Ready Set School
Give your child a head start with Little Big School's Ready Set School program! Our engaging activities are designed to support and stimulate the rapidly developing brains of children aged 2 and up. From fostering social interaction to boosting emotional, physical, and cognitive skills, our holistic approach empowers every child to reach their potential so that they are ready to start school with confidence
What Our Program Offers
Our Ready Set School program provides a safe space for children to learn and practice crucial skills they will use when they start school. While our primary focus is on social, emotional, cognitive and behavioural readiness, our play-based approach integrates engaging, age-appropriate academic activities to ensure a happy and successful transition into Pre-Primary.
We believe in the power of play as an essential component for cognitive, physical, social, and emotional wellbeing. Through play, children develop curiosity, resilience, and self-motivation. This approach brings the familiarity of the play-based kindy environment while providing insights into life at school in a gentle and nurturing way.
Key Skills Your Child Will Learn
Social & Emotional Skills
Children will develop crucial social skills such as making friends, building respectful relationships, navigating the classroom and playground, working effectively in small groups, sharing, mastering turn-taking, initiating conversations, and understanding social cues.
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Our teachers will help your child build confidence, develop persistence, and learn to identify and regulate emotions. We introduce mindfulness practices, calming techniques and coping strategies, and encourage a growth mindset in every child.
Fine & Gross Motor Skills
Our program actively engages children in activities to help them develop both their fine and gross motor skills.
Children will practice their pencil grip, grasping, pinching, cutting, threading, and various art and craft activities to improve their fine motor skills and enhance dexterity.
Our team will engage children through various gross motor activities like hand-eye coordination, balancing, jumping, hopping, and practicing fundamental sports skills like catching, throwing, and kicking.
Self-Care & Independence Skills
Attending our program will provide your child with valuable life skills that promote self-care and independence. From organisation and time management to opening and closing their lunch box, your child will learn how to take care of themselves and their belongings.
Children will also develop important communication skills, such as seeking help, expressing their needs, and following instructions.
Our program will help your child become more confident and self-sufficient.
Cognitive Skills
Our teachers will work with children to build their cognitive skills and executive functioning.
They will be engaged in various activities that enhance attention, concentration, memory, critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making.
Pre-Literacy Skills
Children will develop essential pre-reading and pre-writing skills that will help them prepare for school. We focus on letter sound recognition, letter formation, phonological awareness (including segmenting and blending, syllables, and rhyming). We discuss books and stories, and help your child learn to recognise and write their name.
Our goal is to provide a fun and engaging learning environment that sets the foundation for a lifetime of learning.
Numeracy Skills
Our experienced teachers will cover a variety of topics, such as counting, number recognition, simple math language, patterns, one-to-one correspondence, shapes, sorting, classifying and grouping objects, colours, and measurement.
These foundational numeracy skills will help set your child up for success when they start school.
What does a session look like?
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Drop off: You bring your child, and they make themselves at home in our cozy classroom.
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Two-hours of learning: Your child engages in a variety of fun activities designed to develop their school readiness skills. Sessions are thoughtfully tailored to match their attention spans, and each week we will introduce new skills and themes in fun and engaging ways. Our programs progressively build on each other throughout the year, ensuring a comprehensive learning journey.
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Short break: We take a break for a snack, social conversations, and a calming mindfulness activity.
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Small Groups: Learning takes place in small, friendly, and supportive groups that respond to your child’s individual needs. Our approach includes a mixture of explicit teaching, group work, teacher-directed activities, monitored individual tasks and rotational activities. All activities are conducted in a nurturing, play-based environment.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What are the requirements for enrolling in the Ready Set School program?
We encourage families to book a full term of classes to get the most out of this program. We require a $100 deposit to secure your child's place. The remaining term fees are due after attendance at the first session. Casual spots may become available throughout the term, please contact us if you're interested. -
How many children are in each class?
Sessions are limited to a maximum of 10 children per class, with two teachers ensuring ample 1:1 time and tailored learning experiences. -
When and how long are the sessions?
Sessions run for 2 hours each week on Friday mornings from 9:30-11:30am. -
What is the cost of the program?
The program costs $70 per week for regular attendance. Casual attendance available is subject to availability, please contact us for more information. -
What if my child misses a session?
Children have the opportunity to make up a missed class by attending one of the other time slots available throughout the term, lessons must be made up within two weeks of the missed class. -
Is it recommended to enrol for the full academic year?
Yes, we strongly recommend enrolling your child for a full academic year, as learning progresses with each term, allowing students to build on and extend their knowledge progressively. ​​Children who attend the program for the full year will receive a comprehensive written school transition and learning statement to pass on to their future teacher, ensuring a seamless transition and continuity of learning. -
How does the program different to kindergarten?
Both Ready Set School and traditional kindergarten programs focus on early childhood development. Kindergarten provides foundational early learning for children, while we offer a specialised school readiness program that prepares children for their first year of formal schooling. It focuses on a diverse set of skills crucial for success in pre-primary, ensuring children are equipped with the social, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral readiness needed to thrive in a classroom environment. Our program is designed to complement and enhance the experiences children receive in their kindergarten program, providing additional support for those who may need it and offering more challenge and stimulation for children seeking further enrichment.
Enrol Now
Ready to take the next step? Click below to enrol your child in our Ready Set School program and give them the best start for their educational journey.
Free Consultation
Still have questions? Book a free 15 minute phone consultation with us. We can discuss your child's needs and how our program can help prepare them for school.