Newsletter - Cooloola Christian College ELC

Starting school is a major milestone—not just for your child, but for you too! It's completely normal to wonder if your child will be ready for this big step, especially in the year leading up to it.

The good news is school readiness is less about academic skills and more about your child’s ability to manage daily tasks, connect with others, and feel confident and curious in a group setting.

Here’s what really matters in the lead-up to kindergarten—and some easy ways to support it at home.

What do children need to know before starting school?

Children don’t need to know how to read, write, or count to 100 before they start school. Instead, educators look for a range of social, emotional, physical, and communication skills that support a smooth transition into the classroom environment.

Here is what matters most:

Independence: Can your child open their lunchbox, go to the toilet, and pack away toys or books? Can they dress themselves? (Manage zippers, shoes, jumpers) Can they pack and unpack their bag and look after personal belongings?

Social skills: Are they learning to share, take turns, and follow simple instructions? Playing cooperatively with others and engaging in imaginative play.

Emotional regulation: Are they beginning to manage big feelings with support and express needs with words?

Communication: Can they understand and respond to questions and simple instructions? Are they curious and asking questions of their own? Are they listening during stories or group activities.

Cognitive and Early learning skills: Can they recognise their name? Are they interested in books and numbers? Can they identify some colours and shapes? And are they beginning to count small numbers of objects?

Physical skills: Can your child hold a pencil, crayon or paintbrush? Are they learning to use scissors? Are they climbing, jumping and balancing. Do they use fine motor skills like threading, drawing or building?

How Can I Help at Home?
You don’t need to turn your home into a mini classroom. In fact, learning through everyday life and play is the best way to build school readiness. Here are some simple ways to help your child grow in confidence and capability:

Talk Often and Listen Well: Have regular conversations, ask open-ended questions (“What was your favourite part of today?”) and encourage your child to share their thoughts. Language development is a big part of school success.

Read Together Daily: Storytime builds vocabulary, listening skills, imagination, and attention span. Let your child choose books, point to pictures, and talk about what’s happening in the story.

Practice Routines: Help your child become familiar with the kinds of routines they’ll encounter at school—getting dressed in the morning, sitting for a meal, packing up toys, or washing hands before eating.

Encourage Playdates and Group Play: Playing with peers teaches important social lessons: turn-taking, problem-solving, cooperation, and navigating friendships. Even a simple trip to the playground can help build these skills.

Promote Confidence with “I Can Do It!” Tasks: Let your child do small tasks by themselves, even if it takes longer. Practice zipping a jacket, packing snacks into a lunchbox, or putting shoes on the right feet.

Talk About School Positively: If your child is starting school next year, begin to talk about it in gentle, excited ways. “When you go to big school, you’ll have your own lunchbox!” or “I wonder what games you’ll play with your new friends.” Keep it light and reassuring.

Remember: Every Child Develops at Their Own Pace
It’s okay if your child isn’t ticking every box just yet. Kindergarten teachers know that children come in with a range of abilities and experiences. The most helpful thing you can do is support your child with love, patience, and confidence that they’ll grow into their next big adventure.

If you ever have concerns about your child’s development, don’t hesitate to speak with your preschool educator, GP, or child health nurse—they can guide and reassure you.

Source: Childcare Centre Desktop

Term 4 Week 2

In This Newsletter

A message from our Director

Blessings and Gratitude

Important Information

CCC Enrolment Incentive

Water Play

Little Arrows in Recess

Items to bring every day

Lost and Found

Health Reminder – Term 4

2026 Term Dates

Volunteer Update – Important

Weekly Memory Verse

Week 4 Memory Verse

Memory Verse Songs

Learning Highlights

Kindy Highlights

Upcoming Events

Term 4 Events

Parent Resources & Information

Getting ready for ‘Big School’

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Parents and Friends Meeting

A message from our Director

Important Information

Weekly Memory Verse

Learning Highlights

Upcoming Events

Parent Resources & Information

A message from our Director

Important Information

Weekly Memory Verse

Learning Highlights

Upcoming Events

Parent Resources & Information