School readiness

Getting your child ready for starting primary school can feel like a big step. You may be trying to help your child feel excited for the change but on the inside you may be feeling sad, worried or nervous about this new chapter in their life. Your child may be feeling a mix of emotions as well. On this page we have pulled together lots of resources that you may find useful.

Our starting school checklists

You might be wondering what you need to do to prepare your child for the practical aspects of starting school, such as getting dressed, eating with a knife and fork and going to the toilet on their own. We have created a handy starting school checklist on this for you below. Please open the image here (opens in new window). You can also print off this printer friendly version (opens in new window). 

The transition to starting school can feel very big. Things like getting used to wearing their school uniform, looking at photos of their classroom, and getting used to the new routine in the run up to school starting can all help make it smoother. We have created this visual below to help you to make a smooth transition. To print this out, please open the image here (opens in new window). You can also download this printer friendly version of the road to school (opens in new window).

Useful resources 

• Starting primary school from BBC Bitesize (opens in new window) has loads of useful resources such as games, celebrity stories, tips for parents on things such as how to help your child make friends at school.
• Here are some tips from Health for Under 5s on starting school covering independence, playing skills and writing skills (opens in new window)
• If your child is feeling nervous, here are Seven tips to help kids keep calm from BBC Bitesize (opens in new window)
• Health For Under 5s also has a starting school reward chart which you can use to set goals to work towards (opens in new window)
• The Health For Under 5s website also covers the essential skills children need for starting school here (opens in new window).
• We have also written some useful blogs on starting primary school and on starting in childcare or school.

Useful videos

 Starting primary school- Supporting your child from ChatHealth on Vimeo.  Visit their website for more resources (opens in new window).

Healthy lunch ideas

If your child will be having a packed lunch, it might be challenging to know where to start. Base the main lunch around items like wholegrain bread, rice and pasta or potatoes to keep them fuller for longer. Always add veg! Add bitesize fruit - tinned counts too. Try and include a portion of dairy or dairy alternative and don't forget a portion of protein. Children do like variety so you could try giving them dipping foods or wraps with a pot of filling for them to make themselves.

The websites below might be helpful to give you some ideas.

• The Eatwell guide can be helpful to get the balance right (opens in new window). 
• The NHS Healthier Families site has some healthier lunch box ideas (opens in new window).
• BBC Bitesize has 15 easy and nutritious lunchbox ideas (opens in new window).
• The First Steps Nutrition site has information and downloadable PDFs on eating well in the early years (opens in new window).

Starting secondary school can be both an exiting and stressful time.

There are things you can do to help ease your child into the changes, like making sure you chat to them about how they are feeling and how it will be very different to what they are used to, reassure them that nerves are perfectly normal and keeping your own worries away from them. Young Minds have lots of information on how to help your young person transition to secondary school (opens in new window).

You might find our page on exam stress helpful for when exam season begins.

Check out the films below for some more advice.

Starting secondary school from Health for Teens

Starting secondary school- Supporting your child from Health for Teens