School readiness extends far beyond being able to write their name or read
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is the statutory framework for early education in England. The EYFS sets the standards and requirements to ensure school readiness and spans seven key areas of development. These include three prime areas:
Communication and language: developing listening skills, understanding instructions, holding conversations and expressing ideas confidently.
Physical development: strengthening gross and fine motor skills, to help with coordination, balance and holding a pencil.
Personal, social and emotional development (PSED): building relationships, learning to manage emotions and behaviour, developing confidence and resilience and self care like toileting.
These are supported by four specific areas:
Literacy: comprehension, reading, phonics awareness and early writing.
Mathematics, including counting, recognising patterns and comparing quantities.
Understanding the world by exploring people, places, technology and the natural world.
Expressive arts and design, like imaginative play, art, music, movement and storytelling.
A key part of this preparation happens through daily routines and play-based learning, as early years settings implement routines for children to become familiar with.
Things like transitioning between activities, sitting for group time and learning through structured play are just a few examples. All of this helps to develop:
Social and emotional skills through playing and working with peers - learning to share, cooperate, express feelings, and resolve simple conflicts.
Communication skills, which include asking for help, expressing needs and listening to others.
Organisational skills like managing their coat, lunchbox, or book bag.
Cognitive and problem-solving skills, often built through games, puzzles, storytelling, and hands-on activities.
Fine motor skills, vital for tasks like using cutlery, holding a pencil, using a toothbrush or fastening buttons.
And don’t underestimate the value of physical play. This - whether climbing outdoors or painting at a table - also plays a major role in preparing children for the stamina, coordination and focus they’ll need for school.
What Mumsnet users say
We held focus groups in June 2025 with select Mumsnet users to delve into how funded childcare helps them and their families. Here's what they had to say.
Building foundations for school
"I think being around other children, learning skills like sharing, routines etc, is a really important step for school. I also trust [that] nursery will partner with me/support on things like potty training - important for school readiness." - Fiona, 38-year-old mum of one
"It's giving them a routine which will definitely helps for starting school. They also have rules to follow and teachers to listen to. Their independence from us will always help." - Saphya, 36-year-old mum of two
"It gets them used to the longer days and also the formality of school and learning. They get used to having adults around who nurture how they grow. They also generally learn more at nursery than they would at home, which puts them ahead of others when starting school." - Sarah, 39-year-old mum of four
Developing social skills and independence
"I feel that it is helping him to respect authority from others outside of his immediate family. I hope that it's teaching him to mix and respond well to his peers. It's certainly helped him with some of the essentials for school, such as potty/toilet training too." - Kim, 36-year-old mum of two
"General contributions are a more resilient child, more confidence, happy to interact with teachers and other children, [and] good numerical skills. He has learnt independence and what he can achieve with it. Even [at] dinner time and better cutlery usage he generally gets so proud of himself showing us his cutting skills at dinner time." - Naomi, 39-year-old mum of two
The broader benefits
"We really like our daughter's setting and see them as being essential - also they educate my child, she does exciting things with them she wouldn't be able to do at home, and have tips/observations that are so helpful - they are part of our village albeit one we pay for." - Fiona, 38-year-old mum of one
Worried about childcare guilt?
You’re not alone. Lots of parents on Mumsnet say they felt the same. But many also found that seeing their DC thrive in a new environment helped ease those worries and actually feel childcare in the early years helped shape their child. As user InfoSecInTheCity shares:
“Me and DH had to work full time, that was just a fact of life, so DD needed to go to childcare. We found a great nursery, and she started when she was nine months old full time. She went until the week before she started reception.
“During that time she had two keyworkers, both of whom were wonderful. She interacted with hundreds of children, she learned social skills and could read and write before starting school. She is now a happy, well adjusted, confident, loving, amazing 10 year old and nursery [has] had some input in her becoming who she is.”
When should my child start childcare?
There’s no universal answer. Some children attend from infancy, others start closer to school age.
Many parents opt for part-time places and that can still be hugely beneficial. Even attending just a few mornings a week helps children build confidence, learn routines and get used to being away from their primary caregiver.
What’s more important than age is finding a setting that suits your child’s temperament and developmental stage.