Communication and language
• Singing along with songs and nursery rhymes
• Talking happily to others about activities, experiences and the world around them
• Showing they need help by speaking clearly( in basic English or sign language)
• Recognising the pattern of their name( so they can find it on their coat peg or jacket)
Listening and engaging
• Paying attention for short periods of time
• Listening to and following simple instructions
• Carrying on with a task even when it’ s difficult, and bouncing back if things go wrong
Physical development
Getting moving for at least three hours a day
• Walking up and down steps( one foot at a time, using the wall for support)
• Climbing, running, jumping and playing
• Catching a large ball( most of the time)
• Doing simple puzzles and craft activities, strengthening their grip with cutting and sticking
Healthy routines
• Going to bed around the same time each night, waking up in time to get ready for school
• Limiting screen time to the recommended daily amounts
• Eating a healthy diet and trying new foods
• Brushing their teeth with fluoride toothpaste twice a day( you’ ll need to supervise this until they’ re at least seven)
What should I do if I am worried about my child’ s development?
• If you ' re worried about your child ' s progress, talk to your childminder / nursery / pre-school team, health visitor, local children ' s centre or family hub
• If your child has developmental delays or SEND( suspected or confirmed), speak to their nursery, childminder, or health visitor / nursery / pre-school team well before they start reception and discuss their needs when you are selecting schools
• You can work with your child’ s early years setting to help your child with self-care, managing emotions, social skills and communication in a way that suits their stage of development
• You might want to share details about their development, needs, what motivates them, what might trigger difficulties, how they learn best and what strategies work well
• Make sure you share important information with everyone supporting your child, including their new reception teacher
Every child is different and progresses at different rates. The teacher will be expecting this and a lot of the items on these checklists will be set as goals for the whole class. If you suspect your child might have SEND, you can read more on how the building blocks of learning might look for them on our Be School Ready Hub Photography: iStock. com / Albert Shakirov, SeventyFour, comzeal images. Illustrations: shutterstock. com / LHF Graphics, Freepik. com
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