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1.1 School readiness and why it matters

1.1.1 What is school readiness?

How would you rate your child’s ‘readiness’ for school in each of the following skill areas? 

Think about your child’s current abilities and select the number that best reflects your confidence in their readiness for starting school.

Please rate each skill on a scale from 1 (Not yet confident) to 5 (Very confident).

  • Following instructions and concentrating
  • Physical skills (e.g., holding a pen, balancing)
  • Self-care skills (e.g., toileting independently)
  • Social skills (e.g., sharing, taking turns)
  • Emotional skills (e.g., managing feelings)
  • Language skills (e.g., communicating needs)
  • Cognitive skills (e.g., problem-solving, focus)

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It’s completely normal to feel unsure about your child’s readiness for school – every child develops at their own pace, and school readiness is about much more than just academic skills. The fact that you’re reflecting on your child’s strengths and areas for growth is a wonderful first step. Throughout this course, you’ll learn practical strategies and everyday activities to help your child build confidence and develop key skills in these areas. By participating, you’re already helping set your child up for success!

1.1.2 Building skills

‘School readiness’ refers to a variety of areas your child will need to build skills to help with the process of starting school.

These areas are not limited to academic skills like literacy and numeracy, but also include skills like:

  • following instructions and concentration
  • physical skills such as being able to hold a pen and balance
  • self-care skills like being able to go to the toilet independently
  • social skills such as understanding how to share and take turns.

1.1.3 Why is it so important?

If children have school readiness skills and are prepared for when they start school, it can help them to keep up throughout all of their schooling years.

School readiness is especially important for children under 5 because the early years are a critical development window. During this time, children’s brains are rapidly growing, and they are forming foundation skills that will shape their ability to thrive in school and beyond. As a parent/caregiver, you play a key role in supporting your child through this journey.

 
To find out more about child development watch the video below.