🌟 School Readiness Program – Term 4 2025

Helping Little Learners Step Confidently into Kindergarten

At South Coast Therapy & Support Group, our School Readiness Program is designed to prepare children aged 4 to 5 for a smooth, confident transition to school. Through play-based, hands-on activities, children build the skills they’ll need for learning, socialising, and independence in the classroom.

Each week focuses on a new theme that supports a different area of development — from fine-motor strength and early literacy to emotional regulation and self-care routines. The group is run by our experienced Occupational Therapists and Allied Health Assistants, with small group sizes (2–5 children) to ensure personalised attention.

🎯 Program Overview

Overall Aim: To help children develop the foundational skills they need to thrive at school — confidence, focus, independence, and social connection.

Program Details

• Who: Children aged 4 to 5 years

• When: Weekly sessions from 16 October – 11 December 2025

• Facilitators: Jill (OT) and Elysse (Allied Health Assistant)

• Group Size: 2–5 children

• Locations: Shoalhaven clinics

📅 Weekly Themes & Skill Focus

Week	Date & Facilitator	Theme & Focus
Week 1	16 Oct – Jill	Welcome & Group Rules – Getting to know others, group participation, social confidence. Pre-evaluation completed.
Week 2	23 Oct – Jill	Hands Ready for Writing – Strengthening fine motor skills for pencil control and pre-writing patterns.
Week 3	30 Oct – Elysse	Listening & Looking – Developing attention, visual tracking, and following directions.
Week 4	6 Nov – Elysse	My Busy Fingers – Practicing scissor use, buttons, and tool handling for daily tasks.
Week 5	13 Nov – Elysse	Early Literacy Skills – Exploring sounds, syllables, and early phonological awareness.
Week 6	20 Nov – Elysse	Early Numeracy Skills – Building understanding of numbers, shapes, and patterns.
Week 7	27 Nov – Elysse	Feelings & Focus – Learning emotional regulation and sensory strategies for attention.
Week 8	4 Dec – Elysse	Independent Me – Practising self-care skills like lunchboxes, toileting, and managing belongings.
Week 9	11 Dec – Elysse	Ready, Steady, School! – Confidence building, reflection, and celebration. End-of-term evaluation completed.

🧩 What Children Will Learn

✔️ Social Skills & Confidence – taking turns, listening, following routines

✔️ Fine Motor Strength – scissor skills, pencil control, buttoning and zipping

✔️ Early Literacy & Numeracy – sound awareness, counting, patterns, shape recognition

✔️ Attention & Focus – developing sustained listening and visual tracking skills

✔️ Self-Care Independence – managing bags, lunchboxes and toileting routines

✔️ Emotional Regulation – recognising feelings and using calming tools

🏠 Tips for Parents – Preparing for School at Home

You can support your child’s school readiness every day with simple activities at home:

1. Build independence. Encourage your child to pack their own bag, open containers, and put on shoes.

2. Strengthen fine-motor skills. Use playdough, pegs, beading, or drawing to develop hand strength and coordination.

3. Practice listening and following directions. Play “Simon Says,” read stories together, and ask open-ended Who, What, Where, When, Why questions.

4. Talk about feelings. Use a “feelings chart” and model calm breathing — smell the flower 🌸, blow the candle 🕯️.

5. Read together every day. Choose picture books with clear storylines. Ask your child what happened, where the characters went, or why they felt happy/sad.

6. Encourage play with peers. Playdates and group games help children learn sharing, taking turns, and empathy.

💬 Why Families Love Our Program

Parents tell us their children finish the term:

• More confident and excited about starting school

• Better able to follow instructions and routines

• More independent with dressing, toileting, and lunchbox tasks

• Proud of their new friendships and skills

📞 Ready to Join?

Spots for Term 4 2025 fill quickly! Call (02) 4421 6013 or visit www.sctherapysupport.au/make-a-referral to book your child’s place in our School Readiness Program.

Let’s work together to help your child start school happy, confident, and ready to learn!