Is my child ready for pre-school?

Readiness is not a test, and there is no line a child crosses. But there are signs worth
looking for, and a longer list of things that keep parents awake and turn out not to matter.

Seven signs that do matter

1. They can be apart from you for a stretch. With a grandparent, a neighbour,
   anyone. Even an hour counts as practice.
2. They can make a need understood. Words, signs or pointing — in any
   language. Fluency is not required; being understood is.
3. They show interest in other children. Watching from a distance counts.
   Playing together comes much later than most parents expect.
4. They can manage a short stretch of not getting their way. Not calmly.
   Just survivably.
5. They have some daily rhythm. Roughly predictable sleep and meals make the
   school day far easier.
6. They can stay awake through the session. A child still needing a mid-morning
   nap may simply need a few more months.
7. You are ready. Genuinely. Children read parental anxiety with alarming
   accuracy, and a hesitant handover makes for a harder morning.

Four things that do not matter

• Toilet training. We support it and never rush it. Accidents are part of the
  age and nobody will make your child feel bad about one.
• Knowing letters, numbers or rhymes. That is our job, not a prerequisite.
• Speaking English. Circle time, songs and stories run in the home language
  too. A child still finding their words should not also have to find them in a second
  language.
• Being outgoing. Quiet, watchful children usually do beautifully. They watch
  for a fortnight, then join in having worked out how everything runs.

If the answer is “not yet”

That is a legitimate answer and we will say so. Starting a term or a year later costs nothing
and often saves a difficult few months. There is no advantage to being the least ready child in
the room.

Not sure where your child sits? Read
which class your child needs, or just ask us.