Starting School Checklist – What children should know?

We hope this Starting School Checklist has helped you feel more confident about preparing your child for this exciting new chapter. Remember, every child develops at their own pace, and there is no expectation for children to start school already reading, writing or doing maths. Building confidence, independence, communication skills and positive social interactions is far more important.

One of the best ways to support your child’s school readiness is through play, exploration and taking part in a variety of activities. Children’s classes, toddler groups, sports clubs, music sessions, drama classes, messy play, forest school activities and creative workshops can all help children develop important skills such as listening, sharing, following instructions, making friends and growing in confidence.

At Club Hub UK, we make it easy for parents to discover local children’s activities, classes, clubs and events across the UK. Whether you’re looking for educational activities, sports clubs, creative classes or holiday camps, you’ll find plenty of opportunities to help your child develop school-ready skills while having fun.

Starting school is a huge milestone for children and parents alike. When you think about what children should know before they start school, many parents focus on academic things. Such as should they be able to count, add up, read and write whilst this is fantastic if your child already knows this, it really isn’t something that is necessary or that parents should stress about. It is much more about emotional, and social development.

Of course if your child is interested in learning to read or write there are many online classes and resources that you can find on Club Hub, but pressure certainly should not be put on you or the child as this will not be expected when your child starts school.

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What Children Should Know Before Starting School

Schools are generally less concerned about whether a child can read or write and more interested in whether they can manage everyday tasks independently. Skills such as using the toilet, washing hands, recognising their name and communicating their needs can make the transition to school much easier.

If your child cannot yet do everything on this Starting School Checklist, don’t worry. Every child develops differently and many of these skills continue to develop throughout Reception.

Starting School Checklist

• I can use the toilet independently.
• I know how to wash my hands properly.
• I wash my hands after using the toilet.
• I can wipe my nose and put used tissues in the bin.
• I can spend time away from my parents or carers.
• I am learning to dress myself in my school uniform.
• I can eat using a fork, knife and spoon.
• I can open my water bottle.
• I can open my lunchbox and food packaging.

Playing With Others

• I can take turns during games and activities.
• I can share with others.
• I enjoy joining in with group play.
• I am learning to understand other people’s feelings.
• I can begin to solve small disagreements with help.

Communication Skills

• I can communicate my ideas, thoughts and feelings.
• I can ask an adult for help when I need it.
• I can follow simple instructions.
• I can listen to others when they are speaking.

Early Learning Skills

• I can recognise my own name.
• I can hold a pencil comfortably.
• I am beginning to form letters and marks on paper.
• I can recognise some letters.
• I can recognise some numbers.
• I can turn pages in a book.
• I can name colours and shapes.
• I enjoy singing songs and nursery rhymes.
• I am beginning to use technology such as a computer or tablet.

Hopefully this list is a helpful guide of things that would be useful for parents to know what children should know before they start school. You can simply ask your child to tick off each box when they have learnt how to do each task on the list. Don’t worry too much if your child cannot do any of these things on the checklist; it simply can be used as a helpful guideline.

It’s also important to note when asking what children should know before they start school that some children starting school will already be nearly 5 years old and some children will have just turned 5. In some cases there can be 11 months between children. In that year there can be so much growth and development.

School Readiness Tips for Parents

Practice Everyday Skills

The best way to prepare your child for school is through regular practice. Turn everyday tasks into games and make learning fun. For example, you could challenge your child to put on parts of their school uniform independently or practise opening lunch containers they will use at school.

Talk Positively About School

Talk to your child about starting school in a positive and exciting way. Visit the school website together, look at pictures of teachers and classrooms, and read books about starting school.

You could also create a countdown calendar so your child can see when their first day is approaching.

Encourage Reading Together

Reading together is one of the best ways to support school readiness. Ask questions about the story, discuss characters’ feelings and encourage your child to predict what might happen next.

Help Your Child Build Social Skills

Arrange playdates, attend children’s classes or join local activities. Opportunities to play with other children help develop confidence, sharing, communication and friendship skills that are important when starting school.

Using the Club Hub UK directory, you can find local children’s activities, toddler groups, holiday clubs and classes designed to help children socialise and learn through play.

Encourage Independence

If your child has not spent much time away from you, try arranging short visits with trusted family members or friends. This can help children feel more confident when separating from parents at school.

Develop Fine Motor Skills

Activities such as playing with playdough, using tweezers, threading beads, colouring and pegging games can strengthen hand muscles and improve pencil control.

Try Baking Together

Baking is a fantastic way to develop listening skills, following instructions and early maths concepts. You can also find cooking and baking classes through Club Hub UK.

Starting School Checklist – Final Thoughts

We hope this Starting School Checklist has helped answer the question of what children should know before starting school. Remember that every child develops at their own pace and no child is expected to master every skill before starting Reception.

The purpose of a Starting School Checklist is not to create pressure but to help parents identify practical ways to support their child’s confidence, independence, communication and social development before school begins.

One of the best ways to help children prepare for school is through play, exploration and regular participation in children’s activities. Classes such as music, dance, sports, drama, messy play, forest school sessions and toddler groups can all help children develop important school-ready skills while having fun.

If you are looking for children’s activities near you, use the Club Hub UK directory to discover local classes, clubs, events and activities. Taking part in activities can help children build confidence, make friends, develop communication skills and become more independent before starting school.

Whether your child is already ticking off every item on this Starting School Checklist or is still developing some of these skills, remember that starting school is a journey and every child progresses at their own pace.