Ready to start school?
Starting school can be daunting for you and your child.
To do well in school children need to practise using things like pencils, paintbrushes, knives and forks. They need to be able to listen, share and say what they need.
Do not worry if your child cannot do these things by the time they start school, just keep practising together.
Trying the tips and using the support on this page will really help your child to like learning, feel good about themselves and be happy to start school.
Our handy checklist can be downloaded to help you and your child get ready for starting school.
Download our starting school checklist
The following web pages provide further advice and support.
- Parenting - support from our early help teams
- Preparing your child for school (Foundation Years)
- Starting school - useful video for children (CBeebies)
- Starting school - parent stories (CBeebies)
- Spotlight on starting school (PACEY)
- Suggestions for books about starting school (Book Trust)
- Toolkit to support school readiness (PACEY)
Support for parents and carers of children with additional or special educational needs and disabilities
Support for parents who have a child with Autism who displays some challenging behaviours.
Support for parents around a range of areas such as sleep, communication and benefits.
Guidance and support with communication for children with complex needs particularly around using Alternative and Augmentative Communications (AAC).
Support for professionals and parents supporting children with special educational needs.
Support and advice when working with children who have Down Syndrome.
Development Matters to support planning and assessment across the foundation stage.
A range of support, guidance and training for practitioners working with children who have a significant speech, language and communication delay or disorder.
Toilet training for bladder and bowel conditions.
Government advice to support children beyond early years.
Support to develop speech, language and communication.
Support and guidance for families who need help with their child’s bedtime or sleep routines.
Makaton uses signs and symbols to help people communicate.
Support for schools and settings that are working with children who have a diagnosis of Autism.
Early Years Developmental Journal for tracking progress.
National Deaf Children's Society
Support and information on childhood deafness for families and professionals.
Support and advice for children with disabilities.
Support and ideas for parents around sensory processing difficulties.
Unique | Rare Chromosome Disorder Support Group
Support for families and professionals working with children who may have a rare gene or chromosome disorder.
A range of ideas about how to use an intensive interaction approach at home and in school, this organisation has run training in Cornwall for our Early Years setting and parents.
