School Readiness and Transitions
Starting school is an exciting milestone, and at St Vincent’s we prepare children for much more than simply being able to read, write or count. For us, school readiness is about developing happy, confident, curious and independent children who are ready to embrace their next adventure.
Throughout nursery life, and particularly within our Pre-school room, children are supported to develop the skills they will need for school. Our Early Years Teacher, Mrs Cassel, leads this area of our curriculum, working closely with the team and supporting children right from Early Learners through to their final year with us.
Through playful, meaningful experiences, we help children develop:
Confidence and emotional well-being – feeling secure, resilient and ready to try new things.
Independence – managing belongings, dressing, toileting, mealtimes and other everyday self-care skills.
Communication and friendships – expressing themselves, listening to others, taking turns and building positive relationships.
Early literacy and maths – developing a love of stories, mark-making, numbers, patterns and problem-solving.
Physical skills – building the fine and gross motor control needed for everything from using tools and scissors to dressing independently.
Curiosity and a love of learning – asking questions, exploring ideas and having the confidence to think for themselves.
In September, we sent out a survey to all parents whose child transitioned to a primary school in September to gather feedback on how they felt the transition went, despite the very challenging year. This is how parents would rate the quality of preparation for transition to school:
'I couldn't have expected any more from you and so thankful my child attended here. He wouldn't have had the same start in school without you all.'
'The transition couldn't have been any smoother. The days my daughter spent at the school and the extra time she got really helped her with the transition to school.'
'I don't think the transition couldn't have been any better. My child has transitioned well and I believe this is from the plans and support you all provided. She refers to the nursery time with positivity but without feeling like she should be back there.'
'An outstanding nursery, so blessed that we were able to get a place and to see all the growth that happened as a person there.'
'No better place for a child to attend.'
Moving on to 'Big School'...
We know that starting school can bring a mixture of excitement and a few butterflies, for parents as well as children! During the summer term, we work closely with Reception teams to make the transition as familiar and exciting as possible.
Children enjoy experiences such as visiting Reception classrooms, exploring the school environment, having lunch in the school hall, playing alongside Reception children and meeting teachers and teaching assistants.
By the time our children leave St Vincent’s, our greatest hope is that they walk through those school doors feeling confident, capable and excited to discover what comes next.
