Preparing Your Child for School: Key Steps for Readiness

Highlights

• Starting school is an important milestone in a child’s life. A range of skills is needed to ensure a smooth and successful transition.
• Most children begin school between the ages of 4 and 5, with compulsory education starting no later than age 6.
• From the very first days and weeks, children will use physical, social, emotional, and communication skills.
• If a child has special educational needs, physical challenges, or learning difficulties, it is helpful to check in advance what support is available.
• Encouraging independence and developing various skills will help prepare children for school.

In This Article

• What Does ‘Being Ready’ for School Mean?
• Why Do These Skills Matter?
• Do Children Need to Know the Alphabet or Numbers Before School?
• How to Make an Informed Decision About School Readiness?
• How to Help a Child Prepare for School?
• How to Support Social Development Before School?
• Tools And Assistance

What Does ‘Being Ready’ for School Mean?

Starting school is a big event in a child’s life, and for their family. To get off to a good start, children need to develop a range of skills, so that they will be ready to learn well and be happy at school.

All Australian children must start school by the time they turn 6 years of age. Most children start between the ages of 4 and 5 years.

Your child will use many different skills, even in their first days and weeks at school:

• Physical health and development: running, jumping, climbing, and playing ball, holding a pencil and turning pages in a book.
• Practical skills: using the toilet independently and washing their hands, unpacking their lunch box and eating their lunch.
• Social skills and concentration: sharing, taking turns, getting along with others, following rules and instructions.
• Emotional maturity: talking with people they don’t know, being able to play and share with others, and coping with being angry, sad, or frustrated.
• Language and communication skills: listening to others, speaking and expressing their thoughts clearly, and understanding what the teacher says.

Why Do These Skills Matter?

At school, your child will be expected to:

• Separate from you without being upset.
• Wait patiently for attention in a large group of children.
• Take turns, share, and play well with other children.
• Follow instructions.
• Express their feelings and needs politely.
• Stick with a task.
• Cope with frustration.

If your child is not able to do these tasks, they might still be able to start school in a supported environment. This might involve a special needs school, or a mainstream school with extra support.

If your child has special educational needs, a physical or learning disability, ask the school about what support is available. In some schools, the support team may include your child’s teacher, education assistant, principal, school psychologist, medical doctors, or other specialist service providers.

Do Children Need to Know the Alphabet or Numbers Before School?

No — your child will go to school to learn these skills. It helps if your child shows an interest in letters and words and begins to write some of the letters in their name. They don’t need to know the alphabet (ABC).

It helps if your child can talk about their age and recognize and write some numbers. They don’t need to be able to chant a set of numbers.

School can teach your child literacy (how to read and write) and numeracy (knowing numbers and how to do maths). However, you can support their emotional wellbeing and develop the social skills they need. This will help them to learn well in the school classroom.

How to Make an Informed Decision About School Readiness?

There are things you can do to help your child enjoy school and thrive in a challenging environment:

• Watch how your child copes in different situations, and teach them skills to work out how to manage by themselves.
• Ask your child’s teacher at day care or preschool how they cope in difficult social or learning situations, and what skills they need to work on.
• Talk to early childhood staff at your chosen school about how they plan to meet your child’s needs.
• If your child has a physical or learning disability or other special needs, check how the school plans to include them in the learning program.

How to Help a Child Prepare for School?

Developing independence is key to a smooth transition into school.

Ways to support this include:

• Introducing a daily routine similar to a school schedule, including morning and bedtime habits.
• Practicing self-care tasks such as dressing, buttoning clothes, and using fasteners.
• Encouraging independence in packing lunch or organizing belongings for outings.
• Assigning small household responsibilities, such as feeding a pet or setting the table.
• Visiting the school environment in advance, including play areas, classrooms, and restrooms.

How to Support Social Development Before School?

To help build social confidence:

• Arrange opportunities to meet the teacher and future classmates.
• Organize playdates to practice skills such as sharing and turn-taking.
• Encourage participation in group games to develop patience and cooperation.
• Model positive ways to handle disagreements while maintaining friendships.
• Praise efforts to complete tasks independently with specific feedback.
• Reassure children that challenges are normal and that support is available from both teachers and caregivers.

Tools And Assistance

Building a strong relationship with teachers and school staff is important. Parents and caregivers can ask about preferred communication methods to stay informed and address any concerns early.

Starting school can be overwhelming, and some children may experience tiredness, mood changes, or physical discomfort.

If a child seems distressed, gentle conversations can help identify any concerns. If issues persist, discussing them with the teacher can lead to solutions that support a smooth transition into school.

By working together, families and schools can ensure a positive start to a child’s learning journey.