Preparing for School
Helping Your Child Get Ready for School
Starting school is an exciting time and a big change for children and their families. You can help your child feel confident and ready for school by encouraging them to practise some simple everyday skills.
Before starting school, encourage your child to practise:
Getting Ready
- Packing and unpacking their school bag
- Putting on and taking off their jumper or jacket
- Using buttons and zips
Recognising their own belongings
Independence
- Packing away toys and games when finished
- Following simple instructions
- Having a go at tasks before asking an adult for help
Spending some time away from parents or carers
Name Recognition & Fine Motor Skills
- Recognising their name when they see it
- Practising writing their first name, using a capital letter at the beginning
- Drawing, colouring and using pencils or crayons
- Using scissors to cut along simple lines
Playing with playdough, blocks, pegs, puzzles and other hands-on activities to strengthen their hands
Listening & Social Skills
- Listening when an adult is speaking
- Following simple one- and two-step instructions
- Sitting and listening for a short time, such as during a story
- Taking turns when playing games or talking with others
- Waiting for a turn to speak or participate
Sharing toys and equipment with others
Toileting & Hygiene
- Using the toilet independently, including wiping, flushing and washing their hands
- Using toilets away from home so they feel comfortable in unfamiliar places
Blowing their nose and covering their mouth when they cough or sneeze
Eating & Lunchboxes
- Opening and closing their lunchbox and containers
- Eating a packed snack and lunch independently
- Packing away their food and rubbish when finished
- Opening common food packaging independently
Your child does not need to have mastered all of these skills before starting school. Having a go and becoming more independent is what matters most!
Students will receive a showbag at our final session on Meet the Teacher Day, containing some resources that can support you at home to practise some of these skills.