What should your child be able to do before school starts? Find out on page 16

What an exciting year this will be for both you and your child! As a parent to a blended family of eight children, I have been at this point of your journey many times myself. I know it ' s both exciting and daunting. Your little one will experience many firsts this year— first time trying on their uniform, first birthday party, first book read all by themselves— and as you watch them learn and grow, I’ m sure you’ ll experience a range of new emotions too!

This guide is packed with information, tips and advice so you can focus on enjoying this special time with your child. We ' ve also created an online hub with valuable resources – scan the QR code on the front of this guide to be taken straight there.

‘ Be School Ready’ has been created by Parentkind, the national charity for parents. Parentkind works tirelessly to support parents in enabling their children to thrive throughout their educational journey and beyond, which begins before they even start school. For more information about how we collaborate with and support parents, head to our website at parentkind. org

If you’ re looking to connect with other parents with children starting school this year, join our Be School Ready 2025 group on Facebook. You can share ideas and chat through your experiences with families going through exactly what you’ re going through.

Jason Elsom Chief Executive, Parentkind

We show you how to support learning at home with practical tips on page 26

Be School Ready 2025 @ parentkind @ parentkind

Photography: iStock. com / AzmanJaka, SeventyFour

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