Starting school is a significant milestone for both children and their families. It is a time full of excitement, new experiences, and opportunities for plenty of learning.
It is important to remember that children develop at their own pace and they will need some help to meet their developmental milestones and to help them prepare for this exciting new chapter in their lives linked to going to school.
There are some things you can help your child with to ensure that they are ready to start school. This is so that they can cope with the demands of learning this is what we call being ‘school ready’.
You might hear your Health Visitor talk about your child being “Ready to Start School.” This doesn’t mean your child needs to read or write before starting school. Instead, it means helping them feel confident, independent with key skills, and ready to learn in a new environment.
Helping your child develop these skills by ages 3 to 4 will ease their transition to school and boost their confidence. There’s no single “perfect” way to be school ready, but you can support your child by introducing, demonstrating, and practicing these activities together. Encourage regular practice, especially in the year before school starts, and celebrate every small achievement along the way.
School readiness involves a set of skills that help children succeed and thrive at school, including:
Self-care: Managing age-appropriate tasks independently without needing constant help
Communication: Expressing needs, listening, speaking, and interacting with others
Social interaction: Playing, sharing, taking turns, and getting along with children and adults
Physical coordination: Running, playing, sitting, holding a pencil, drawing, using scissors, and feeding themselves
Following instructions and routines: Listening, participating in classroom activities, and understanding daily school routines
Toileting Independence
https://eric.org.uk/potty-training/toilets-and-school-readiness/
Practical Independence Skills
https://www.nelft.nhs.uk/waltham-forest-childrens-occupational-therapy-self-care/
https://startingreception.co.uk/#the-basic-skills-to-practice
Emotional & Learning Readiness
https://startingreception.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Starting-Reception.pdf
Health and Immunisation
https://healthforunder5s.co.uk/
https://www.nhs.uk/vaccinations/nhs-vaccinations-and-when-to-have-them/
Here are some resources you will find information and advice, as well as useful links, for many of the topics raised in the checklist, e.g. nutrition and diet, feeding, toileting, anxiety, behavior, local parenting support, child carers, local dentists, local GPs.
If you would like to speak to someone about any of the issues mentioned above, our service is here to support you.
You can contact us through the 0–19 Single Point of Access, available Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holidays), between 9am and 5pm.
Email: [javascript protected email address]
Telephone: 0300 033 6200
