What Does “School Ready” Really Mean?
Starting school is an exciting milestone, but it can also bring a mix of questions and uncertainty. As parents and educators, you might find yourself wondering: “Are they ready?” or “What should they be able to do before their first day?”
Starting school is an exciting milestone. For many families, it’s a time filled with anticipation, school uniforms, lunchbox prep, and a million questions, one of the biggest being: “Is my child ready?”
From a paediatric occupational therapist’s perspective, school readiness is not about whether a child knows the alphabet or count to twenty. Those things come in time. What really matters is whether a child has the foundational skills they’ll need to feel confident and capable in the classroom.
It’s the everyday stuff that matters most
When we talk about school readiness, we’re looking at how a child manages the demands of the school day, not just the academic ones, but the social, physical and emotional demands too.
Take motor skills, for example. A child doesn’t just need to be able to hold a pencil, they need the hand strength, finger coordination, and postural control that allows them to draw, write, and sit upright for a whole group lesson. Without these foundations, writing can become tiring or frustrating, often leading to lack of confidence and avoidance of writing tasks.
There’s also the big transition from the physical freedom of play based settings to the structure of a classroom. Children are expected to manage their belongings, sit still, follow instructions, and move from one task to the next. These are huge changes, and they rely on a mix of developing skills, such as fine motor control, attention, organisation, and emotional regulation.
Emotional and social readiness: The quiet game changers
We often focus on practical skills like drawing or using scissors, but emotional readiness is just as important, if not more. Can the child cope with separating from a parent? Are they learning to recover from small upsets without melting down? Are they comfortable in a group? These skills take time to build and can vary widely from child to child. But they’re essential to helping children feel safe and settled, which is the foundation for learning.
Social confidence matters too. Children who can take turns, ask for help, and play alongside others are more likely to feel connected and included; two things that make a big difference to how they show up at school each day.
Independence builds confidence
Starting school also comes with new responsibilities, things like packing your own bag, unpacking lunch, remembering your hat, and managing your own belongings. For some kids, they enjoy the increased responsibility. For others, they can feel overwhelming.
That’s why we look at early signs of independence: Can a child follow a two step instruction? Do they have a sense of what belongs to them? Are they learning how to manage transitions and routines with a bit of adult support? These might seem like small wins, but they help children feel capable, in control, and ready to take on their day.
A child doesn’t have to be ‘perfect’ to be ready
There’s no universal checklist a child must tick before starting school. All children develop at their own pace. Some will leap into the classroom with confidence. Others may take a little longer to settle. Both of which are okay.
What matters most is that we look at the whole child, not just their letters and numbers, but how they manage their body, emotions, relationships, and responsibilities. These are the true building blocks of school success. As occupational therapists, we’re here to support that journey, whether it’s helping a child strengthen their pencil grip, manage transitions, or build confidence in group play.
We’ve put together a simple checklist to help families and educators to reflect on the everyday skills that support a confident school start.
👉 Download the School Readiness Checklist
And if you're feeling unsure or have questions about your child’s development, you’re not alone. We’re here to help. Get in touch with us at hello@movingmountainsvillage.com.au or visit
movingmountainsvillage.com.au.
By Marie Criticos (OT)
