looking like a fluffy Om pa Lumpa.  I wouldn't want that  now? (Mr T is quite short think Richard Hammond and you've got it!)

Getting to Manchester was easy enough and then there was the Metro link, well after asking the lady at the coffee shop( She sounded like a James Bond villain, The gentleman at the information desk who had no Information what so ever and finally the other railway gentleman who was scurrying to go on his break who finally did help us.

I have never been one for that feng shui stuff. You'd probably look at my house and think I've got six feral children running around . You'd probably think I run a zoo , I only actually own one child, a husband and two cats.( One of which did try and kill me). I admit I should spend less time on the computer, I am going to do that this summer,balance family life with blogging etc. My mantle piece did  look like a freaky stalking duck shrine sadly no picture you get the idea). Well it does no longer look like that after I sneaked those three cleaners in!.


So here we have the Dirt Devil blogging event .

The talk given by the informative gentleman from Dirt devil  about their company background,  also their new products with Mircoban.

So after  Mr T saying  I really can't hire another cleaner( Boo Mr T) I was jolly glad that Dirt Devil let me take home to keep (and to lovingly caress )  a handheld vacuum cleaner.

We are a firm believer in this household if you make the mess you clean it up. So I got Rollie to clean up all his cat fluff and I think he made a superb job of it , don't you?

The hand held Devil Devil DRC001 

• It is Wall mounted so you can keep it charged for optimum performance.

• It is Dirt Devil's most powerful handheld.

• The attachments that are included are the Motorised Intense Turbo Brush ( be sure to keep long hair tied up if you are using this attachment) Also a dusting attachment and crevice tool.

• The Motorised Intense Turbo Brush is particularly useful for picking up pet hair as Rollie the cat can vouch for.

• It is the only handheld vacuum in the UK that comes with Mircoban to help kill harmful bacteria in the dust canister and boasts an easy disposal system with a one-press canister removal.

• Coat £59.99 available at Argos, Tesco and all good retailers.

I think the only thing I would love to see added to this product is the crevice tool to have a dusting brush you can slide down (like on other vacuum products I have seen)

So far so good with hoovering up the cat fluff. The next mission was to hoover out the car where no man/woman or cat dares to go IE no one can be bothered to lug the heavy vacuum out to it. So this was the ideal candidate to battle the mud and dust left by the rugby,football and cricket season. Not to mention having to eat on the go because of these events. This is ideal for using in your car for keeping on top of your cleaning.

Mr Stink is based on the popular Children's book by David  Wallaims, the Little Britain Star) and is touring the UK during 2011.


Mr Stink is a wonderful heartfelt interactive fun show  ( through the scratch and sniff book you scratch at various points doing the show). Suitable for ages six and up , this show has enough  going on with it to hold an older child's interest. Full of life lessons, it would suitably fit into the class room within a teaching capacity for Junior school children. The show is engaging and beguiling full of pongy glory, the star turn came from Peter Edbrook  as 'Mr Stink ' .

There are going to be some fabulous Christmas shows coming to the Lowry such as The Snowman ( which I believe is part of a child's Christmas , it was for me ) also Scrooge. I had never been to the Lowry before this and after this exquisite show I shall be taking J and Mr T along to a show.


So go visit Dirt Devil they really are nice and have lots of tips ( sadly no fashion tips ) to match  you with the appropriate cleaning appliance for the job. 


It was an extremely well run bloggers event where you were listened too not only by the PR people but other fellow bloggers who I was honoured to meet.. The children were taken care off no request was too small.

Disclosure (Dirt Devil invited me to the event where I got to see products reviewed, see Mr Stink, have some sandwiches and a glass of wine  and oh heck I forgot to have the Fruit cake . Also I got to take home a handheld vacuum to test and review. I was also given £40 pounds towards travel costs.)

I just remembered I did have cake which I bought before the show and it was rather delicious too.


Please check out this Dirt Devil competition below if you are a blogger.

Tots100 Dirt Devil Competition

Zoe and Beans The Magic Hoop a book by Chloe and Mick Inkpen a review.

What a delightful book at first appearances from the Inkpens... My son lived Kipper books when he was younger. though at 12 he is a little bit old now. However I now keep a look out for wonderful and inspiring books especially for boys who are the hardest area to target. Again that involves 'doggy poo' has got be a winner for boys.... it won't put them off that the main character is a girl because in their eyes she will be well cool . ( typical six year boy speak, I assure you!)

You can't really see it on here but the title and pictures are glossy on the cover. This gives the look that the characters are ready to jump off the page. This is indeed what the story does for you and the children and you become enthralled with the words.  The size of the words brings the story alive as does the way the typeface is set . The words are engagely illustrative they portray the characters bringing them off the page, it is very very indicative of their book characters on the pages indeed.

The book tells of a little girls adventures after finding a hoop it isn't an ordinary hoop as you will see. Zoe's dog called 'Beans' is a  bit lazy but it will do any thing for a 'choccy teddy', like jumping through the hoop which turns out to be magical. That's where Zoe's adventures start Beans when he jumps through the hoop he transforms into Beans the rabbit, then Beans the mouse( I know I can hear you yawning already check the book out to see why ) Beans the snappy crocodile.....

The best as they say is yet to come in the form of 'Beans' the elephant , there is no way that an elephant is going to fit though a small hoop is there?... Well to see the end of the story you  will just have to either buy it or check it out your local library. My local library has a wonderful reading scheme this summer which centres round a circus theme .So this book is an ideal candidate to begin your life long love of books.

I am sure when I read this to a class of children they will be a fit of giggles. Lovely and endearing please check out and the other books in this series.