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.

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.

Boy packing bag

Packing a bag together

Packing a bag together is a great way to practise independence before school starts in a relaxed and fun way.

Small girl with hand up asking to go to the toilet

Taking a trip to the toilet

Going to the toilet on their own is an important skill for school readiness.

Girl getting dressed with help from mother

Getting ready for the day

The importance of chatting with your child whilst they get ready for the day.

Man and child tidying up

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.

Man and woman with

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.

Making 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. 

 

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.

Woman presenter and video title

Going to the toilet independently

Tips to help your child get ready to go to the toilet independently at school.