Learning and DeveWhilst school readiness is a common term in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), it continues to cause a great deal of confusion.
For example, is it more important for a child to be able to hold a pencil and write their name, or is it more important for them to harness good speaking and listening skills?
These questions have led parents to question what school readiness actually means, as they want to understand when their child is ready for the school environment.
When a child is transitioning from nursery to the ‘big school’ for the very first time it can be very daunting, and it’s important for parents to understand how to best support their child.
Getting anxious because their child doesn’t seem to be as ‘ready’ as some of their peers can be very stressful so it’s vital parents understand what school readiness really means. This can help put their mind at ease and also helps them identify any areas where a little extra support might be needed.
In this blog post, we’re going to outline what school readiness means and why it is important for EYFS. We’ll also be providing information about how parents can help prepare their child for the transition to school, to make the process as stress-free as possible.
What Is School Readiness in EYFS?
The EYFS defines School Readiness as ‘the broad range of knowledge and skills that provide the right foundation for good future progress through school and life.’ (Statutory Framework for the EYFS 2021).
This definition can lead to a lot of confusion as it is very vague. Not every child will possess the same knowledge and skills when they start school, so it’s about understanding what is ‘normal’ for your child and working out how you can best support their next steps.
For example, if they are struggling with his/her reading skills, what actions can you put in place to help?
This might involve taking some regular time out of your day to read with your child so that they can follow along with the words on the page or simply become familiar with words and sounds and associate these with the pictures.
It’s important to remember that these children have come from different families, different environments, and for the most part, different childcare settings, be it nurseries, pre-schools, or childminders. As such, this would have shaped their approach to learning and affected what skills they start school with.
Learning and Development
It’s also important to remember that every young learner develops at their own pace, so try not to get too hung up on what other children are doing and achieving. Instead, view the skills that define school readiness as more of a guide, rather than a definitive list of what your child must achieve before they start school.
We’ll be covering these skills later in the blog post so stay with us.
The best way to describe school readiness in EYFS is to understand how ‘ready’ children are physically, emotionally, and intellectually to start school. Whilst there are various interpretations of this term, essentially it’s about understanding how prepared your child is to integrate positively into the school setting without having you present.
School Readiness and Piaget’s Theory
The idea of being ‘ready for school’ began with Piaget’s theory of cognitive development in 1936.
He also devised a set of school readiness characteristics which involved standards of intellectual, physical, and social development which allows children to meet school requirements and cope with the National Curriculum.
The factors of cognitive development, alongside maturity and growth, were used to figure out what the child learned. Piaget believed that children cannot learn something new until they are ready to do so, and this comes with maturity (growth).
Therefore, a child’s ability to learn any cognitive content is directly related to their stage of development which means children at a certain stage cannot be taught the concepts of a higher stage.
Instead, they must be ready before they can learn something new and progress to the next step. This is underpinned by Piaget’s belief that children are active learners, not passive participants. Essentially, knowledge is not merely transmitted from a parent/ teacher to the child but must be constructed and reconstructed by the learner.
In terms of school readiness, this means parents and teachers cannot simply fill learners with facts and information, but should provide them with opportunities to discover concepts for themselves. Essentially, you must let children take the lead with their own learning.
How Can I Help My Child With School Readiness?
Whilst children are in charge of their own learning, parents and teachers should never just take a back seat.
Every role is just as vital as the other in terms of facilitating learning experiences and providing the necessary resources for discoveries to take place.
This means creating a range of challenging and meaningful learning opportunities which allow children to test different ideas and concepts. Experimentation is key for school readiness, as through trial and error, children find things out for themselves which leads to a deeper level of understanding.
Instead of being told what is the right/ wrong way to do something, they are free to find this out first-hand. You should also give them praise and encouragement when they do something right, as this increases the likelihood of them doing it again.
You could offer something as simple as a sticker or round of applause – just as long as children are rewarded for their achievements.
It’s also important to start talking about school with your child, and what this will be like for them. Starting the conversation early, and getting children used to the idea of school can really help make the process easier.
You should also visit the school they will be attending so that they can get more familiar with their new environment. They will also be able to meet some of their new teachers which can help them feel more comfortable when the big day arrives.
The more you can do to prepare your child for school the better, as this will be a big change to their usual routine.
How do I Know if My Child is Ready for School?
