Starting school: a gentle readiness guide
A flexible, practical guide to starting school: familiar routines, asking for help, everyday independence and working with your child’s setting.
Read the guide ↗Ideas to try together
Play, feelings and routines
Make everyday moments easier to talk about with short activities, useful picture sequences and flexible preparation for school. Some days call for a quiet matching game; others need room to move. Pictures can help explain what is happening next or begin a conversation.
Guides to explore
Before you begin
Should a visual schedule include the whole day?
Show only as much as helps. Two immediate activities may be clearer than a long plan. Explain changes and use pictures your child understands rather than presenting a sequence as a promise that nothing can change.
Are age ranges requirements or browsing suggestions?
They are browsing suggestions. Choose materials and support for the child, and use your setting’s information for school arrangements or individual needs. A feelings picture offers a possible word, not a diagnosis of what a child feels.