'Big School' is an observational documentary of the 30 four-year-old children in class FF starting at Bedgrove Infants School in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. Channel Five, which commissioned the series, said that it aims to provide pre-school children with an insight into what school will be like and the differences from nursery.
The 40-episode series starts on Sunday 2 September at 6.50am and will be shown daily on Channel Five's children's programme 'Milkshake'.
One of the stars of 'Big School' is Liz Fenner, Foundation Stage manager and teacher of class FF. 'I was quite interested when I first heard about the idea, although at that point I didn't know I was in line for the task!' she said.
'It is a very realistic portrayal. There were no hidden pretences or manipulation. It was very much a normal school routine.'
The cameras follow the children's milestones, such as one boy's first-ever packed lunch and a girl getting over her shyness at her after-school club.
Mrs Fenner pointed out that most of the children at the school had attended Bedgrove's nursery class and so were less fazed than they might be by the new experience. 'The four children who weren't in the nursery class before settled in very quickly, but if you have a whole class, that can be very daunting for them,' she said.
'That's why I think it was so worthwhile, because there has not been anything for children by children. And it's not an animated cartoon - it's real. Children like to see other children and here they see them doing the same things they do, like finding their pegs on the first day and making friends.'
