Starting school? Help your child with 'school readiness' for Reception

Starting Reception is a big milestone for children and families alike. But what does 'school readiness' mean”? It’s not about knowing the alphabet or being able to read or write — it’s about helping your child feel confident, independent, and curious as they begin their school journey.

Our preschool practitioners are working with your children here to help them get ready for school but there are some ways you can help at home to support your child and get them ready for reception:

Independence Skills

• Being able to dress and undress themselves helps children multiple times throughout the school day. They'll need to be able to put their jacket on for playtime, get changed PE or change their shoes if needing wellies for wet play, for example.

• Being able to use the toilet independently - understanding when they need to go, being able to take themselves, wipe themselves and dress themselves

  
  

What you can do to help:

• Encourage them to practice dressing by giving them time in the mornings to try themselves, before helping. Have a special focus on smaller items such as socks or using zips/buttons.

• Practice the toilet routine together, making sure to reiterate the importance of hand washing after wards

  
  

Communication & Social Skills

• Encourage and support your child in expressing their needs clearly. Letting their teacher know if they are feeling unwell or are thirsty will help them throughout their day.

• Help them learn to take turns, share, and listen to others — all great skills for learning but also for making friends.

• Listening to and following simple instructions such as 'hang your bag up' 'line up by the door'.

What you can do to help:

• Play games at home where they copy your actions

• Start to give instructions throughout your day such as 'can you pop your shoes away when we get home'

• Encourage your child to express their needs throughout the day by asking questions such as 'are you feeling thirsty' 'are you starting to feel tired'

  
  

Play & Curiosity

• Open-ended play is vital! Through play, children build confidence, imagination, and problem-solving skills.

• Exploring the world around them - looking closely at the natural world, noticing numbers, patterns and shapes

  
  

What you can do to help:

• Reading together, drawing, singing songs and exploring nature all count as school readiness!

• Ask them questions as they play such as 'what do you notice' 'what's going to happen next'

Early Learning Confidence

• Recognising their name so they can find it on their coat peg or clothes

• Being able to pay attention for short periods of time

What you can do to help:

• Focus instead on fostering curiosity and a love of learning - activities like counting stairs, spotting letters on signs, or helping bake can all build early skills in a fun, low-pressure way.

• Encourage short focussed activities such as puzzles, drawing or reading, to build their focus and attention span.

Every child develops differently

Remember: every child develops at their own pace, and “school readiness” looks different for each one. What matters most is helping your child feel safe, happy, and excited about this new chapter.

If you want to find out more about school readiness visit: startingreception.co.uk where you'll find more hints and tips to help support your child with this transition.