Get ready for Nursery
Early Years 0- 5 Years
Between birth and age five, children develop important independence skills that prepare them for school and everyday life.
These milestones help children build confidence, self‑care routines, and social awareness. From the first goodbye, to the joy of new words and little milestones, each moment helps your child grow.
Learning new skills takes a little time, and that’s perfectly normal. Practising together at home helps your child feel more ready and confident when they start school.
Big changes like starting school, feel easier when your child has had plenty of practice at home and every little step builds their confidence.
Things to try at home
- Toileting: Being able to use the toilet independently, wipe properly, and wash hands. Lots of helpful information about toileting can be found on Eric, including some top toilet training tips for school.
- Communication: When you spend time playing, listening, and chatting with your little one, you’re helping them discover language and giving them the best start possible. Talk With Me provides lots of resources on how you can help your child with their communication skills.
- Dressing: Putting on and taking off coats, shoes, and jumpers without help. Supporting your child's dressing skills will help them become more independent, here's some NHS advice to help them become more confident.
- Eating: Encourage healthy eating at home, with healthy food suggestions on Aneurin Bevan University Health Board. Practice using cutlery, opening lunch boxes or snack packets. Regular practice strengthens skills through repetition, encourage your child to practice often.
- Managing belongings: Hanging up a coat, putting things in a bag, and recognising their own name on labels.
- Supportive Activities: Engage children in activities like drawing, building with blocks and using playdough to enhance their fine motor skills.
- Tidying up: Putting toys or resources away after use.
- Sharing and turn-taking: Playing cooperatively with other children.
- Expressing needs: Encourage asking for help when needed and saying how they feel.
- Sitting and listening: Joining group activities such as story time at your local library.
- Following instructions: Keep it simple, try two-step instructions such as "please put your toys away and wash your hands".
Did you know
Torfaen Early Years offer a range of parenting support and services including Flying Start to support you to give your child the best possible start in life.
Parenting Give It Time also has some helpful information to help you and your child before they start nursery or school.
Aneurin Bevan University Health Board have produced some helpful resources for parents which includes advice regarding school readiness - Age 2 to Starting School and Age 4 to 7
Reminders for getting ready for School Admissions
Whilst you're helping your child prepare to get ready for nursery school, did you know about entitlement and applications for 3-4 year olds?
Children normally start primary school at the start of the school year in which their fifth birthday falls (i.e. 1 September to 31 August inclusive). Apply for Reception.
Children normally transfer from primary to secondary school at the start of the school year in which their twelfth birthday falls (i.e. 1 September to 31 August inclusive). Apply for Secondary.