Get ready for school

A campaign has been launched to help parents and carers prepare children for reception class, when starting school.   

According to a pilot survey in Torfaen, around a quarter of three to four-year-olds may not be ready with skills that will support them to start reception class.

This can include personal skills like putting on shoes and coats and using the toilet independently, alongside the ability to play and communicate with others, and fine motor skills like drawing and playing with playdough.

In Wales, play is recognised as fundamental to children’s development. The Curriculum for Wales places children’s well-being, development and rights at the heart of early childhood practice.

The council’s Early Years team is working with private childcare settings and school nurseries to assess the impact of so-called school readiness to better children's education.

A new 'Get ready for school' resource on how to prepare children for the start of primary school has also been created on the Torfaen Family Information Service website. 

The web pages also contain helpful information for parents of children who are moving to secondary school, and for those already there.

Charlotte Dickens, Early Years Manager, said: “The first few years of a child’s life has a significant impact on how well children do at school.

“We know not all children develop at the same rate, some children will require some additional support.

"The best way to get your child ready for Reception is through play: talking, exploring, imagining, and joining in everyday activities helps them build the skills they need for school. Good habits like regular bedtimes, limited screen time and good attendance in Nursery Education helps all children to be ready to learn.

“If you are concerned about your child’s development, speak to your child’s nursery or health visitor. There are also lots of community-based parental and early years support, or you can pop along to one of our Early Years drop-in activities."

Lisa Jones, Manager at Osbourne Lodge Nursery, who took part in the pilot, said: “That first week in school is so important, and helping children feel ready makes a huge difference. Personal and social skills like being toilet trained, putting on their own shoes and coats, and eating and drinking independently all help children settle confidently.

“Taking part in the pilot has shown us just how valuable early preparation can be, and it’s great that parents now have a new resource to support these skills at home.”

For information about the ‘Get ready for school’ campaign, visit the Torfaen Family Information Service website: Get ready for school | Torfaen FIS