Starting school is an exciting time for young children and their parents. It can be a daunting time, too. But with a little preparation and encouragement, most children will settle in easily at school, ready to learn and discover.

Your child doesn’t need to be able to read, write or do sums before they start school. Children start school with a wide range of abilities and their teacher will be skilled at helping children progress at their own level.

What’s most important is that you and your child have fun together in those preschool months and years - sharing stories, singing songs, playing games and talking about anything and everything. 

Our resources and activities include tips and ideas to help you and your child be ready to start school with a smile. Below are free ideas you might like to try.

Emotional preparation

• Harry and the Dinosaurs Go to School - activity sheet - Ideas for sharing a story book about starting school
• Usborne First Experiences: Going to School - activity sheet - Further ideas about how to share this book with your child
• Effective information sharing during transitions - ideas for those involved with children's transitions, including the seven golden rules to remember. 

Physical preparation

• School ready - physical development - A guide to helping children with their developing physical skills as they approach the start of school
• Make a mark, make a start - Ideas for mark making, art, and early writing activities
• The numbers game - Help your child to prepare for learning maths at school with these simple games, rhymes and everyday activities
• Listen and learn - School involves a lot of listening – to their teacher and other adults – so practising good listening skills before your child starts school will help them get off to a great start
• Happy talk - Most early years teachers agree that, for a child starting school, being able to talk about what they think and explain how they feel are more important than any academic skills

Pacey 2022