Every September, we hear the same questions in parenting groups and playgrounds:
“Is your child school-ready?”
“Can they write their name yet?”
“Are they still crying at the school gate?”
And while recognising their name or using the toilet are useful skills, school readiness goes far deeper than a checklist of milestones. It’s not just about what your child can do, but about how secure, confident, and emotionally prepared they feel to do it.
Let’s take a look at what real school readiness looks like and how we, as parents, carers, and educators, can support it together.
🧠 More Than ABCs and Toilet Training
Many parents understandably focus on the practical side of readiness, pencil grip, knowing colours, or buttoning up coats. But research shows a difference of opinion: while 90% of parents believe their child is ready for school, only a third of teachers agree.
Why? Because true readiness includes:
- Emotional resilience
- Social awareness
- Physical independence
- Curiosity and communication
- The ability to ask for help and manage big feelings
Children need to feel safe in order to thrive. And that feeling of safety starts with us through secure attachments, calm routines, and consistent, loving support from parents, childminders, and teachers working together.
💬 Handling Feelings: Emotional Awareness at the School Gate
“I’ve got a tummy ache.”
Sound familiar? Many children struggle to explain their emotions, especially when facing a big transition like school.
That tummy ache might actually be anxiety.
Here’s where your emotional state becomes powerful.
When we rush, worry, or apologise as we drop them off “Mummy won’t be long!” they absorb our anxiety like a sponge. But when we pause, breathe, and say, “It’s okay to feel nervous. I feel that way too sometimes, but you’re safe and school will be okay,” we teach them resilience, calm, and courage.
This is what empathy looks like:
💛 “I know how you feel—and I believe you can handle it.”
📖 The Power of Story & Song
Reading together isn’t just for literacy; it’s emotional glue.
Stories help children explore new ideas, process feelings, and prepare for situations like starting school. Books about making friends, saying no to strangers, or feeling left out can open up conversations you never expected.
Songs and rhymes? They’re not just entertaining; they build language, rhythm, memory, and confidence. A favourite tune in the morning can become a comforting ritual.
Writers, readers, and parents alike, we have the power to shape how children see the world. Let’s give them stories that help them feel brave, heard, and connected.
🧩 Play is Still the Best Teacher
At Happy Childcare, we believe play is not just a break from learning; it is learning. It’s how children process emotions, build independence, develop social skills, and explore the world around them.
If you’re preparing your child for school, try this:
🎭 Play “schools” at home—take turns being the teacher and pupil.
🧥 Practise getting dressed or packing a school bag.
🍎 Let them carry their own lunchbox—even if they complain. These small moments of independence build confidence that no worksheet ever could.
🌿 The UURSELF Routine: Your Parenting Anchor
Over the last two decades, I’ve worked with hundreds of families, and one thing that always helps children thrive is healthy, predictable, loving routines.
That’s why I created The U URSELF Routine, a gentle, practical approach built around 7 daily pillars:
- U Time – Time for YOU to recharge
- Us Time – Quality bonding time
- Recreation – Active, joyful movement
- Sleep – Consistent, calming bedtime habits
- Esteem – Boosting confidence and self-worth
- Love – Emotional safety and connection
- Food – Nourishing meals for growing minds and bodies
Whether your child is 1 or 10, this framework can help reduce overwhelm, improve behaviour, and bring more calm to your home.
🧡 You can download your free The U URSELF Routine guide here at The U URSELF Routine Free Guide
Or find it inside my bestselling book The Confident Parent’s Guide to Raising a Happy, Healthy & Successful Child.
🗞 Coming Soon in Mums & Tots Magazine
If you want to dive even deeper into what school readiness really means, don’t miss my latest article in the Autumn 2025 issue of Mums & Tots magazine, where I explore:
✔️ Why emotional resilience matters more than writing skills
✔️ How to handle your child’s (and your own) nerves
✔️ Practical ways to build confidence and independence at home
Look out for it on shelves or stay connected for more resources, stories, and support.
💌 Final Thought
Whether you anticipate your child bounding through the school gates or clinging a little tighter to your hand, just know this: school readiness isn’t a race. It’s a journey. And with your calm presence, their courage will come one small, brave step at a time.
Much Love, Em x
By Emma Grant – Author, Hypnotherapist, Nutritional Therapist, Parenting Coach & Founder of Mumatherapy® and Happy Childcare
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