As we’ve discussed earlier in the blog, it can be difficult to determine when a child is ready for school as every learner is different.
However, there are some important indicators which can be used to identify whether or not your child is showing signs of school readiness.
To begin with, let’s take a look at the seven areas of development that EYFS children should meet if they are school ready.
Seven Developmental Areas Which Are Key to School Readiness
The seven points below outline which development areas your child should be showing before they start school.
This takes into account the child’s well-being and progress from an emotional, physical and cognitive perspective.
- Social: Taking turns, sharing with peers, following rules, listening
- Emotional: Self-confident, showing empathy, doesn’t mind separation
- Physical: Run, climb, balance, well-coordinated, throw, and catch a ball
- Fine Motor: Draws, uses scissors, can grip objects
- Language: Answer questions, engages in conversation, follow directions
- Cognitive: Sorts, identifies shapes, knows different colours, can count, is able to write their own name
- Self-help: Can go to the toilet independently, can look after their own belongings, can tidy up after themselves
School Readiness Skills
On top of these seven developmental areas, there are also some core skills that children who are ready for school should be displaying:
- Playing cooperatively with peers
- Following a 2-3 step direction
- Working independently
- Sharing and taking turns
- Initiating and maintaining conversations with others
- Listening and concentrating
- Taking care of their own belongings
- Showing empathy for other people’s emotions and feelings
- Being a functional member of a small group
- Following rules/ directions from either a teacher or parent
It’s important to note that not every child will be able to achieve every skill on this list. Which is absolutely fine.
If your child isn’t capable of all of these skills, there is no reason for you to be too concerned that they are not ready for school. The most important thing is to identify any gaps in their development and put the right steps in place to ensure a child is developing at the right pace.
Parents and nursery practitioners should work closely together to ensure a child has the support they need so that when the time comes for them to start school, they are equipped with the skills they need to be happy and successful learners.
Getting support is critical in ensuring the gaps are narrowed so that each child can reach their full potential.
Signs of School Readiness Problems
Whilst every child is different and will progress at their own pace, there are certain factors that could suggest a child has difficulties with school readiness.
As we’ve outlined above, spotting these characteristics early is key as it means you can put plans in place to address any problems or delays.
Signs of school readiness problems include:
- Get easily frustrated when expectations are placed upon them
- Struggle to follow different instructions
- Rely on parents to do self-care tasks, such as getting dressed
Not toilet trained - Struggle to concentrate on tasks as long as their peers
- Are socially immature (i.e. unable to share or unable to shift with changing rules)
- Have poor receptive and/or expressive language skills
- Have difficulty understanding the consequences of their behaviours and actions
- Not interested in looking at books and/or doing sit-down activities
- Don’t interact well with their peers (either in or out of the classroom)
- Have limited play skills (and can’t change their play to incorporate new play items or new people)
- Are reluctant to try new activities and/or be guided about how to develop new skills
- Resistant to input from others in order to learn
Whilst it’s important not to overthink these issues or to compare your child with their peers, any parent who is concerned about the developmental rate of their child, should consider speaking to their health visitor, GP or children’s centre.
All of these services can provide the early intervention required to support parents and children through the transition from nursery into school.
What is School Readiness and Why is it Important for EYFS?
The definition of school readiness has been an ongoing debate.
Whilst the EYFS does provide a definition of what this means for parents and nursery practitioners, it is very much open to interpretation which has led to a lot of unanswered questions.
The key takeaway from this blog post is that school readiness essentially means when your child is ‘ready’ to integrate into a school environment.
You know your child better than anyone else and will be able to identify any areas of weakness which seem out of the ordinary.
Instead of focusing on the skills above as a definitive list of when your child is ready for school, use them as a guide to inform your decision-making. If you’re still concerned about your child’s progress and feel there are significant delays in their development, speak to a healthcare provider.
However, try not to compare your child to their peers too much as each child grows at their own pace. It’s your job to support this journey and ensure they have everything they need to reach the next step.
At The Hunny Pot Nursery, we provide an exciting and engaging learning environment where your child can thrive.
Regardless of their individual needs or background, we support each and every child on their learning journey so that when the time comes for them to start school, they are confident and capable young learners.
To find out more, or to book a tour of the nursery to see the benefits for yourself, simply get in touch!