Ready or not, here they come!
Liane Heard, Deputy Director of Standards and School Improvement, The Chelmsford Learning Partnership
A new report indicates that there is a misunderstanding between parents and schools about what it means for children to be ‘school ready’. School readiness is not a new topic though. Last year, the Prime Minister stated his ambition for 75 per cent of UK children starting school in 2028 to reach a ‘good level of development’ beforehand.
Most schools would prefer parents to focus on building their child’s social and emotional readiness so that teachers can prioritise academic skills from the very start. At Chelmsford Learning Partnership (CLP), we understand that not every child will have reached the same stage of development, especially if they have additional needs, by the time they start school. If you are looking for more ways to nurture your child’s social and emotional skills to ease their transition to school, here are five ways you can support your child at home.
Establish a routine
By creating a routine around meal times, activities, and bedtime, you will help your child to develop positive habits that will prepare them for the routine of the school day. Using a visual schedule or a chart can be helpful; if you get your child involved in making these, it can help them better understand their new routine and feel enthusiastic about it.
Encourage socialising and playtime
Play dates and group activities are perfect opportunities to help children grow in confidence and learn how to take turns, share and build friendships with new people. Whether this is dedicated playtime with siblings or attending a playgroup or classes, finding a group activity that you and your child enjoy will mean you have fun while ensuring they are ready to start Reception.
Encourage using utensils
Building your child’s familiarity and dexterity with a knife and fork can help them thrive at school during mealtimes. The NHS recommends allowing plenty of time to practice using them, offering lots of praise and encouragement, and turning using a knife and fork into a fun activity outside of meal time. Playing tea party games or singing songs about eating and mealtimes can be enjoyable ways to learn to use utensils and build your child’s confidence.
Learn about emotions and feelings
Helping your child to learn about emotions and feelings can help to prepare them to start school. Throughout the day, help your child to learn to acknowledge their emotions by using their names and describing them. You can also make up fun songs or poems about emotions and their names or even act out emotions and ask your child to name the one you are expressing.
Dedicate time to reading
Reading to your child can help model positive habits, while having them read to you builds their confidence and improves their tone, pace and fluency. Choosing books with diverse and inclusive characters will help your child to feel excited by books and reading, which is hugely helpful when they start school.
Reading can also help children to identify their emotions by providing opportunities to talk about feelings, friendships and daily life. Some books you might want to consider are The Colour Monster – in which colours represent different emotions – and The Bear Behind, which focuses on being nervous about starting school and navigating new situations. If you are struggling to access a wide range of material, libraries and charity shops are a good way to source books to ensure you and your child can enjoy reading together.
By supporting your child’s development at home, you will help to equip them with the social, emotional and practical skills they need to be ready to start their learning journey at school.
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