Educators Resources
Wish-You-Were-School-Ready
The unfiltered guide for Educators.
You’ve heard it. You’ve probably been asked to prepare children for it. But let’s be honest - “School Readiness” often feels like code for “fast-track this child into Reception mode before the paint dries.”
Let’s clear the fog…
What Is School Readiness (Really)?
School Readiness isn’t a checklist. It’s a spectrum.
Depending on who’s talking, it can mean wildly different things:
Healthcare professionals talk milestones — speech, physical development, toilet training
Charities zoom in on equity, safeguarding, and early intervention
Local Authorities talk data, funding, and referrals
Librarians (yes, they provide a school readiness perspective too) focus on fostering a love of stories, attention span, and community connection.
Some parents might say, “They’ve reached 4. They’re ready.”
Meanwhile, you’re in the middle — trying to hold the crayon, the cuddles, and the curriculum.
Who we mean by ‘educators’?
When we say educators, we’re including everyone involved in helping children learn and grow - whether you're a teacher, teaching assistant, early years’ practitioner, nursery staff member, home educator, or anyone else supporting children’s development day to day. We know that education happens in many forms and settings, and we value the vital role each of you plays.
So what does
Start-School-Ready offer?
We’re not here to replace anyone’s expertise. We’re here to add one that’s often missing:
The teacher’s perspective - and the child’s.
We work with Reception teachers who have been handed children with “school ready” stickers - and also children who’ve never heard the term. We know who thrives, who struggles, and why.
We also work with observations from children themselves - because the things that they find hard (and hilarious) are usually not in any checklist (except ours now - ‘Looking For Another Checklist?’ Opens in a new window).
What really matters in those first weeks of school?
✓ Regulating emotions without a meltdown under the table.
✓ Understanding what’s going on when everything’s new, loud, and a bit bananas.
✓ Asking for help when you’re confused, without gnawing your jumper sleeves.
✓ Handling frustration when your tower is knocked over, when your name's misread, or when your idea isn’t picked.
✓ Separating from your loved ones at the door - no matter how much you’d rather be clinging to their leg like a koala.
We’ve built resources, stories, and courses around these real-life moments for you - the people doing the work in nursery rooms.
We know you’re already juggling observations, nappies, key person catch-ups, snack duties, and the mystery of “why is everything sticky again?”
Our job? To give you tools and insights that actually help. No fluff. No guilt. No impossible standards.
Educators Courses & Resources
Create an account to get access to all the resources.
Interested in Workshops?
We are currently preparing School-Readiness workshops for Parents and Educators.
Let us know if you are interested.