Starting Reception in Doncaster - Let's Get School Ready!

The time has finally arrived for your little one to take their first big steps into the world of school and education!

Along with the school uniform list and getting the transition/settling in days in the diary, school readiness is a huge part of preparing your child for their next big milestone.

School readiness really starts at home, and there's so much you can do that is easy, free and accessible to help with some of those key skills. We understand that all children develop at their own pace, and that we’re all learning from birth. When it’s time to start school, some children will need more help than others.

There are key skills that schools expect children to be learning before their first day. Practising these will make your child’s journey to Reception as positive as possible. If your child is already at nursery, in pre-school, or with a childminder, those professionals will work with you and your child to help get them ready.

There’s lots you can do at home to build your child’s confidence and independence, helping them feel emotionally and practically prepared to start school.

What skills does my child need to start school?

Good question! In fact, the government released their new 'Starting Reception' guidance in 2025, designed to support parents/carers, families and professionals to understand what 'good' school readiness looks like.

School readiness covers four key areas:

Growing Independence: Encouraging self-care skills such as dressing, toileting, and eating independently.
Building Relationships and Communicating: Developing social skills, emotional expression, and effective communication.
Physical Development: Enhancing fine and gross motor skills through play and daily activities.
Healthy Routines: Establishing consistent sleep patterns, hygiene practices, and screen time management.

Discover the skills you need to start Reception!: Download (1.46MB - PDF)

Growing Independence

Taking care of themselves

Putting on/taking off their coat and shoes
Using the toilet and washing their hands
Getting dressed with little help, e.g. after using the toilet or doing PE
Using cutlery (e.g. fork and spoon, chopsticks) and drinking from an open cup
Spending time away from you, learning they can be looked after by caring adults

Play, creativity and curiosity

Taking part in imaginative play (e.g. role play)
Drawing, painting, colouring and sticking
Sharing story books with caregivers, looking at pictures and talking about the characters
Exploring the world around them (e.g. looking closely at the natural world or playing safely with objects at home)

Building relationships and communicating

Being with others

Practising sharing and taking turns with toys
Talking to them about how they are feeling and why
Looking at story books together and speaking about what characters are feeling is a good way to do this
Beginning to recognise what others are feeling, e.g. understanding if a friend is sad
Encouraging them to set boundaries for themselves and others (e.g. knowing how to say ‘no’)

Communication and language

Singing along with songs and nursery rhymes
Talking happily to others about activities, experiences and the world around them
Showing they need help by speaking clearly (in basic English or sign language)
Recognising the pattern of their name (so they can find it on their coat peg or jacket) Listening and engaging
Paying attention for short periods of time • Listening to and following simple instructions
Carrying on with a task even when it’s difficult and bouncing back if things go wrong

Physical development

Walking up and down steps (one foot at a time, using the wall for support)
Climbing, running, jumping and playing
Catching a large ball (most of the time)
Doing simple puzzles and craft activities, strengthening their grip with cutting and sticking

Healthy Routines

Going to bed around the same time each night, waking up in time to get ready for school
Limiting screen time to the recommended daily amounts (see advice)
Eating a healthy diet and trying new foods
Brushing their teeth with fluoride toothpaste twice a day (you’ll need to supervise this until they are at least 7)

New skills take time to learn. Practising at home will help your child move into school more easily and with confidence. In the weeks leading up to their first day, why not try different activities at home with your child to help them become more prepared before Reception. Your child may be able to do some or all of the activities. Reinforcing these and offering praise supports children to continue to do them.

What can I do to help my child at home?

There is so much you can do at home to help your child get ready for school! Many of them are easy and accessible with little prep needed. We've created a full webpage of resources, activities and guidance around each one of the essential skills available HERE

Why not also take part in our Doncaster Ready For Reception Challenge? It's a way to make skills development fun, and there's even a certificate and a free book for little ones who take part! Find out more below..

Doncaster Ready For Reception Challenge 2025!

The Doncaster Ready For Reception Challenge is a fun way to make learning new skills fun for our little ones. There's lots of skills we need our children to start school with, but we've picked out some key skills as part of our challenge which are really important to master before school begins!

Complete all of the challenges on your challenge cards below, and your little one can have a certificate AND a free book! All you have to do is pop into your local Family Hub to collect your child's certificate and book, or you can print the certificate at home. Check out the challenge cards below:

Completed the challenge and need some more inspiration? We've got a big list of other skills our little ones need as well as some activities and guidance to work on their skills together at home! Find the full list on our 'Building School Readiness Skills' webpage.

Don't forget to download the Doncaster Ready For Reception Challenge Certificate below, or pop into any Family Hub to pick up a copy AND a free book for your child!

Starting Reception Challenge Certificate: Download (3.19MB - PDF)

Think your little one needs some extra help getting school-ready?

Don't worry! This is a huge step for the children AND the grown-ups around them. There's lots of support available in Doncaster and here's just a few contacts who can give you some friendly advice or a helping hand:

Doncaster Health Visitors

Did you know that you can access the support of your Health Visitor until your child turns 5? Doncaster 0-5 Health Visiting service consists of Specialist Community Public Health nurses and other professionals who provide information, assessments and interventions from pregnancy through to 5 years of age for infants, children and their families. They also offer comprehensive support to prepare children for school, focusing on both individual development and family well-being. Families can contact the Health Visiting team through the Single Point of Contact on 0300 021 8997

Early Years Team at Your Local Family Hub

With a wealth of experience, our early years specialists stand ready to equip parents with the tools and guidance needed to lay robust foundations for their child’s successful start to school. Support is available around confidence, resilience, independence, self-care, emotional wellbeing, routines, sleep, behaviour, communication and language and physical development. Support will be provided on a one-to-one basis in the family home. For more information about how to access support please email Earlyyearssupport@doncaster.gov.uk

Support with Getting Back to School

Whether your little one is just starting school or is returning for a new year, we've got lots of advice and information around accessing discounted uniform and uniform banks, planning travel, emotional support and much more on our dedicated 'Back to School' page!