So, you've got your child's school place. Now what?
- The Know & Play Space
- Apr 20
- 3 min read
The system updates.
The email comes through.
Your child has their school place.
And suddenly... it all feels very real.
You might feel excited, proud, emotional, or perhapes totally unsure and overwhelmed. It may even be a mixture of all of those.
Alongside the feelings, often comes the question: “What do I need to do now?”
That's where I am here to help. As a primary teacher who's been there, welcoming children in on that first day. Who's spent those first few weeks with them whilst they settle. Who is now at the same point with her own child, who's due to begin in September too.
First, pause
Before jumping into 'preparing', it's important to remember that, although September will come round quickly, we still don't need to rush. And we definitiely can't do everything at once.
There is time.
And more importantly… preparation doesn’t need to look like pressure, on you or your child.
What matters most right now?
It’s easy to think this is the time to start practising writing, learning letters and doing other more 'school-like' activities.
We need our child to feel secure, confident and capable, in order to thrive in school.
The truth is, school readiness isn't to do with early academics. And actually, doing too much too early, especially if they aren't the right things, can actually be detrimental to your child's capabilities and confidence in the classroom.
Shift the focus
Instead of asking yourself, “What does my child need to know before they start school?”, start asking “What will help my child cope and thrive in a school environment?”
Over the coming months, there are some themes that you can gently focus on at home - through play, everyday life and your conversations and interactions. All of these will support your child's abilty to confidently manage in their new environment, with new people and new expectations.
Independence
Small, everyday things matter most:
putting on their coat and shoes
managing to use the toilet & wash their hands themselves
opening their lunchbox
tidying away once they've finished with something
Communication
Support your child to:
express their needs
ask for help
understand simple instructions
Emotional Development
Your child doesn’t need to stop showing their emotions, or always be calm and still.
They do, however, need to begin to:
recognise their own feelings
accept support to regulate and begin to self-regulate
know how to manage their emotions appropriately
Learning Behaviours
Through play and daily life, children need to be able to:
have a go at something, even if it's new
stay with an activity - building their own focus and depth
try again when things feel tricky - working on resilience and perserverence
Some ways that 'preparation' might look at home
Preparation doesn’t need to look like formal learning.
Things like:
giving your child time to dress themselves
involving them in daily routines
chatting back and forth during play
allowing space for problem solving
building predictable rhythms to the day
are all so simple, but so powerful.
Where do I even start?
You aren't alone to be thinking this question. And it often comes alongside “Am I doing enough?" or “Should I be doing more?”
When things feel important, it can quickly feel overwhelming.
That’s where having a clear, development-led approach can make all the difference.
If you’re looking for guidance on how to move forward without pressure, I've created The School Readiness Roadmap.
It’s designed to support you through the year before your child starts school, particularly in those months between school place and first day.
The guide will help you to:
focus on what truly matters
build skills gradually
feel confident in what you’re doing at home
You don’t need to turn your home into a classroom. You don’t need to try and rush your child so that they're 'ahead'. They just need to feel safe, supported, and capable. Everything else will grow from there.
Click the link below to find out more about The School Readiness Roadmap and get your copy.
*Know & Play Members can download a FREE copy inside the Members' Area, so it's worth joining the membership if you haven't already!
Comments