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Robertson
Preparatory School

Is my child ready for school?

Age is only one part of school readiness. This guide helps you see where your child is now, what you can do at home and when it makes sense to ask for advice. It is a guide, not a test.

This guide was checked by name of a foundation phase teacher at RVS.

What the law says about age

Grade R
Since the BELA Act, Grade R is compulsory for children who turn five by 30 June of the year.
Grade 1
A child may start Grade 1 if he or she turns six by 30 June of that year.
Compulsory
School is compulsory from the year a child turns seven, so in some cases parents can wait a year longer.

It is completely normal if your child is still growing in one area

The national Thrive by Five Index of 2024 found that 42% of children in early learning programmes are on track for their age. Boys are on average a little behind girls. Most children are still growing in one or two areas, which is exactly why what parents do at home makes such a difference.

Seven areas of readiness

Tick what your child already does comfortably. The list is only saved on your own phone or computer, and nobody else can see it.

  1. Feelings and confidence

    0 of 5

    Children who can manage their feelings learn more easily. Research shows it is one of the strongest signs of how a child will cope in Grade 1.

    By Grade 1 your child can usually:

    Play it at home

    • Practise short times away from you, with a grandparent or a friend, and always come back when you said you would.
    • Agree on a short, fixed way to say goodbye, like a hug and the same few words.
    • Praise your child’s effort, not only the result.
    • Never use the teacher or the school as a threat.

  2. Independence

    0 of 5

    In a class of thirty children it helps a great deal if your child can do the basics alone.

    By Grade 1 your child can usually:

    Play it at home

    • Let your child get dressed alone every morning, even if it takes longer.
    • Practise with the actual lunch box and bottle that will go to school.
    • Let your child help pack and unpack the school bag.
    • Give small jobs at home, like setting the table or putting clothes away.

  3. With other children

    0 of 5

    School is a group. Children need to share, wait and listen while others talk.

    By Grade 1 your child can usually:

    Play it at home

    • Arrange play dates with children who will go to school with your child.
    • Play board games like Ludo or snakes and ladders, and let your child lose sometimes too.
    • Play "school", where your child also gets a turn to be the teacher.

  4. Language and listening

    0 of 6

    Reading and writing build on language. The more words a child knows and the better he or she listens, the easier reading becomes later.

    By Grade 1 your child can usually:

    Play it at home

    • Read to your child every day and talk together about the pictures and the story.
    • Sing songs and say rhymes together.
    • Play "I spy with my little eye something beginning with s".
    • Ask your child to tell the family what happened today.

  5. Hands and fingers

    0 of 5

    Controlling a pencil takes strong little hands and eyes and hands that work together. Occupational therapists call these fine motor skills.

    By Grade 1 your child can usually:

    Play it at home

    • Play with clay or dough: roll, pinch and press.
    • Let your child clip pegs, tear paper and thread beads.
    • Colour in, draw and cut. Child scissors are one of the best things you can buy.
    • Let your child help in the kitchen with spreading, stirring and cutting soft vegetables.

  6. Body and movement

    0 of 4

    A child needs to sit upright and still to learn. That comes from strong muscles and good balance, and it grows through outdoor play.

    By Grade 1 your child can usually:

    Play it at home

    • Let your child play outside every day: climb, swing, ride a bike and run.
    • Play ball, hopscotch and "Simon says".
    • Keep screen time short, especially during the week.

  7. Thinking and numbers

    0 of 5

    Number sense does not start with sums but with counting, comparing and sorting in everyday life.

    By Grade 1 your child can usually:

    Play it at home

    • Count stairs, plates, sweets and cars. Let your child touch the things while counting.
    • Sort the washing by colour or by owner.
    • Bake together and let your child help measure.
    • Do puzzles and make patterns with beads or blocks.

When to ask for advice

Every child develops at his or her own pace. Do talk to someone if, by about five and a half, your child:

  • is hard to understand for people outside the family
  • cannot follow a two step instruction
  • still cannot manage a pencil or scissors after a lot of practice, or avoids drawing and colouring altogether
  • is very clumsy compared to friends of the same age
  • cannot sit and pay attention even for a short task
  • stays very upset for weeks when you leave
The Grade R teacher
Always start here. The teacher sees your child in a group every day and can tell you whether your concern is valid.
An occupational therapist
For hands, pencil grip, balance, movement and concentration. Many occupational therapists also do formal school readiness assessments.
A speech and language therapist
For pronunciation, vocabulary, listening and understanding instructions.
An eye and hearing test
Poor sight or hearing can look like poor attention. The department’s school health service tests children at school, but do not wait if you are worried.

The last weeks before school starts

Dr Elda Thiart of the South African Teachers’ Union says predictability is one of the strongest foundations for a child’s emotional safety. Practical preparation helps more than lots of reassurance.

Plan your child’s first year at RVS
  1. Visit the school with your child, so he or she can picture the classroom and the playground.
  2. Move bedtime and waking time towards the school routine a few weeks ahead.
  3. Let your child try on the school clothes and help pack the bag.
  4. Practise opening lunch boxes and bottles without help.
  5. Keep the goodbye on the first morning short and cheerful, and be on time to collect.

Common questions

How old must my child be for Grade R?

Grade R is compulsory for children who turn five by 30 June of the year.

How old must my child be for Grade 1?

A child may start Grade 1 if he or she turns six by 30 June of that year. School is compulsory from the year a child turns seven.

Should my child be able to read before Grade 1?

No. Children learn to read in Grade 1. What does help is knowing lots of words, being able to listen, hearing rhymes and recognising the first sound of a word.

Who does a school readiness assessment?

Start with your child’s Grade R teacher. Occupational therapists and educational psychologists do formal assessments when needed.

Sources

This guide is for general information and does not replace an assessment by a teacher or therapist.