Get ready for primary school

3. Reading, writing and learning all about numbers

You can really give children a good start in learning how to read, write and learn about numbers - by reading to them, telling them when you are writing a note or helping them to find the numbers on their birthday cards.  For young children, learning these things is is fun, exciting and enjoyable – like some of the ideas below.

Babies (birth to 18m)

  • Collect my Book Start pack when I’m born and look at them with me
  • Join me in the local library and borrow and return books regularly
  • Watch me make marks in spilled foods such as chocolate custard or in tomato sauce
  • Sing nursery rhymes such as ‘1, 2, 3, 4, 5 once I caught a fish alive’ or ‘Five Little Spacemen’ and add props to help me enjoy the fun

Toddlers (18m-3)

  • Share books from the Book Start pack with me and talk about what we see in the pictures
  • Say nursery rhymes to me so that I learn to join in even if I can’t say or remember all the words
  • Spread out leftover wallpaper on the floor and give me chalks or felt pens to draw with – making marks of any kind is an achievement at this stage
  • Introduce me to numbers such as our door number, my age or the number on the bus.

Pre-schoolers (3-5)

  • Read stories that I enjoy even if it’s the same one, time after time
  • Encourage me to listen to jingles and songs – then try to sing them with me
  • Talk about the things you write on a shopping list. Let me make my own list. Ask me to tell you about the marks I make and tell me what your writing says.
  • Talk to me about the numbers on my birthday cards; Count out enough candles for my birthday cake

Videos

We highly recomend visiting the Tiny Happy People BBC website, which includes videos and further information on the topics covered here and the subject of Getting Ready for School

Online Support

My First Day at School - A great game from the BBC KS1 support section to play with your child. Help your child create his/her character and pick a school jumper, then explore the school and find all the different activities to play.

Visit the BBC Bitesize website to access the game - My First Day at School