Free reflective resource · Read online
School Readiness: Five Questions for Reflective Educators
Use these prompts to look closely at everyday practice, bring different perspectives into a conversation and identify one useful next step.
Set aside a few quiet minutes or choose one question for a team discussion. Begin with a concrete example. The aim is to understand how participation is supported, rather than assess a child against a universal readiness checklist.
What does participation look like for this child?
Think about an everyday experience rather than a general label such as “ready” or “not ready”. What can the child do, communicate and enjoy? Where do they need support? What changes when the setting or the people around them change?
Consider one specific example from your own setting.
Which expectations are we leaving unspoken?
Consider the routines adults may take for granted: managing belongings, finding help, joining a group, waiting or moving between activities. How are these expectations explained, modelled and practised?
Consider one specific example from your own setting.
How do our relationships support confidence?
Notice how adults respond when a child is uncertain, makes a mistake or needs assistance. What helps the child feel known and safe? Whose perspective could deepen your understanding?
Consider one specific example from your own setting.
What can we learn from families?
Ask what the child enjoys, what helps them settle and what families want educators to understand. How can that knowledge inform a respectful transition conversation without turning it into a judgement about parenting or the child?
Consider one specific example from your own setting.
What is one practical action we can try?
Choose a small change to a routine, environment or conversation. Decide what you will notice and when you will review it. How will you know whether the change made participation easier?
Consider one specific example from your own setting.