A coalition of education groups is calling on the government to adopt its definition of school readiness as it launches a new standard of skills for children starting school.
The Starting Reception coalition’s definition of school readiness is an agreed list of suggested skills and activities that the coalition says parents should practise with their children to prepare them for starting school.
The coalition includes the Confederation of School Trusts and multi-academy trusts such as REAch2, the country’s biggest primary-only trust (with 62 schools), which has already adopted the school readiness definition.
The move comes after the government pledged to get 75 per cent of five-year-olds in England ready to learn before they start Year 1.
Getting children school ready
The Starting Reception website includes activities, information and guidance for parents to use, as well as instructions for schools to download and link to their own local support services for families.
The coalition hopes that schools will use its website as an easy and clear source of information to send to families with children due to start Reception.
Education secretary Bridget Phillipson has voiced support for the coalition’s resources, but stopped short of committing to a national definition of school readiness.
“This new resource will be a vital tool for parents as they navigate the myriad information out there to support their child’s early development,” she said.
In a recent survey by coalition member Kindred Squared, teachers reported that only a third of children were school ready.
Respondents expressed concern that many primary pupils were turning up to school without toilet training, were incorrectly using books and were lacking in basic motor skills.
However, one in five parents had not heard about school readiness, the research showed. Headteachers’ leaders warned that the survey findings pointed to an “alarming disconnect” between parents and schools about the meaning of school readiness.
The Starting Reception definition of school readiness includes four different categories, along with linked skills. These skills are:
Growing independence
Taking care of themselves
- Putting on/taking off their coat and shoes.
- Using the toilet and washing their hands.
- Getting dressed with little help; for example, after using the toilet or doing PE.
- Using cutlery (e.g. fork and spoon, chopsticks) and drinking from an open cup.
- Spending time away from parents learning they can be looked after by caring adults.
Play, creativity and curiosity
- Taking part in imaginative play (e.g. role play).
- Drawing, painting, colouring and sticking.
- Sharing story books with caregivers, looking at pictures and talking about the characters.
- Exploring the world around them (e.g. looking closely at the natural world or playing safely with objects at home)
Building relationships and communicating
Being with others
- Practising sharing and taking turns with toys.
- Talking about how they are feeling and why. Looking at story books together and speaking about what characters are feeling is a good way to do this.
- Beginning to recognise what others are feeling (e.g. understanding if a friend is sad).
- Encouraging children to set boundaries for themselves and others (e.g. knowing how to say “no”)
Communication and language
- Singing along with songs and nursery rhymes.
- Talking happily to others about activities, experiences and the world around them.
- Showing they need help by speaking clearly (in basic English or sign language).
- Recognising the pattern of their name (so they can find it on their coat peg or jacket).
Listening and engaging
- Paying attention for short periods of time.
- Listening to and following simple instructions.
- Carrying on with a task even when it’s difficult, and bouncing back if things go wrong.
Physical development
Getting moving for at least three hours a day.
- Walking up and down steps (one foot at a time, using the wall for support).
- Climbing, running, jumping and playing.
- Catching a large ball (most of the time).
- Doing simple puzzles and craft activities, strengthening their grip with cutting and sticking.
Healthy routines
- Going to bed around the same time each night, and waking up in time to get ready for school.
- Limiting screen time to the recommended daily amounts.
- Eating a healthy diet and trying new foods.
- Brushing their teeth with fluoride toothpaste twice a day (parents will need to supervise this until the child is at least 7).
This definition comes after the government released new guidance for schools to supervise toothbrushing for three- to five year olds, which it said will support school readiness.
Felicity Gillespie, director of Kindred Squared, called for “official backing” for the definition and for it to be adopted by “every local authority, primary school and early education and childcare setting in the UK, as well as parents and carers”.
“This new definition, backed by many leading experts and trusted partners, will help parents and carers ensure their children reach school readiness milestones so that they can be confident they are ready to start school and thrive from day one,” she said.
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