Skills for School
What is School Readiness?
School Readiness refers to a child’s ability to independently operate in a variety of areas necessary for successful transition into the school environment. It is based on a holistic approach that considers factors such as cognitive, physical, social, and emotional development, as well as communication skills and general approaches to learning1.
Some essential School Readiness skills include: following directions, completing tasks independently, following routine, asking questions, seeking assistance or clarification and participating in group activities.
School Readiness also focuses on the development of fundamental knowledge, skills and behaviours in literacy and numeracy, and other areas including physical and social capacities13.
Transition from early learning environments (preschool, kindergarten etc) into the structured primary school setting can prove challenging for children. It can be particularly difficult especially for children with speech, language and/or social difficulties12.
Within Victoria, there is a wide range of programs and checklists that address School Readiness. However, there is a lack of programs that target children with speech, language and/or social difficulties.
This website is developed as a resource for parents with children who have speech, language and/or social difficulties.
It contains
- information regarding language development, communication skills, listening skills, following routine, early literacy skills, social knowledge, emotional maturity and fine motor skills
- some activities to facilitate the development of these skills
- frequently asked questions regarding school readiness
- links to useful websites