Your child does not need to read, write their full name or tie their shoelaces before they start Prep. That surprises a lot of parents, because getting ready for Prep can feel like a race to teach letters and numbers before February. In practice, the things that help most on day one are far simpler: being able to open a lunchbox, ask for help, go to the toilet independently and cope with a room full of new faces.
Term four is when this starts to feel real. Enrolments are confirmed, uniforms appear in shop windows, and many schools run orientation sessions before the end of the year. This guide covers what genuinely matters, what you can quietly let go of, and how to make the change easier for the whole household, including the logistics that land on parents.
Getting ready for Prep starts with independence, not academics
Teachers are very good at teaching letters and numbers. That is their job, and Prep is designed for children who are arriving with a wide range of skills. What is harder in a class of twenty or more is helping every child with every small practical task at once. The children who settle quickest are often the ones who can manage a few of these on their own.
- Opening their lunchbox and drink bottle. Practise with the actual containers they will use. Some are surprisingly tricky for small hands.
- Going to the toilet alone, including washing hands and managing their uniform.
- Putting on and taking off shoes and a hat. Velcro is your friend in the first year.
- Recognising their own belongings. Label everything, and show them what their label looks like.
- Asking an adult for help. This might be the most important one of all.
None of this needs formal teaching. Build it into ordinary days over the coming months and it will feel natural by the time school starts.
Social and emotional readiness
Starting school is a big social step. Your child will be sharing space, waiting their turn, following group instructions and spending a full day away from the people they know best. You can help by giving them small, low stakes practice.
Practise short separations
If your child has not spent much time away from you, a few regular hours with another trusted adult can make the first weeks of school far easier. It teaches them that you leave and you come back, and that other grown ups can be kind and safe too.
Play games with turns and rules
Simple board games, card games and playground games are excellent practice for waiting, winning and losing without the world ending.
Talk about feelings
Give your child words for what they might feel: excited, nervous, tired, shy. Children who can name a feeling are more likely to tell a teacher about it rather than show it in other ways.
Make the most of orientation
If your school offers orientation sessions in term four, go to as many as you can. Walking through the gate, seeing the classroom, finding the toilets and meeting a teacher all turn a big unknown into somewhere familiar.
After each visit, talk about what your child noticed. What did the classroom look like? Where did they hang their bag? Which part are they looking forward to? Over the summer, drive or walk past the school now and then so it stays familiar.
Build the school routine before school starts
The biggest shock of Prep is often not the learning. It is the tiredness. A full school day is long for a five year old, and the first few weeks can bring big feelings at pickup and early nights.
- Shift wake up and bedtime gradually. In the last few weeks of the summer holidays, move towards school night timing a little at a time.
- Practise the morning. Do a couple of trial runs: breakfast, uniform, bag, out the door. Our guide to school term routines that work has a full plan for calmer mornings.
- Protect the evenings. Keep the first weeks of term quiet after school where you can. A consistent after school routine helps tired children land softly.
The logistics nobody warns you about
Prep changes the rhythm of the whole family, not just the child starting school. School hours are shorter than most working days, and there are pupil free days, early finishes, assemblies and the occasional sick day to plan around. For many parents, this is the point where the old childcare arrangement stops quite fitting.
Some questions worth thinking about now, while there is still time to plan:
- Who is doing pickup each day, and what happens on the days they cannot?
- Do younger siblings need care during drop off and pickup?
- What is the plan for pupil free days and the school holidays?
- Would a regular person for the afternoons make the week feel more manageable?
For some families, the answer is a regular sitter for a couple of afternoons. For others, an ongoing nanny who handles pickup, afternoon tea and homework time is what makes working weeks work. Our nannying service covers regular arrangements of ten hours a week or more, and our babysitting service is there for the one off afternoons. If you are not sure which fits, our guide on what a nanny does explains the difference.
Looking after yourself through the change
It is common for parents to find the start of school harder than they expected. The first day can bring up a surprising mix of pride and grief, and the months before it bring a lot of admin. Give yourself some grace. Label the uniforms on a quiet evening, not the night before. Accept help where it is offered. And plan something small and kind for yourself on that first morning, even if it is just a coffee sitting down.
A note on who looks after them after school
If you bring in help for pickups or afternoons, you should be able to hand over the keys with complete confidence. Every Care Collective carer has already been through our screening process before they meet a family, and only around the top 20 per cent of applicants make it through. They hold current First Aid and CPR and a valid Working with Children Check, we have checked their references ourselves, and they are insured as our employees rather than working as contractors. Your part is the part only you can do: telling us about your child, their routines and what makes them feel safe.
Frequently asked questions
Does my child need to read before starting Prep?
No. Prep is designed to teach early reading and writing. Sharing books together at home is wonderful, but there is no expectation that children arrive already reading.
What if my child is anxious about starting school?
That is very normal. Orientation visits, short practice separations and talking openly about feelings all help. Most children settle within the first term. If worries persist, the school is always a good first conversation.
Can a nanny do school pickup and afternoon care?
Yes. School pickup, afternoon tea, homework and the evening routine are some of the most common things our nannies help with. You can see the rates on our pricing page.
When should I organise after school care for next year?
The sooner the better, especially for regular weekly arrangements. Planning in term four gives you time to find the right fit and for your child to get to know their carer before school starts.
A calm start to a big year
Getting ready for Prep is less about teaching and more about confidence, routine and a plan that works for the whole family. If a regular pair of hands for pickups and afternoons would make next year feel lighter, get in touch and tell us about your family, or book now to get started. We would love to help lighten your load.
