A new national definition of school readiness has been launched by a coalition of leading education and early years organisations, including REAch2, to help parents, carers, and educators better understand what it means for a child to be ready for Reception.
This is the first time that such a large group of organisations involved in education, parenting, and early years have come together to define school readiness and offer practical guidance to parents and carers. Currently, there is no official definition, despite increasing recognition of its importance in a child’s early development.
The Starting Reception definition provides an agreed set of skills and activities that families can use to help their children feel confident and prepared for school. It is designed to close the gap between teachers’ and parents’ understanding of school readiness, highlighted in Kindred Squared’s annual report.
To address this, the Starting Reception website has been launched, offering easy-to-access guidance for parents, carers, and educators. Schools and organisations working with families can also download and personalise the definition with their own branding and signpost local support services.
What Does School Readiness Look Like?
The new definition groups recommendations into four key areas that support children’s early development:
- Growing independence – Encouraging children to manage tasks like using cutlery, putting on their coat, and using the toilet independently.
- Building relationships and communication – Developing social skills such as sharing, taking turns, and talking about feelings.
- Physical development – Ensuring children are active for at least three hours a day, can hold a pencil, and enjoy creative activities like drawing and painting.
- Healthy routines – Encouraging good habits such as brushing teeth twice a day and limiting screen time.
Each category includes links to expert organisations providing practical advice on how to build these skills into everyday routines at home.
Supporting Parents to Give Children the Best Start
At the heart of this initiative is a commitment to supporting parents in preparing their children for the exciting transition to school. This is not about imposing rigid expectations but instead providing clear, supportive guidance to help every child start school with confidence.
The initiative follows the government’s recent pledge to increase the number of children who are school-ready to 75% and has been welcomed by education leaders, including Bridget Phillipson, Secretary of State for Education, who described the new resource as a “vital tool” for parents.
Cathie Paine, CEO of REAch2 Academy Trust, said:
"Starting school is a huge milestone for children and their families, and we know that early experiences lay the foundations for lifelong learning. At REAch2, we believe in working in partnership with parents and carers to ensure every child gets the best possible start. This shared definition of school readiness provides clear and practical guidance to help families feel confident and prepared for that important first day of Reception. We are proud to have contributed to this work and hope it will empower parents across the country."
For more information, visit Starting Reception.
