Question 1

Is this programme suitable for children attending kindergarten, preschool or daycare?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Ready Steady School complements the valuable experiences children already receive in early childhood education settings by providing additional opportunities to develop school readiness skills in a small-group environment led by primary teachers.

Question 2

What age is the programme for?

Accepted Answer

4-6year olds. Even if your child has recently started school they will benefit from our programme.

Question 3

What makes Ready Steady School different?

Accepted Answer

Ready Steady School has been designed and is led by experienced primary teachers who understand the skills children need when they begin school. The programme combines practical skill development for children, with resources provided, as well as guidance for parents to support a successful transition.

Question 4

My child is shy. Is this programme suitable?

Accepted Answer

Yes. As experienced teachers, we understand that some children need time to warm up in new environments. We never force participation and recognise that observation is often an important part of the learning process.With a maximum of 5 children in each group, we are able to support each child individually and help them build confidence in a way that feels comfortable for them.

Question 5

What if my child is already confident?

Accepted Answer

Confidence is a great start, but successful school transitions involve much more than confidence alone. Children also benefit from strong fine motor skills, body coordination, focus, listening skills and experience participating in structured group activities. Ready Steady School helps children strengthen these foundations so they can make the most of their first year at school.

Question 6

How many children are in each group?

Accepted Answer

We keep our groups small, with a maximum of 5 children and 2 teachers, to ensure every child receives individual support and attention.

Question 7

Do parents stay during sessions?

Accepted Answer

Parents are very welcome to stay during the session. We know that joining a new group with unfamiliar teachers can feel like a big step, and many families appreciate staying nearby for the first few sessions.If you do stay, we encourage you to take a step back and let your child participate as independently as possible. This helps them build confidence, develop relationships with the teachers, and become comfortable asking us for help - important skills as they prepare for school.As your child settles, you may choose to step out for part or all of the session, but there's no expectation to do so. Every child is different, and we're happy to work with you to find the approach that best supports your child.

Question 8

Does my child need to know letters and numbers before attending?

Accepted Answer

No. Children do not need any prior knowledge or academic skills to participate. Our focus is on developing the foundation skills that support successful learning and participation at school.

Question 9

What school readiness skills do you focus on?

Accepted Answer

We focus on the foundation skills that help children transition successfully to school, including fine motor skills, gross motor skills, focus and attention, coordination, following instructions, group participation, and confidence in new learning environments.Our activities are designed by experienced primary teachers to support the skills children use every day in the classroom.

Question 10

Will this teach my child to read?

Accepted Answer

No, Ready Steady School is not a reading programme. Instead, we focus on developing the foundation skills that support children when they begin learning to read at school.Through our activities, children build concentration, listening skills, visual tracking, attention, memory, and the ability to follow instructions and participate in group learning experiences. These are all important skills that help children get the most out of classroom learning, including reading instruction.

Question 11

What should my child bring?

Accepted Answer

We provide everything. Wear comfortable clothing suitable for movement and hands-on activities. Some sessions involve sensory play like playdough, sand, shaving foam and ice.

Question 12

What if my child misses a session?

Accepted Answer

While we encourage children to attend all sessions to get the full benefit of the programme, we understand that illness and family commitments can sometimes get in the way. We provide families with resources and activities that can be used at home to help reinforce key skills.

Frequently Asked Questions