School readiness

What happens in the first few years of a child’s life can shape their whole life.

Your child has a whole new adventure waiting for them when they begin school. It is an exciting time and you can support your child to be ready for the new challenges and experiences that school will bring so that they are ready to learn, make friends and have a positive school experience.

School readiness means:

having strong social skills to make friendships
becoming independent with personal care such as dressing and going to the toilet
being curious and interested in the world around them
being able to cope emotionally with being separated from parents and carers

Remember that your child is an individual.

If you would like advice or support please contact the Healthy Child Service. We have a team of Health Visitors and Child Development Workers who can help! You can contact the Healthy Child Service by email: [email protected], and by telephone: 01904 555475.

Some useful information about school readiness and support available to help your child to become ready for school

Child development and play

All children are unique and will reach development milestones at a time and rate that’s unique to them. This child development and play page identifies a range of child development stages for your information, but please follow your child.

For further information about children’s development milestones and play ideas go to

NSPCC Look, Say, Sing, Play - gives you some fun and easy tips to help you bring even more Look, Say, Sing and Play into your daily routine with your child. New tips, tailored to your child's age, each week.
Tiny happy people - provides fun development and bonding ideas for babies, toddlers and pre-school children.

Going to the toilet

Learning to use the toilet rather than a potty is an important part of growing up. When your child starts school it will help if they can be independent using the toilet.

See more information on potty and toilet training on the website.

Social interaction

Social interaction is very important to help your child to be school ready. York Family Information Service will help you with information on local social groups such as stay and play groups or music groups etc. They will also support you with childcare funding and available settings like nurseries or childminders. You can contact the York Family Information service by email: [email protected], or by telephone: 01904 555444.

Speech, language and communication

When your child starts school they will need to ask for things, talk to their friends and be able to follow instructions. Talking at home as you make a meal together, while you are out shopping together or on the bus, reading stories and singing can all help your child’s speech, language and communication.

The Raise York website Speech, language and communication pages have more information and also visit the York Hospitals children’s speech and language therapy services direct for information and support.

Remember that your child is an individual.

If you would like advice or support please contact the Healthy Child Service. We have a team of Health Visitors and Child Development Workers who can help! You can contact the Healthy Child Service by email: [email protected], and by telephone: 01904 555475.

Some useful information to help to keep them healthy and able to learn

Sleep: Children of this age need to go to sleep early in the evening and sleep through the night to help them grow and develop. No screen time one hour before bed will help them to relax and fall asleep. The sleep and safe sleeping pages and the sleep charity and NHS have more information.
Exercise: Children of this age need around 3 hours of physical activity a day to help them grow and develop. Running, jumping, climbing and playing outdoors are all great for your child.
Healthy Eating: The Raise York website has more information on healthy eating for children and the whole family
Vaccinations: A reminder that your child requires their next vaccination at 3 year 4 months. Flu vaccination (nasal spray) each winter after your child turns two years.
Vitamin D: See the Raise York vitamins for children section for more information.
Teeth: We advise you to register your child with a dentist and attend for regular check-ups if your child hasn’t already. This helps to spot problems early. Bottles and dummies should be stopped as these can cause problems with teeth and speech.
Accident prevention: Children need to explore and experiment and many childhood accidents are a part of growing up but accidents to children can have a lifelong impact on them. See our Accident prevention in children webpage to learn more.
Childhood illness: Babies, toddlers, and Children will get illnesses as their bodies develop immunity to infections and it is hard to stop them getting unwell. See the Raise York common illnesses in babies and children for more information.