What is The School Readiness Programme?

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.

How is The School Readiness Programme Delivered in Practice?

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.

How does the Programme Support Schools, Settings and Families?

The School Readiness Programme supports a smoother transition into Reception by:Helping children develop independence and emotional regulationProviding staff with ready-to-deliver, practical sessionsEngaging parents through simple home activities and shared languageThis creates consistency between home and school and supports confident starts for whole cohorts.

What are the challenges schools facing with school readiness?

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.

How can schools support 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.

School Readiness Programme: A Structured 5-Week series from myHappymind

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

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:

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*Source: Kindred Squared School Readiness Survey (2024–2026)