The phrase 'school readiness', or 'readiness for school', is cropping up with growing regularity in Government reports and politicians' speeches about the early years, as the Government drives home its message that it wants early years settings to prepare children for school. But just as the phrase becomes more common, so too does early years practitioners' confusion about what it means.
It hasn't helped that the expression has been used to mean a range of different things, across a variety of major reports:
So what does 'school readiness' mean? Acknowledging that there are several interpretations of the term and that the use of the phrase may continue to vary, we suggest that it is important that settings consider three perspectives on 'readiness' which may have an impact upon their planning for children's learning.
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