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Starting Reception: The Definition

The definition: skills to practise before starting Reception

We understand that all children develop at their own pace, and that we’re all learning from birth. When it’s time to start school, some children will need more help than others.

There are key skills that schools expect children to be learning before their first day. Practising these will make your child’s journey to Reception as positive as possible.

Download the full PDF here.

Taking care of themselves

  • Putting on/taking off their coat and shoes
  • Using the toilet and washing their hands
  • Getting dressed with little help, e.g. after using the toilet or doing PE
  • Using cutlery (e.g. fork and spoon, chopsticks) and drinking from an open cup
  • Spending time away from you, learning they can be looked after by caring adults

Play, creativity and curiosity

  • Taking part in imaginative play (e.g. role play)
  • Drawing, painting, colouring and sticking
  • Counting, building and doing puzzles
  • Sharing story books with caregivers, looking at pictures and talking about the characters
  • Exploring the world around them (e.g. looking closely at the natural world, noticing numbers, patterns and shapes, playing safely with objects at home)

Useful Links: 

Growing independence 

Taking care of themselves 

Toilet training

Playing, creativity and curiosity 

Being with others

  • Practising sharing and taking turns with toys
  • Talking to them about how they are feeling and why
  • Looking at story books together and speaking about what characters are feeling is a good way to do this
  • Beginning to recognise what others are feeling, e.g. understanding if a friend is sad
  • Encouraging them to set boundaries for themselves and others (e.g. knowing how to say ‘no’)

Communication and language

  • Singing along with songs and nursery rhymes
  • Talking happily to others about activities, experiences and the world around them
  • Showing they need help by speaking clearly (in basic English or sign language)
  • Recognising the pattern of their name (so they can find it on their coat peg or jacket)

Listening and engaging

  • Paying attention for short periods of time
  • Listening to and following simple instructions
  • Carrying on with a task even when it’s difficult and bouncing back if things go wrong

Useful Links: 

Building relationships and communicating

Being with others

Communication and language

Listening and engaging

Getting moving for at least three hours a day

  • Walking up and down steps (one foot at a time, using the wall for support)
  • Climbing, running, jumping and playing
  • Catching a large ball (most of the time)
  • Doing simple puzzles and craft activities, strengthening their grip with cutting and sticking

Useful Links: 

Physical development

  • Going to bed around the same time each night, waking up in time to get ready for school
  • Limiting screen time to the recommended daily amounts (see advice)
  • Eating a healthy diet and trying new foods
  • Brushing their teeth with fluoride toothpaste twice a day (you’ll need to supervise this until they are at least 7)

Useful Links:

Understand what 'healthy' levels of screen time are, by age

Get insights on internet safety, how screen use impacts young children and recommended screen time

And for those with younger children, the NCT covers advice for babies and toddlers too:

Help children build a strong relationship with food and make the right choices from the start

Brushing teeth

Sleep guidance