Getting ready to start school
On this page, you will find information on how sharing books and stories can help to prepare your child for starting school, plus top tips and book recommendations.
Starting school is an exciting time, with lots of new experiences ahead for your child. But we know it can come with mixed emotions too.
How can books and stories help my child get ready for school?
1. Sharing stories together can help you and your child feel closer and more connected
A quiet snuggle with you and a book can help them feel safe and secure. It can also bring moments of calm to busy family life, especially as you get ready for change.
2. Sharing books and stories can help your child develop stronger social skills
This can help them feel more ready to meet new people and make friends when they start school.
3. Reading and sharing stories supports speech and language development
Supporting them to communicate well will help your child with all the different learning they will do at school, including helping them listen to their teachers and speak up and say what they need.
4. Stories can help children feel more comfortable and confident settling into school.
Children’s books cover lots of different topics, from getting ready in the morning, to what a school day might be like. These can help your child get familiar with different parts of school life and its routines. Keep reading for some recommendations on books that we think will help you get started!
5. Books and stories can open up conversations and encourage your child to share their feelings about starting school.
Your child might have mixed emotions about the change. Sharing books and stories can help you talk about those feelings together and offer reassurance if your child needs it.
Helping your child prepare
What will reading and sharing stories be like at school? How can I help my child prepare?
Some parents and carers tell us that they start to think or even worry about what their child needs to know before they start school.
Teachers understand children will be at different stages with their reading, and will support your child throughout their time at school. They’ll be learning the skills to read once they start, but what you can do for now is to help them get ready and excited.
Enjoying and having fun sharing stories and books with them is one of the best things you can do to help prepare your child.
Seeing books as something to enjoy will help them them learn, especially when they start reading on their own. What’s more, our research tells us that enjoying reading also makes it more likely they’ll do well across all their other school subjects too.
Tips for reading together
The first step in having fun with books and stories is to get familiar with them, from holding a book and turning the pages to listening to the story. If you don’t speak English as your first language or read yourself, looking at the pictures together and chatting about them is great too. Check out some of our tips below for more ways to have fun together!
There’s no right or wrong way to share books and stories with your child, so even if you are new to it, you can try out different things and see what suits you and your family. Just a couple of minutes a day whenever you get the chance can be a great start. If you’re looking for inspiration, you’ll find some ideas in our booklet for parents of children aged 4–6.
Finding books that your child can relate to is important, especially if they aren’t very enthusiastic about reading at the moment. So whether they’re mad about dinosaurs, bugs, or vehicles, our Bookfinder might be useful to look through together to search for books on themes and topics your child will enjoy.
You might even encourage your child to look out for their favourite books and characters among the books at school, and talk to their new friends and teachers about what they like.
Questions like: ‘What do you think might happen next?’ or ‘What do you think that character is doing?’ can get your child thinking. Let them take the lead and ask you questions too!
You might do this first by looking at pictures and asking how the characters feel about different situations in the story. You can also check out books on friendship, or ones that encourage children to talk about themselves.
Whether it’s grandparents, aunts or siblings, the more people your child sees reading, the more they will want to read too.
As well as having something to look forward to, it helps create a consistent routine that you can continue once they start school and help wind down from a busy day. Check out our tips on building a bedtime routine.
Whether it’s checking out a group Storytime session at your local library, taking a favourite book with you to the park or rediscovering one of your own favourite childhood stories, remember there are lots of different ways to bring reading and story sharing into your day-to-day life.
Watch our video to find out how other families are enjoying the magic of sharing stories at home
Reading’s important to us as a family, as we get to have a good cwtch on the settee. We get to have a good laugh
Mum, Wales
Once your child starts school
The transition to school doesn’t stop on day one.
In fact, it’s just the beginning! As your child progresses through school, there’ll be different stages of learning when it comes to reading, including them learning to read on their own.
But don’t forget to still take time for those special moments together to get cosy with a favourite book. Continuing to enjoy reading and sharing stories with your child once school starts will play an important part in their learning, relationships and support their wider wellbeing now and in the future.
Helpful resources and book recommendations
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Some of our favourite books for children who are starting school. Whether they’re nervous or excited, these books are perfect for preparing your little ones for that big step.
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Olu’s Teacher author and Early Years educator and consultant Jamel C. Campbell offers advice on how to ease transition worries.
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Here is a selection of lovely picture books that highlight the everyday moments of a little one’s life and help them with familiar daily activities and routines.
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Here’s a round-up of new children’s books from the last year, which we think any child aged 4 to 5 will love
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Daisy Upton, aka the Five-Minute Mum, recommends some brilliant books to read with a pre-schooler.
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Our Pori Drwy Stori Nursery and Reception programmes support school readiness through reading and rhyme for all children in Wales.
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