From research to a shared definition

Each year, Kindred Squared’s School Readiness Survey explores the experiences of teachers and parents as children begin Reception.

We know parents want the best for their children.  The findings repeatedly highlighted a challenge: while there was broad agreement that children benefit from developing key practical, social and communication skills before starting school, there was no single, widely agreed definition of what those skills and behaviours should be.

With a plethora of different definitions available, many parents reported feeling confused and unsure as to what being developmentally ‘ready’ for the big step of starting Reception year really means.  And for too many, the confusion meant that children are starting without some core life skills such as being able to dress or eat independently.  One in four not toilet trained, for instance, with one in five parents thinking it didn’t matter as highlighted in the School Readiness Survey(opens in new tab).

Children learn at different paces and special educational needs and disabilities can create diverse developmental journeys.  But the recognition of the value of a single, simple definition led to more than twenty expert organisations from across the early childhood sector working together to agree রিসেপশন পর্যায় শুরু করা: a shared definition of the skills that help children arrive at school feeling confident and ready to enjoy the opportunities of the school day.

Today, Starting Reception is being adopted by local authorities, schools, nurseries and childminders across the country, offering a consistent message.  The website also provides access to further information and support for families and can be translated into thirteen languages, with PDF versions available to print for all.