Getting your child ready for school | Getting your child ready for school

Children start reception at different ages, with different abilities – their teacher will help them progress at their own pace.

To help your child to be happy and confident when they start school, practice these things in the lead-up:

Practical skills

Teach your child how to:

dress themselves, including putting on/taking off their shoes and coat
use the toilet and wash their hands
hold a crayon or pencil and draw on paper
listen to and follow simple instructions.

Routines

Make sure your child:

goes to bed at a regular time and gets 10 to 13 hours of sleep
brushes their teeth twice a day
can feed themselves and drink from a cup
eats a healthy diet and tries new foods.

Playing and sharing with others

Help your child to:

play for 3 hours a day (it’s fun!) and learn to share their books and toys
understand and talk about important feelings – like feeling happy or sad
walk up and down stairs,
climb, run and jump.

Talking

Help your child find their voice by:

chatting with them lots and talking while you look at picture books
limiting screen use on mobiles and laptops
singing nursery rhymes with them
praying together
making sure they recognise their name written down and said aloud.

There are local places you can go and experts that can help you make sure your child is school ready - all for free:

Visit your local Family Hub
Or your nearest children’s centre
And your nearest library

If your child needs extra help

There’s lots of support available in school. If your child has a special education need or disability (SEND) they can get additional support to help them thrive, such as help from a Teaching Assistant or working in smaller groups. They do not need to be diagnosed with anything – any extra help is based on what they need. Find out more about SEN support in mainstream schools.

Support for families

For information on free, local activities and support for families, including things like free school meals/travel and where you can find help with uniform costs, check out Family Friend.