WARRINGTON Borough Council’s early years team has launched their new school readiness pathway – Ready, Steady, Go with four online workshops running next week!
The pathway supports the parents and carers of young children from birth so that every child has the basic skills needed to start school and settle in as quickly and smoothly as possible.
School readiness can mean different things to different people and the new pathway will ensure that parents and carer know where to go to get the help and support they need to get their child to be ‘school ready’.
The scheme will also focus on increasing the number of children in Warrington at the age of five years reaching a ‘good level of development’. This is to prevent children from falling behind in the early years, where they usually then have little chance of catching up to their peers.
Most children that are ready for school are able to do a range of activities, from following instructions, holding a pen and writing their own name, to going to the toilet by themselves and being able to use a knife and fork.
Families can also help children be prepared by doing activities like playing, reading and chatting together and eating together at a table. It is also important families have a good support network and access help and support when they need it.
Families, early years providers, schools and health providers will work together to identify any areas where a child or family might need additional support, in order to get the child ready for when they start school.
The Council will be running four online drop-in sessions about the new pathway for professionals working in settings/schools and in health services on:
·Wednesday 6 October at 10am and 2pm
·Friday 8 October at 10am and 2pm
Councillor Sarah Hall, cabinet member for children’s services, said: “This pathway will ensure that your child will be able to meet the new and exciting challenges they will face when they start school at the age of four. By making sure your child has a solid foundation of skills, they can jump right into their new life at school and really build on these skills in a new learning environment.
“The Ready, Steady, Go platform will help identify how school ready children are, and if any additional support is needed for their development to make sure they have the best possible start at school.”
For more information and resources for parents/carers and professionals to support children to be school ready, visit: https://www.warrington.gov.uk/ReadySteadyGo
