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A Better Start Southend
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af Afrikaanssq Albanianam Amharicar Arabichy Armenianaz Azerbaijanieu Basquebe Belarusianbn Bengalibs Bosnianbg Bulgarianca Catalanceb Cebuanony Chichewazh-CN Chinese (Simplified)zh-TW Chinese (Traditional)co Corsicanhr Croatiancs Czechda Danishnl Dutchen Englisheo Esperantoet Estoniantl Filipinofi Finnishfr Frenchfy Frisiangl Galicianka Georgiande Germanel Greekgu Gujaratiht Haitian Creoleha Hausahaw Hawaiianiw Hebrewhi Hindihmn Hmonghu Hungarianis Icelandicig Igboid Indonesianga Irishit Italianja Japanesejw Javanesekn Kannadakk Kazakhkm Khmerko Koreanku Kurdish (Kurmanji)ky Kyrgyzlo Laola Latinlv Latvianlt Lithuanianlb Luxembourgishmk Macedonianmg Malagasyms Malayml Malayalammt Maltesemi Maorimr Marathimn Mongolianmy Myanmar (Burmese)ne Nepalino Norwegianps Pashtofa Persianpl Polishpt Portuguesepa Punjabiro Romanianru Russiansm Samoangd Scottish Gaelicsr Serbianst Sesothosn Shonasd Sindhisi Sinhalask Slovaksl Slovenianso Somalies Spanishsu Sudanesesw Swahilisv Swedishtg Tajikta Tamilte Teluguth Thaitr Turkishuk Ukrainianur Urduuz Uzbekvi Vietnamesecy Welshxh Xhosayi Yiddishyo Yorubazu Zulu

Getting Ready to Start School

Guidance to help you and your child prepare.

School Application Process

Your child will start school the year they turn 5, usually in the September before their 5th birthday.

 

If you are looking for a Southend school and would like more information about the application process, visit:

 

https://www.southend.gov.uk/school-admissions/primary-school-admissions-1 

More Information

School Readiness

You might have come across the term “school readiness” — this means helping to ensure your child is prepared for school by helping them develop a range of skills beyond academic skills. It includes social, emotional, and practical skills that support them to have a smooth and positive start to school life. In Southend, this is often referred to as being “Ready to Learn”. 

To support families, a new list of key ‘school readiness’ skills has been created by leading education and childcare organisations working together. This offers clear guidance to help parents prepare their children for starting school and making the most of their reception year.

Download the document

Support with starting school in Southend

ABSS, in partnership with City Family and Southend Libraries, have put together Let’s Get Ready for School bags which you can borrow free from any library in Southend. 

 

The Let’s Get Ready for School Bag is full of stories, tips, fun ideas, and simple activities you can enjoy with your child — whether you’re at home or out and about. It’s all designed to help your little one feel more confident and ready to start school. Each bag also includes Pip and Me Go to School, a book written by local Southend parents.

 

By gently preparing children for this big step, you can help them settle in more smoothly, help them feel confident about talking to different adults at school and making new friends, and helping them be ready to enjoy learning from their very first day at school.

“After the summer holidays, my daughter who is soon turning three, will be starting nursery. In the lead up to her settling-in sessions we have been reading to her the book ‘Pip & Me Go to School.’ It has been helping her to feel less anxious & more prepared.”
Parent, Southend
Starting School Southend Webinar

Listen to this recorded session from a SAVS lunchtime webinar to hear about tried-and-tested strategies that help make the transition to school smoother for both children and their families.

School Readiness Workshops

Southend Family Centres run free School Readiness Workshops during the summer term for local children getting ready to start Reception.

These sessions focus on building practical skills that children will need at school and offer a great opportunity for them to meet others who will be starting school at the same time as them. Parents and carers can also ask questions and get helpful tips on supporting their child’s transition. Please note that siblings cannot attend these sessions.

To book a space, email: familycentres@southend.gov.uk

Southend Family Centres website

Encouraging Independence and Social Skills

A ‘To Do’ List
  • Encourage your little one to be independent in practical skills such as going to the toilet, dressing, and undressing, blowing their nose, and putting on shoes, opening their lunchbox – this will help them settle into the school routine.
  • Let your child practice by encouraging them to dress up in their new school uniform and their PE kit during the summer holidays.
  • Make independent dressing easier by choosing school uniform with elastic waistbands and shoes with Velcro fastenings.
  • Encourage your child to recognise their written name. 
Useful links and information

Here are some very short practical skills videos that you and your child can watch together: 

As well as helping your child learn these important practical self-care skills, it’s just as important to support their social development as they get ready for “big school”. Building confidence in things like sharing, taking turns, talking to new adults and making friends can help them feel more comfortable in their new environment. 

 

Talking about school regularly with your child can also ease any worries and help them feel more excited about starting school. You can explain what a typical day might look like — things like lunchtime, playtime, and story time — so they know what to expect.

 

If your child is feeling anxious about being apart from you, this helpful article offers some practical tips.

 

Reading stories about school is a great way to start these conversations. You can download a list of recommended books here. All these books are available to borrow for free from Southend Libraries. 

Getting ready for the day

Chatting with your child whilst they get ready for the day is a great opportunity to introduce more words into your everyday routine. This video and article from the BBC provides some great guidance and tips.

Watch Video

Transitioning into School

Some tips to help you and your little one feel confident, happy, and ready for ‘big school’: 

Visits: Schools will invite you and your little one to come and visit the new class and meet their new teachers. Many schools now have virtual tours to watch at home together as well. 

‘Getting to know you’ sessions: The Reception Class teachers from your child’s new school may visit their nursery or pre-school if they attend one, so that they can join in their play, share stories and get to know them before they start school. 

On the way to school:  During the summer holidays, practice the journey to school and help your child become familiar with this, and talk about it often to remind them of things they see on they way .

Games: You can also play the ‘Chatterbox Challenge’ and ‘On the Way to School Lotto’ games. You can also make up your own things to do or find!  Both of these are in the Let’s Get Ready for School Bag, and they are also downloadable here.

There is a helpful Tip Sheet from Southend Council around preparing for starting school if your child has special educational needs.

You can also talk to your health visitor for advice.

Useful Links for School Readiness

School term and holiday dates
Learn More
Primary school admissions
Learn More
Free school meals
Learn More
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