Parent guides

Starting Reception Checklist

14 March 2025 Molly Devlin

A guide for parents to prepare for school and ensure your child is ready to start reception.

Too many children are starting school without the skills they need to thrive. While 9 in 10 parents believe their child is school ready, teachers say only 1 in 3 actually are.  
 
That’s why a coalition of early years organisations has come together to create Starting Reception, a clear, practical definition of school readiness that parents can use to ensure their child is ready to start reception.  

What should a child know before starting school?

• Growing independence (dressing, toileting, using cutlery)  
• Communication & social skills (taking turns, expressing emotions)  
• Physical development (fine & gross motor skills, active play)  
• Healthy routines (toothbrushing, screen time limits)

Other guides

• The Children’s Toothbrushing Guide
• The Potty Training Guide

Your child’s journey to school starts at home

We understand that all children develop at their own pace, and that we’re all learning from birth. When it’s time to start school, some children will need more help than others.

There are key skills that schools expect children to be learning before their first day. Practicing these will make your child’s journey to Reception as positive as possible.

If your child is already at nursery, in pre-school, or with a childminder, those professionals will work with you and your child to help get them ready.

There’s lots you can do at home to build your child’s confidence and independence, helping them feel emotionally and practically prepared to start school.

How can I help my child get ready?

• Your child will have lots of new activities and routines to get used to when they start school. There are some things they’ll need to do more independently than they might have before.
• ​Research shows that a child’s relationship with their parents is the most important factor in their development, and there’s a lot you can do at home.
• ​When your child is at home with you or another caregiver, you can practice as a family with fun activities (we’ve included links at the end of this resource).
• Some of these skills take time to master, so it’s good to introduce them gradually as part of your daily routine.

What if my child has additional needs?

• If your child needs additional support to settle into Reception, make sure you share as much information as possible with their new teacher. They can work with you to find strategies to support your child.
• Summer born children, or those speaking English as an additional language (EAL) may need more support.
• If you know or suspect your child has suspected or confirmed special educational needs (SEND), developmental differences or delays, some of these skills may not be achievable for them at this point.
• Early support makes a big difference – ask your child’s nursery, school, health visitor, local children’s centre or family hub for help.

Who can I speak to for help?

All children need help from their trusted adults to feel confident and excited about starting Reception.

• Your childminder/nursery/pre-school team or your health visitor, children’s centre or family hub can help if you need more information.
• We’ve also put together a list of organisations and resources further down to help you and your child get ready together.

Skills to practice before starting Reception

New skills take time to learn. Practicing at home will help your child move into school more easily and with confidence.

Growing independence

Taking care of themselves

• Putting on/taking off their coat and shoes
• Using the toilet and washing their hands
• Getting dressed with little help, e.g. after using the toilet or doing PE
• Using a fork/spoon and drinking from an open cup
• Spending time away from you, learning they can be looked after by caring adults

Play, creativity and curiosity

• Engaging in imaginative play (e.g. role play)
• Drawing, painting, colouring and sticking
• Sharing story books with caregivers, looking at pictures and talking about the characters
• Exploring the world around them (e.g. looking closely at the natural world or playing safely with objects at home)

Building relationships and communicating

Being with others

• Practicing sharing and taking turns with toys
• Talking to them about how they are feeling and why
• Looking at story books together and speaking about what characters are feeling is a good way to do this
• Beginning to recognise what others are feeling, e.g. understanding if a friend is sad
• Encouraging them to set boundaries for themselves and others (e.g. knowing how to say ‘no’)

Communication and language

• Singing along with songs and nursery rhymes
• Talking happily to others about activities, experiences and the world around them
• Showing they need help by speaking clearly (in basic English or sign language)
• Recognising the pattern of their name (so they can find it on their coat peg or jacket)

Listening and engaging

• Paying attention for short periods of time
• Listening to and following simple instructions
• Carrying on with a task even when it’s difficult and bouncing back if things go wrong

Physical development

Getting moving for at least three hours a day

• Walking up and down steps (one foot at a time, using the wall for support)
• Climbing, running, jumping and playing
• Catching a large ball (most of the time)
• Doing simple puzzles and craft activities, strengthening their grip with cutting and sticking
  Walking up and down steps (one foot at a time, using the wall for support)

Healthy routines

• Going to bed around the same time each night, waking up in time to get ready for school
• Limiting screen time to the recommended daily amounts (see advice)
• Eating a healthy diet and trying new foods
• Brushing their teeth with fluoride toothpaste twice a day (you’ll need to supervise this until they are at least 7)

What should I do if I have concerns about my child’s development?

• If you’re worried about your child’s progress, talk to your childminder/nursery/pre-school team, health visitor, local children’s centre or Family Hub.
• ​If your child has developmental delays or SEND (suspected or confirmed), speak to their childminder/nursery/pre-school team well before they start Reception.
• You can work with your child’s early years setting to help your child with self-care, managing emotions, social skills, and communication in a way that suits their stage of development.
• ​You might want to share details about their development, needs, what motivates them, what might trigger difficulties, how they learn best, and what strategies work well.
• Make sure you share important information with everyone supporting your child, including their new Reception teacher.

Resources for families with additional needs

There are many organisations who can support you with information and strategies to prepare you, your child and their educational setting, ensuring a smooth transition and setting them up for future success.

These include:

• Family Lives
• Speech and Language UK
• Dingley’s Promise
• KIDS

We are calling on schools, local authorities, and policymakers to adopt this definition to help more children start school ready to succeed. You can read more about Ark Start’s strategies for early years professionals to improve school readiness.