School readiness
Guides on school readiness, sharing books and early sound games — written for Australian parents.
Learning about books and print
Short ways to share books with your child and to notice the words on covers, signs and labels.1 min readPlaying with sounds in words
Short games with the beats in words, rhymes and first sounds, where your child claps, points or listens.1 min readIs my child ready for school? A practical checklist
School readiness is about more than knowing the alphabet — here's what teachers and researchers say actually matters.6 min read
What the school readiness guides cover
Is my child ready for school? explains what “school ready” means and gives a checklist. It also covers when to get extra support, and starting school a year later.
The other two guides are short activities for home. One is about sharing books and noticing the words on covers, signs and labels. The other has games with the beats in words, rhymes and first sounds, where your child claps, points or listens.
If you or your child’s educator have concerns, the school readiness page lists the services that help and providers across Australia.