Published: 24 April 2023

Parents looking to give their little ones the best possible start at school in 2024 can get along to school readiness information sessions at Batemans Bay, Moruya and Narooma next month.

Eurobodalla Council has run its Be Ready program since 2015, providing families with information and activities to ease children into their first year at primary school. Transition-to-school coordinator Justine Tominey said the sessions provided a double-whammy of useful information.

“I am joined by am early childhood researcher Dr Lyn Cornin and a speech therapist at each session; the three of us will be available to cover all your questions about smoothing your child’s transition to school life,” Ms Tominey said.

“We also give out free transition-to-school kits. These are packed full of resources for parents and include plenty of activities that ready kids for school, helping them with skills like confidence, turn taking, name writing, counting, talking and listening, and working with others.”

Ms Tominey said 90 per cent of attendees at previous school ready information sessions reported a better understanding of their own child’s development level and provided practical steps to prepare for school.

“For example, we received feedback from a parent who had concerns about their child’s level of socialisation and that the professional advice and information gave them the confidence and resources to seek more support,” she said

“Anecdotal feedback like this supports research that shows the 70 per cent of pre-schoolers well prepared for big school fit in more quickly and do better in literacy and have fewer emotional and behavioural difficulties later in life.”

School readiness information sessions will be held from 1-2 pm at the Eurobodalla Libraires as part of Families Week; at Moruya on Monday 15 May, Batemans Bay on Tuesday 16 May and Narooma on Wednesday 17 May.

Families who can’t make one of the sessions can still receive a school-readiness kit by contacting Council’s Children’s Services.

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