Who’s behind the School-Readiness materials?
About Us
We’re Susie and Adam — educators, parents, and the team behind Start-School-Ready.
Together, we bring over 30 years of combined experience working across Nurseries, Primary, and Specialist schools, including valuable time in both the classroom and senior leadership.
Susie (BA Hons + QTS) brings experience in Literacy, Phonics, Pupil Voice, and early childhood education, while Adam (BSc Hons, QTS + NASENCO) draws on his work as a qualified SENCO supporting children with a wide range of needs. We understand what’s expected in a Reception classroom - and what really helps children thrive when they get there.
After reading the Jan 2025 School Readiness Survey (which revealed that only 66% of children were ‘school ready’ at Reception entry), we realised how little support exists for families and nurseries who are asking: “What does school readiness really mean?”
Many of those expectations are a mystery to parents and early years staff, so…
We created Start-School-Ready to share what we know — because all families deserve support, not guesswork, when it comes to helping their child step into Reception ready to thrive.
How Start-School-Ready Was Born
The idea for Start-School-Ready came from a growing concern we couldn’t ignore as teachers and parents to a 3-year-old. We went searching for answers.
What we found was a huge gap in support. For families and nurseries seeking clarity, there were many checklists but very little accessible and relatable guidance.
We thought: Shouldn’t nurseries provide the information?
Through Susie’s recent experience working across multiple nurseries, she saw just how many nursery teams were unsure about school expectations. And really - why would they know, if they’ve never stepped into a Reception classroom themselves?
Then we thought: Shouldn’t schools provide the information?
In reality, many Reception teams are stretched and rely on external organisations or occasional training to guide their transition work. If parents are lucky, they might receive a flyer or attend a brief meeting in the final weeks of nursery school - but by then, it’s often far too late.
Many families head into the summer holidays thinking, “We’ll leave that for the teacher to deal with in September.” But what if schools, nurseries, and parents were all on the same page before that point?
We created Start-School-Ready to change that - to lift the lid on school life and share the classroom “secrets” that can make a world of difference for children starting Reception.
Our mission
At Start-School-Ready, we’re on a mission to take the mystery out of starting school.
We help parents and early years professionals get children truly ready for Reception - not just by ticking off milestones, but by showing exactly what really matters when school begins.
Led by experienced teachers, we deliver straight-talking training, expert consultancy, and no-nonsense advice that opens the door to the classroom. We share what works and why it matters.
This isn’t about guesswork or generic guidance. It’s about practical tools, real insight, and proven strategies. Because getting school-ready shouldn’t be a mystery - it’s about giving every adult the tools to do it with clarity.