Starting primary school is a big step for both children and parents. To support you, we've gathered practical advice and useful resources to help your child feel confident and prepared for this new chapter.
Advice for parents and carers
School readiness involves emotional, social, physical, brain, and language development.
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Blog: talking to your child about starting school
Advice on how to talk to your child about school to help them feel more prepared.
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What is school readiness?
Information about helping your child be ready for school and what you can do at home.
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Types of school readiness
Information on the different types of school readiness, such as emotional, social, cognitive and physical.
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Online course: Understanding your child: from toddler to teenager
Sign in or create an account and use the access code 'GROWING' to get this NHS course for free.
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Online course: Understanding your child with additional needs
Sign in or create an account and use the access code 'GROWING' to get this NHS course for free.
Practical skills for starting school
Encouraging independence in everyday tasks will help your child feel more confident at school. These resources have been created by BBC's Tiny Happy People.
Packing a bag together
Packing a bag together is a great way to practise independence before school starts in a relaxed and fun way.
Taking a trip to the toilet
Going to the toilet on their own is an important skill for school readiness.
Getting ready for the day
The importance of chatting with your child whilst they get ready for the day.
How can I make tidying with my child more fun?
How to get your children to think imaginatively and learn how to do chores.
Activities to support their development
These activities and games have been created by BBC's Tiny Happy People.
Play the Tomorrow Game
The Tomorrow Game is a simple way to learn about more complex sentence structures, such as the past and future tense.
Boy and woman doing a puzzle
Making a puzzle together is a fun way to help develop your child's concentration and coordination skills.
Putting things in order
Sorting objects into a row based on different features is a really great way to develop your child's communication and reasoning skills.
Making up nursery rhymes
Changing the words to a favourite nursery rhyme is a fun way for your child to experiment with new words.
Other activities
Visit the Tiny Happy People website for more simple, fun and free activities to do with your children to help support their development.
Supporting mental health and wellbeing
It's normal for children to feel nervous about starting school. These resources can help parents and carers support children to manage their own emotions.
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Supporting your child with anxiety
Managing anxiety in primary school: CBeebies.
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Ways to help your child cope with their feelings
Help your child cope with their feelings: CBeebies.
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Activity: Make a feelings tree
Make a feelings tree: Tiny Happy People.
Videos for parents and carers
How to help your child be independent
Tips to help your child to become independent that will help them to relax and settle in when they start primary school.
How to get your child's bedtime routine right
Tips for making sure your children get a good night's sleep.
How to help with transition from home to school
The transition from home life to school life can be difficult for children and parents alike, ways to help make the transition as smooth as possible.
How to help your child with language
Tips to help develop language, communication and listening skills that are needed for children starting school.
Going to the toilet independently
Tips to help your child get ready to go to the toilet independently at school.