What being ‘school ready’ means

‘School readiness’ is a term used to describe how ready children are to start school in reception class.

We have created a Lancashire definition of school readiness so that childcare providers, schools and parents can all work to an agreed and shared understanding of what this term means for their children.

It has ambitious and high expectations for all children and will support parents with helping their child to get ready for school.

Parents should read this definition alongside the guide helping my child get ready for starting school.

Childcare providers and schools should use this definition alongside the other supporting tools for professionals.

The definition is based on the three prime areas of learning and development within the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). You can read about the EYFS on GOV.UK.

Lancashire school readiness definition

A locally agreed understanding of what being ‘school ready’ means.

Personal, social and emotional development

Children should be able to:

• leave their carer and come into school (there is a need to have a gentle and adaptable way to help children who feel anxious when they are separated from their parents)
• have the confidence to talk to their peers and form new friendships (consider a settling-in period and getting to know each other first), for instance time needs to be spent helping children remember their reception teacher/ teaching assistant's name and those of their new class peers
• usually wait their turn when someone else is speaking
• let others know how they feel (picture cues maybe needed)
• play co-operatively with other children, taking turns and sharing most of the time
• use the toilet on their own (be clean and dry, understand the importance of flushing the toilet and washing their hands) - childcare providers should put in place strategies to support children with anxiety related to toileting and bladder or bowel conditions
• use a tissue to wipe their nose, they may need prompting by an adult to do this
• access drinking water on their own (find their water bottle or drink from a cup provided)
• be self-motivated to complete a task (they may need a little encouragement at times)
• look after and tidy away setting/ school resources (they may need prompting to tidy away)
• recognise their own belongings especially their coat, water bottle and lunchbox
• be independent when playing and learning in the classroom environment, for instance being able to select from a range of resources in the play stations and put them away when they have finished with them

Early English - Communication and language and literacy

Children should be able to:

• sit comfortably and listen attentively for a short period of time
• use sentences that are typically 4 or more words long
• join in with songs, rhymes and repeated refrains in stories that are familiar to them
• talk about a story they have had read to them and be curious about new content, for instance words or images
• understand a simple question or verbal instruction
• join in a short conversation when in a small group
• recognise their name or the initial letter of their name
• choose, hold and turn the pages of a picture book, knowing that pictures and text hold meaning

Physical development

Children should be able to:

• move in a range of ways, for instance walk, run, jump, lift large building play blocks
• use hand tools with some dexterity, moving towards a pincer / tripod grip when drawing or writing
• put on/take off and hang up their coat
• be independent eaters at lunchtimes and snack times (support may be needed sometimes for peeling and opening food)
• show which hand they like to use more

Advice and support

To support your child to be ready for starting school, have a look at these hints, tips and help.

The guide helping my child get ready for starting school has some more tips, books and websites to help. It is designed to support you with ideas, reduce any anxieties and feel confident that you have shared all the information that you wanted, to help the school begin to get to know the individual needs of your child.