Year R teachers and pre-school staff have put together 10 key skills for children to have before starting school in Year R. Help your child develop them so that they feel confident and ready for their first day. Don’t worry if your child hasn’t mastered all of these skills yet – every child develops at their own pace.
Visit our apply to start school page to find out how and when to apply.
1. I am independent
I can do these on my own
- I can blow my nose, wash my hands and go to the toilet.
- I can eat my packed lunch by myself, even undoing the wrappers!
- I can put on my coat and do it up.
What you can do to help your child
One mum said this to help her child learn to blow their own nose: “I asked him to put his fingers under his nose and tickle them with air from his nose. When he needed to blow his nose, I asked him to do the same thing, but harder, into a tissue.”
More information
- Help with handwashing – YouTube
- Thinking about wee and poo now you’re on the way to school leaflet (PDF)
- Advice about daytime wetting
- Portsmouth children’s continence service
Healthy affordable eating
- Healthy eating, recipes and family activities from NHS Healthier Families
- NHS advice on eating a healthy, balanced diet
- 20 tips for eating well on a budget
- Tips and recipes from Love Food Hate Waste
2. I can run, jump, climb and move around confidently
These websites have fun physical exercises that you can do with your child:
- Physical activity guidelines for children under 5
- 49 fun physical activities to do with kids aged 2 to 4
3. I can confidently communicate and say what I need
It’s important that your child can express their needs clearly.
Hungry Little Minds activities to develop communication skills for children aged 3 to 5 years has suggestions of everyday activities you can do with babies and young children to help them develop communication skills.
4. I can join in activities and sing rhymes and songs
Sing at every opportunity! Here are some songs you might like:
- Songs and activities for The Little Red Hen
- Songs and activities for Deep, Deep Down in the Sea
- BBC CBeebies nursery rhymes and songs
5. I can listen and take turns in a conversation
Hungry Little Minds activities to develop communication skills for children aged 3 to 5 years has suggestions of exciting daily activities you can do with babies and young children to help develop their communication and language skills.
6. I can share books and talk about the pictures and storylines
Lots of Portsmouth pre-schools and schools have taken part in a reading project called ‘Read With Me’.
Here are 10 recommended reads for you and your child to explore over the summer holidays. Visit your local library to find these books:
- ‘Oi Frog’ by Kes Gray and Jim Field
- ‘We’re Going on a Bear Hunt’ by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury
- ‘Shark in the Park’ by Nick Sharratt
- ‘Dinosaurs Love Underpants’ by Claire Freedman and Ben Cort
- ‘Mixed up Fairy Tales’ by Hilary Robinson and Nick Sharratt
- ‘This Old Man’ by Pam Adams
- ‘Owl Babies’ by Martin Wadell
- ‘You Choose’ by Nick Sharratt and Pippa Goodhart
- ‘Ten Little Superheroes’ by Mike Brownlow and Simon Rickerty
- ‘Dear Zoo’ by Rod Campbell
7. I can draw and make marks with pencils, crayons and pens and use scissors safely
Just have fun drawing and making marks with your child! If you have an outdoor space, use big chalks and mark on the ground and then enjoy washing the marks away.
Show your child how to hold the scissors correctly and practise using scissors to snip and cut all sorts of shapes. Try different materials – you don’t have to use papers.
By making marks and using scissors, children will be developing their hand strength and this will help them when they start writing. Using other tools and equipment helps too – can your child help with gardening or cooking and use the equipment needed, can they practice using knives and forks?
8. I can concentrate on something that interests me and carry out an activity
Encourage your child to stick at an activity for a few minutes and talk about what they have achieved. You could plan your day with your child so they can make some choices of their own and have lots of opportunities to talk about what they’re doing and learning.
Why not set them a challenge? Use a timer on your phone to see how long they can keep going. Let them set you a challenge too so they can time you!
9. I can take turns in a game and share my toys
Try playing some board games or turn taking games over the summer holidays. Play catch or roll a ball between you or take turns on a slide in the park.
Encourage children to take turns and share their toys with their friends or brothers and sisters – give them lots of praise when they do.
10. I am excited, curious and enthusiastic about learning in my new school!
Be positive about starting school. You could read some stories together. Oxford Owl's recommended books about starting school.
Look at your child’s new school website together and see if you can find photos of the staff who will be teaching your child and what the classrooms, hall, playgrounds look like.