NEW: School Readiness Programme: A Structured 5-Week Series
School readiness is evolving.
Schools and early years settings are reporting that transition into Reception increasingly requires structured support for emotional regulation, independence and communication, not just academic preparation.
Recent research suggests over a third of children are not yet school-ready when they start Reception.*
Our school readiness programme has been developed in response to this shift.
It provides a practical, developmentally informed way to strengthen the emotional and practical foundations children need as they prepare to start school.
Why A Structured School Readiness Approach is Necessary
Transition into Reception is a significant milestone.
Children are adapting to:
- New environments
- New adults
- Group routines
- Increased expectations for independence
Without strong emotional foundations, accessing learning can be more difficult.
A structured transition approach helps create:
- Shared language
- Predictable routines
- Clear expectations
- Consistency between home and school
This supports smoother starts for whole cohorts, while remaining adaptable for varied developmental starting points.
What Is our School Readiness Programme?
Ready to Shine is a structured 5-week transition series including stories, practical activities and creative reflection.
It is available within the myHappymind for Primary Schools and myHappymind for Early Years programmes.
It focuses on strengthening:
- Emotional regulation
- Confidence and separation
- Communication
- Independence and self-care
- Early executive functioning foundations
The emphasis is on emotional and practical readiness, not accelerated academics.
How Does It Work In Practice?
Story-Led Learning
Each session is anchored in storytelling using familiar myHappymind characters.
Stories explore themes such as confidence, kindness and emotional awareness.
This supports children to understand feelings in a safe and relatable way.
Movement And Sensory Activities
Sessions include:
- Rhythm and repetition
- Balance and coordination
- Active participation
These elements help strengthen focus, body–brain coordination and self-regulation.
Shared Language Across Settings
Ready to Shine supports:
- A shared emotional vocabulary
- Consistent routines
- Reinforcement at home
Parents are supported through short videos and practical home challenges, helping learning transfer beyond the classroom.
Who Is It Designed For?
Ready to Shine is designed for:
- Children
- Staff in Early Years settings and Reception classes
- Parents
It supports whole cohorts while allowing flexibility for children with identified or suspected SEND support needs.
The approach recognises that readiness is developmental and not fixed.
What Does This Mean For Schools And Settings?
A structured transition series can help:
- Promote calmer starts to Reception
- Strengthen independence before formal learning increases
- Support emotional regulation at cohort level
- Reinforce home–school partnership
- Protect teaching time. Recent national data suggests schools are losing an average of 2.4 hours per day to catch-up needs during the first term.
It also provides staff with practical, ready-to-deliver sessions and short professional development modules to build confidence.
How Is It Different From Other Early Years Support
Ready to Shine focuses specifically on the transition into school.
It complements wider early years provision by concentrating on emotional and practical readiness.
It is distinct from broader curriculum coverage. Its purpose is to strengthen foundations before and during the transition period.
Supporting Confident Starts To School
School readiness is not a fixed trait.
It develops through supportive relationships, structured experiences and shared understanding.
Ready to Shine offers a practical way to strengthen emotional and practical foundations at the point of transition into Reception.
By aligning families, early years settings and schools, children are better supported to begin school feeling calm, confident and ready to learn.
Explore Our School Readiness Programme In Your Setting
Ready to Shine is now available within the myHappymind Early Years and Primary programmes.
Interested in Finding out More?
Already a myHappymind school? Contact your Customer Happiness Manager or email hello@myhappymind.org to get started.
New to myHappymind? Book a call with our team today:
*Source: Kindred Squared School Readiness Survey (2024–2026)
FAQs
The School Readiness Programme is a structured 5-week school readiness series designed to support children transitioning into Reception. It focuses on building emotional regulation, confidence, communication, independence and early executive functioning, helping children feel calm and ready to learn.
The programme is delivered through story-led sessions using familiar myHappymind characters. Each session includes movement and sensory activities, with a strong focus on routine, repetition and shared emotional language to support understanding and consistency.
The School Readiness Programme supports a smoother transition into Reception by:
- Helping children develop independence and emotional regulation
- Providing staff with ready-to-deliver, practical sessions
- Engaging parents through simple home activities and shared language
This creates consistency between home and school and supports confident starts for whole cohorts.
Schools are increasingly seeing children start Reception without the key skills needed for a smooth transition into formal education. Common challenges include low levels of emotional regulation, limited independence (such as dressing or toileting), delayed communication and language skills, and difficulties with attention and social interaction. Many schools are also managing wider factors such as reduced access to early years provision, increased screen time, and gaps in early development, all of which can impact school readiness.
Schools can support school readiness by taking a holistic approach that develops both emotional and practical skills. This includes embedding activities that build emotional regulation, confidence, communication, and independence into daily routines. Strong partnerships with parents and carers are also key, helping to reinforce skills at home. Structured programmes, like a school readiness curriculum, can provide consistent, evidence-based support to ensure children are prepared for the transition into Reception and ready to learn.
