Ready, Set, School: Supporting Your Child’s Big Leap Into Reception
July is just around the corner, and for many families, the reality is starting to sink in - school is coming.
Places have been confirmed, the uniform emails are trickling in, and you might be wondering how to make the most of this summer without turning it into one long countdown to “big school.”
Because yes - starting school is a big milestone.
But it doesn’t need to be the main topic of conversation for the next two months.
This blog is your gentle guide to what really helps.
Not phonics or pencil grips but confidence, connection, curiosity, and calm.
No pressure. No perfection.
Just practical, reassuring support to help your child (and you) feel a little more ready at their own pace.
First, a reframe: School readiness isn’t about ticking boxes
It’s easy to feel the pressure to “get them ready” in a way that sounds suspiciously like cramming.
But here’s the truth:
So much of their future learning, relationships, and emotional regulation is being shaped right now - not through flashcards, but through connection, play, and the everyday moments you’re already sharing.
I talk more about this in What Children Really Need in the Early Years of Parenting - it’s a gentle reminder that what children need most isn’t pressure to “get ahead,” but time, trust, and connection.
Your job?
To support their confidence, independence, and emotional safety.
Not to teach phonics. Not to turn your home into a classroom.
But to lay the groundwork that helps them feel secure enough to learn.
Independence is the real school prep
Forget academic milestones for a moment. What actually helps your child thrive in Reception?
Confidence in everyday tasks.
Here’s what to focus on:
Dressing and undressing
Velcro shoes, elastic waistbands, easy layers. The aim isn’t perfection—it’s the attitude to try, even if it’s tricky.
Focus on undressing first (it’s easier), and let them practise with their PE kit too.
Toilet independence
Flush, wipe, wash hands, and yes, accidents still happen. A little routine and lots of praise go a long way. Keep it calm and consistent.
Nose-blowing skills
It might sound small, but it matters (particularly to the reception staff!) Show your child how to blow their nose (not just wipe it on their sleeve!) and pop the tissue in the bin. Hello, autumn sniffles!
Mealtime confidence
If they’re having school dinners or packed lunches, practise opening containers, peeling bananas, and using cutlery if needed. But let’s not get snobby about cutlery - eating with hands is completely valid in many cultures. Focus on confidence and manners over method.
Tidying up
They’ll be expected to help with classroom tidying. You can build this habit now by giving toys a home, taking turns tidying together, and making it a part of your daily rhythm.
Let’s talk about talking
School is full of conversations - with teachers, with classmates, with lunchtime supervisors trying to work out who lost a shoe (yes, it happens!
So how do you help your child feel ready for all that social connection?
By modelling it, simply and consistently.
Chat while you’re cooking, walking, or just hanging out on the sofa. Make eye contact. Take turns.
Ask open-ended questions:
“What was your favourite part of today?”
“Why do you think your blocks kept falling over?”
And when they talk? Listen.
Even when it’s about toast being the wrong shape. Again.
Listening is a skill and you can build it gently
We often expect children to “just listen” but listening is learned.
Start with this simple phrase,
Look (encourage your child to stop what they’re doing and look at you). Listen. Quiet. Still.
Then practise giving one clear instruction at a time.
“Shoes on.” Pause. Wait. Breathe.
If they’re struggling to take things in, ask yourself:
Are they overwhelmed?
Do they need longer to process?
Have I shown them I’m listening too?
Because children listen best when they feel heard.
As a rule of thumb, it can take around seven seconds for a young child to fully process what you’ve said.
That tiny pause - before repeating the instruction or jumping in - can make all the difference.
Give them the space to hear you, think, and respond in their own time.
Play is preparation (and no, it doesn’t need to be Pinterest-perfect)
Play isn’t a break from learning - it is learning.
Amongst many things, it builds:
Confidence
Language
Creativity
Empathy
Problem-solving
And yes, emotional regulation too
You don’t need to orchestrate anything fancy.
Just make time for open-ended, messy, child-led play.
Follow their interests. Say, “Let’s find out!” when they ask questions.
Let them collect sticks and make snail hotels in the garden. Every now and then you may need to curate their collections just for your own sanity!
It’s not wasting time.
It’s building a brain.
Fine motor skills: start with scissors and dough
Scissor skills are a big part of Reception life. Start with playdough and plastic scissors. Chop, squish, roll little snakes and snip them into bits. It’s fun and builds the strength they’ll need for writing later.
Same goes for:
Threading pasta
Building towers
Colouring (even on the wall!)
Helping set the table or garden
Little hands doing little jobs = big developmental wins.
Resilience is the real superpower
Don’t strive for the unachievable goal of raising a child who never cries.
You want to raise a child who knows they can handle hard things - with support.
That’s resilience.
It begins with co-regulation: responding to emotions, naming feelings, and staying close through the wobble.
Then, over time, it becomes:
Trying again when the tower falls down
Asking for help when something feels too big
Learning that mistakes are part of growing
You don’t need to rescue them from every challenge.
Just be nearby, calm and steady, while they figure it out.
Don’t overhype it: Keep “big school” talk in balance
It’s tempting to talk about school a lot in the run-up to September.
“You’re such a big boy now!”
“Are you excited for big school?”
“You’re going to learn so many new things!”
But for many children, too much talk can actually create pressure.
Even excitement can tip into overwhelm.
So while it’s great to help them feel familiar with what’s coming, you don’t need to make it the main topic of conversation all summer long.
In fact, the more you treat school as a natural next step - not something they have to prove they’re ready for - the more confident and settled they’ll feel.
Here’s what helps:
Keep mentions of school casual and low-key
Answer questions simply and honestly, without overloading detail
Avoid language that suggests they need to be big now - they’re still your little one, just taking the next step
Focus on the here and now - play, rest, connection
You’re laying a calm foundation.
They don’t need pep talks or pressure.
They need your presence, your steadiness, and a summer that still feels playful, unhurried, and just about being.
Label EVERYTHING
This tip is short but essential.
Jumpers. Water bottles. Lunch bags. Shoes.
Anything you can get your child’s name on - do it.
Whether it’s a proper label or the name scrawled in biro on the tag, your future self will be thankful.
That feeling when your child comes home with their own cardigan? Priceless.
(And the school staff will love you!)
And last but not least... you
Let’s not forget—you’re going through a transition too.
This might be your first baby heading off into the world. Or your last.
Either way, it’s okay to feel wobbly. To cry after drop-off. To celebrate with a hot cuppa… in peace. Or all three.
This is a big moment—for both of you.
Talk to other parents. Let yourself feel it. Try not to compare your child to anyone else’s.
If you need a reminder that you’re already doing enough (even on the hard days), this blog might help.
How to Feel Like a Good Parent: Why You’re Already Enough
There’s no perfect version of “ready.
Some children run in. Some cling. Some take weeks to find their feet.
All of it is normal.
Your presence matters more than any prep.
You’re allowed to feel proud, relieved, nostalgic, uncertain… all of it.
So when that first day comes - take a breath.
You’ve already laid the foundations.
You’ll keep being their safe place and the centre of their universe (well until about year 3!)
