Getting 'school ready'

During a child's time in Nursery and Reception they will learn many life skills that will help them to become independent young people. It is vital for school and parents to work together to help children develop these life skills. Below is a list of skills that we develop in EYFS and hope for children to achieve independently by the time they leave Reception. We share this list with our parents so they can support their children's skills at home and help them to be independent. It is useful if children have started working towards these life skills before they join our school.

Dressing and undressing skills

We would like children to be able to:

• take off and put on own coat and jumper/cardigan

• fasten zips and buttons on coats and cardigans

• put on own shoes and fasten straps (we ask children not to wear shoes with shoelaces to school)

• dress and undress by themselves at home

Eating and drinking skills

We would like children to be able to:

• drink from an open cut (rather than a bottle)

• feed themselves using cutlery

• attempt to cut their own food with a knife and fork

• try unfamiliar foods

Personal, social and emotional skills

We would like children to be able to:

• wear underwear as opposed to a nappy (unless the child has a specific need)

• go to the toilet by themselves

• attempt to wipe themselves after toileting

• flush the toilet after using it

• wash their hands after toileting

• say please and thank you consistently

• be able to follow rules

• be able to manage their emotions to some degree

• understand the feelings of others

Physical development skills

We would like children to be able to:

• walk to school on their own (without coming in a pushchair)

• climb up and down stairs on their own.

• hold a pencil between their fingers

• use a pair of scissors to make cuts in paper