What is school readiness?
Find out what we mean by 'school readiness'
School readiness newsletters
- March 2023 newsletter
- February 2023 newsletter
- January 2023 newsletter
- July 2021 (pdf format, 371Kb)
- June 2021 (pdf format, 345KJb)
- May 2021 (pdf format, 250Kb)
- April 2021 (pdf format, 309Kb)
- February 2021 (pdf format, 255Kb)
- January 2021 (pdf format, 303Kb)
- December 2020 (pdf format, 308Kb)
- November 2020 (pdf format, 209Kb)
- October 2020 (pdf format, 460Kb)
- September 2020 (pdf format, 431Kb)
- August 2020 (pdf format, 424Kb)
School readiness may mean several things to different people. At Oxfordshire County Council we have adopted UNICEF’s description of the three elements of school readiness:
- Children’s readiness for school
- Families and communities’ readiness for school
- Settings’ and schools’ readiness for children.
Children have the potential to become school ready when families, early years providers and schools work together to support the development of children’s confidence, resilience and curiosity.
A child who is ready for school will be:
- Curious and confident about learning.
- Resilient and ready to take part.
- Able to take risks, ask questions and find solutions.
- Confidently active and be healthy.
- Independent with self-care skills.
- Comfortable to make friends and take turns.
- Cared for and feel safe and secure.
- Able to vocalise choices.
The home learning environment
Families and communities readiness for school
- Being school ready
- Starting school together
- Road to school (pdf format, 1.2Mb)
- Starting school guide (pdf format, 840Kb)
- Families school readiness booklet (pdf format, 736Kb)
- Book list (pdf format, 411Kb)
- The Book Trust 100 best children's books
This is a list of the 100 best books for children from the last 100 years: the ultimate booklist to read before you're 14.
Settings and schools readiness for children
- School readiness booklet (pdf format, 742Kb)
- Being school ready
- Starting school together
- Why good attendance is important (pdf format, 837Kb)
- Parental engagement and attendance (pdf format, 362Kb)
- Smooth transitions in the Early Years. A good practice guide (pdf format, 1.7Mb)
- Book list (pdf format, 411Kb)
- Learning together at home leaflet (pdf format, 1Mb)
- Home learning environment (pdf format, 1Mb)
- 'Home Matters' guidance for schools, nurseries, local authorities and public health partners on making the most of the home learning environment.
- Good attendance poster (pdf format, 584Kb)
- Personal care guidance (pdf format, 500KB)
- Working with parents to support children’s learning
- Improving the home learning environment
Research and information
- School readiness and transitions - UNICEF (pdf format, 1.1Mb)
- Are you ready? (pdf format, 556Kb)
- Critical days (pdf format, 3Mb)
Links to other professionals and documents
SEND
- SEN support for providers
- Early Years SEN toolkit
- Special Educational Needs and Disability: The Local Offer
Health visiting
The Early Years team have developed a comprehensive toolkit of resources to support busy leaders and practitioners in early years settings and schools. The toolkit can be accessed via our dedicated website on an annual subscription basis.
More information and support can be found at: