top of page
Search

The Road to Reception: 10 Ways To Prepare Your Child to be School Ready

  • Writer: Toddlers Inn
    Toddlers Inn
  • 6 days ago
  • 3 min read

At Toddlers Inn, we believe preparation is the key to a happy start. Here’s how we recommend getting your child ready for their next big adventure in the classroom:


  1. Self-Service Dressing 👟

Can they put their shoes on the right feet? Try to opt for Velcro shoes initially and spend time practising "arms in" for coats so they feel like a pro in the school cloakroom.


  1. Bathroom Independence 🧼

Being "dry" and able to wipe themselves is a core part of school readiness. Make sure they understand the importance of flushing and using plenty of soap to keep those germs at bay!


  1. Dining Skills 🍎

Whether they’re having school dinners or a packed lunch, practise using cutlery or opening snack packets. It builds their autonomy and ensures they spend their lunchtime eating rather than waiting for help.


  1. Social Superpowers 🦸‍♂️

Sharing is caring! At school, they’ll need to wait their turn for the slide or a favourite book. Encouraging collaborative play now helps them make friends quickly when September rolls around.

  1. The Power of Focus 🧘

Practise sitting still for short periods, perhaps during a story or a drawing activity. Increasing "focus stamina" helps them engage with the more structured parts of the school day.


  1. Spotting Their Belongings 🧥

In a sea of identical jumpers, your child needs to know which one is theirs! Help them recognise the shape of their name so they can find their bag and coat with ease.


  1. Getting Creative with Hands 🎨

Building strength in fingers through colouring, Lego, or even helping with the gardening makes the transition to writing much smoother. It’s all about those "finger gym" movements!

  1. Effective Communication 🗣️

Being able to say "I’m finished" or "I don’t understand" is a huge asset. We encourage our children to use their voices to share their thoughts and ask for what they need.


  1. Resilience & Goodbyes 👋

It’s okay to be nervous! We work on building resilience so that children can bounce back from small setbacks and feel secure when saying goodbye to parents at the start of the day.


  1. Number & Letter Awareness 🔢

You don’t need to drill phonics, but pointing out numbers on front doors or letters on cereal boxes makes the world of literacy and numeracy feel familiar and fun.


How we support our children:

At Toddlers Inn, we try and prepare all our children for success at school by doing everything we can to foster a "passion for discovery." Led by an Early Years Teacher and Outdoor Learning Manager, our school readiness sessions use Numicon boards to build foundational math skills like subitising. We broaden their horizons with our enhanced provision clubs and build coordination in our Woodwork Club. Whether they are exploring the beach during our Minibus Adventures or harvesting vegetables from our polytunnel, our children leave us as independent individuals ready for the "big school" world.


About Us:

We know that choosing a nursery is a big decision and here at Toddlers Inn, after years of experience, we think we understand what is important to both parents and children. We realise the demands and pressures parents have in their lives and we therefore offer many different, flexible sessions to suit every parent's needs. Whether you are applying for a funded or self-funding place, or have vouchers from work, we will always endeavour to find what works best for you. Visit our website at www.toddlersinnnursery.co.uk



 
 
bottom of page