Your child's journey to school starts at home.  

We understand that all children develop at their own pace, and that we’re all learning from birth. When it’s time to start school, some children will need more help than others.

There are key skills* that schools expect children to learn before their first day at school. Practising these will make your child’s journey to Reception as positive as possible.  

If your child is already at nursery, in pre-school, or with a childminder, those professionals will work with you and your child to help get them ready.  There’s also lots you can do at home to build your child’s confidence and independence, helping them feel emotionally and practically prepared to start school.

*We are calling this document the ‘Starting Reception’ definition. Some people/organisations refer to this as ‘school readiness’.

How can I help my child get ready?

• Your child will have lots of new activities and routines to get used to when they start school. There are some things they'll need to do more independently than they might have before.
• â??Research shows that a child's relationship with their parents is the most important factor in their development, and there's a lot you can do at home.
• â??When your child is at home with you or another caregiver, you can practice as a family with fun activities (we've included links at the end of this resource).
• Some of these skills take time to master, so it's good to introduce them gradually as part of your daily routine.

Who can I speak to for help?

All children need help from their trusted adults to feel confident and excited about starting Reception.

• Your childminder/nursery/pre-school team or your health visitor, children's centre or family hub can help if you need more information.
• We've also put together a list of organisations and resources further down to help you and your child get ready together.

Growing independence

Taking care of themselves

• Putting on/taking off their coat and shoes
• Using the toilet and washing their hands
• Getting dressed with little help, e.g. after using the toilet or doing PE
• Using a fork/spoon and drinking from an open cup
• Spending time away from you, learning they can be looked after by caring adults

Play, creativity and curiosity

• Engaging in imaginative play (e.g. role play)
• Drawing, painting, colouring and sticking
• Sharing story books with caregivers, looking at pictures and talking about the characters
• Exploring the world around them (e.g. looking closely at the natural world or playing safely with objects at home)

Building relationships and communicating

Being with others

• Practising sharing and taking turns with toys
• Talking to them about how they are feeling and why
• Looking at story books together and speaking about what characters are feeling is a good way to do this
• Beginning to recognise what others are feeling, e.g. understanding if a friend is sad
• Encouraging them to set boundaries for themselves and others (e.g. knowing how to say ‘no')

Communication and language

• Singing along with songs and nursery rhymes
• Talking happily to others about activities, experiences and the world around them
• Showing they need help by speaking clearly (in basic English or sign language)
• Recognising the pattern of their name (so they can find it on their coat peg or jacket)

Listening and engaging

• Paying attention for short periods of time
• Listening to and following simple instructions
• Carrying on with a task even when it's difficult and bouncing back if things go wrong

Physical development

Getting moving for at least three hours a day

• Walking up and down steps (one foot at a time, using the wall for support)
• Climbing, running, jumping and playing
• Catching a large ball (most of the time)
• Doing simple puzzles and craft activities, strengthening their grip with cutting and sticking

Healthy routines

• Going to bed around the same time each night, waking up in time to get ready for school
• Limiting screen time to the recommended daily amounts (see advice)
• Eating a healthy diet and trying new foods
• Brushing their teeth with fluoride toothpaste twice a day (you’ll need to supervise this until they are at least 7)