School Readiness Assessment
Are they ready for school?
Starting school is a significant step in a child’s development. Along with learning new academic skills, children are expected to manage a range of social, emotional, sensory, cognitive, and physical demands throughout the school day.
School readiness is not solely determined by age and involves the development of a range of skills that support successful participation in the classroom and wider school community.
Our School Readiness Assessment Explores your child’s
- Social Skills: Interacting with peers and adults, sharing, taking turns, and participating in group activities.
- Emotional Regulation: Managing emotions, coping with challenges, and adapting to changes in routine.
- Communication Skills: Understanding and using language to express needs, follow instructions, and engage in conversations.
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Cognitive and Early Learning Skills: Developing foundational skills for learning, including problem-solving, memory, reasoning, concept development, understanding basic literacy and numeracy concepts, and the ability to learn new information through play and everyday experiences.
- Attention and Learning Skills: Listening, concentrating, following directions, and participating in structured activities.
- Motor Skills: Developing fine motor skills for tasks such as drawing, cutting, writing, and gross motor skills for playground and classroom activities.
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Praxis (Motor Planning): The ability to plan, organise, and carry out unfamiliar or multi-step motor tasks. Praxis supports activities such as learning new playground games, using classroom tools and equipment, completing obstacle courses, participating in self-care tasks, and adapting movements to meet changing demands.
- Independence and Self-Care: Managing personal belongings, toileting, dressing, eating, and completing age-appropriate tasks independently.
- Sensory Processing: Responding appropriately to sensory information such as noise, movement, touch, and visual input to support learning and participation.
Does my child need a School Readiness Assessment?
You may wish to seek a school readiness assessment if your child experiences difficulties with:
- Following instructions or routines
- Managing emotions and behaviour
- Interacting with peers
- Attention and concentration
- Fine motor skills, including drawing and pre-writing tasks
- Independence with self-care tasks
- Sensory sensitivities or sensory-seeking behaviours
- Transitions and adapting to new environments
The assessment identifies your child’s strengths and areas where further support may be helpful, enabling us to provide practical recommendations to promote a confident and successful transition to school.
What does a School Readiness Assessment involve?
It typically includes a parent interview and questionnaires, standardised assessments and play-based activities. Assessments are usually completed in the clinic, with an observation at preschool or childcare arranged where needed.