Helping your child to be 'school ready'

Asking the question, 'Is my child ready for Nursery or School?' is an important part of the process and of choosing which place is the right next step for them, but what does being 'school-ready' really mean?

The simple answer is... nobody knows! 'School readiness' is an ever-changing feast and looks different to everybody with lots of different meanings floating about. Whilst there is no set definition of what it means to be 'ready for school,' we feel that the most important lens through which to view this, is one of personal, social and emotional readiness with children needing to be able to separate from you, knowing that they are safe and cared for at school. This is something we really pride ourselves on: our children feel safe with us and know that we care for each and every one of them. We want our children to feel safe, secure, confident, aware of who they are, able to make their own decisions and able to ask for help when they need it. 

Below are some documents that explore the idea of school readiness and may give you some ideas of things to think about, whether you choose Cookley, or not. They are mainly aimed at children starting Reception, but there is lots of information which is also relevant for Nursery starters too. These are NOT a tick list or something to worry about. Children will all develop in different ways and at different speeds. We will support every child, every step of the way. It is our job and we absolutely love it!