Children and Family Services

School readiness

Sue Wilson & Nikki Walters

Service Managers

Early Learning and Childcare Service

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Aims of the project• To support the Early

Learning and Childcare Service priority and cross county initiative around school readiness

• To improve outcomes for children.

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Vision • To have an agreed cross county

definition of school readiness

• To improve outcomes for all children, but particularly the most vulnerable, and close the disadvantaged attainment gap

• To improve the quality of provision across the EYFS sector to ensure it meets the needs of young children.

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Golden threads• Capture the child’s

voice• Develop parent

partnerships• Ensure the home

learning environment promotes the best learning opportunities

• Strengthen transition arrangements

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What does school readiness mean to you?Task

•What are the 5 key elements of school readiness?

•Work on your own

•Write each idea on a separate post-it.

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• Now join up in a pair, share your 5 post its and together prioritise which 5 you would like to keep ( discard 5)

• In pairs join up with another pair and repeat

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Continuum of learning• When children begin pre-school at 2 or 3

describe a typical child’s language /PSED / physical skills ?

• When children leave pre school describe what a typical child has learnt in terms of their language /PSED / physical skills?

• When children have settled into school describe a typical 4 year old child’s language /PSED / physical skills?

• When a child leaves reception describe what a typical child has learnt in terms of their language /PSED / physical skills?

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Supporting parents and carers• I can listen and follow instructions• I can listen to a story• I can join in with a song• I can tell you what I like to do• I can look after my belongings• I can share, take turns and play a

simple game• I can dress and undress myself• I can make marks and patterns• I can move around in different ways

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Child’s voice

• We need your support to capture the child’s voice around school readiness

• In groups design a short exit interview that EYFS teachers could carry out with their current cohort

Or

In groups design a short exit interview that PVI could carry out with their current cohort about what children expect they need to do to be ready for school

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• What skills do we want children to have in order to be ready to learn?

• At what age should they be secure in these skills?• How can pre-schools/ schools support parents in the

continuum of learning and expectation?• What does the environment need to look like?• What experiences need to be on offer?• What are the key messages to share with senior

managers?