School Readiness - Freqently asked qestions
Here Are the Frequently Asked Questions About School Readiness
1. By what primary school age should I enrol my child in a mainstream school?
Ideally, a small school environment, i.e. a preschool environment is conducive for the all-round development of a child who is of primary school age. This is because of the ample opportunity to develop social and emotional skills in addition to academic skills in small group size. There is a better adult to child ratio, ensuring more personalized attention. Since the environment is also relatively more flexible than the structured environment of the mainstream school, it can make the transition from home to school smoother. So it is preferable to complete pre-primary schooling in a preschool and then move onto a mainstream school for grade I. The primary school age at the entry to grade I depend on the school, however as per the NCERT guidelines, a child should be admitted to the early primary class by 5+ years. As per the RTE Act 2009, the primary school age of admission in class I is 6 years.
2. What is the importance of nursery school and should I enrol my child for it?
We need to understand that brain development is the fastest from birth to 3 years of age. We should not miss this window of opportunity to provide an enriching environment that would facilitate the all-round development of a child. The importance of nursery school lies in the fact that language skills and social skills are enhanced in a group setting. Emotional development is yet another important aspect. Preschools that offer the nursery program caters to these needs. It is very difficult to replicate this social or learning environment at home and so you may want to send your child for a 2 to 3-hour nursery program. This highlights the importance of nursery education.
3. Is getting admission to a mainstream school at Grade I difficult?
There are plenty of schools offering admission to children at Grade 1. All our children who graduated from our Butterflies ( Montessori 3 or UKG) program at BAMBINO have been accepted in reputed schools. Our parents have acknowledged that this move to grade 1 was easy and that the children are doing well in their new environment.
4. Will my child be able to cope with the academic requirements of school?
Yes, children who graduate from the Butterflies (Montessori 3 or UKG) program at BAMBINO are ready for grade 1 as they exceed the prerequisite skills to adapt to the new program. Their language & literacy skills, numeracy, personal and social development are developmentally age-appropriate and aligned with the expectations at grade 1. They are confident to speak up and ask questions. They are able to seamlessly fit into the new environment. The activity based learning at BAMBINO makes them very smart and they would be in a position to even cope-up with grade 2 or 3.
5. How to transition from a small group setting to a large group setting?
One of the best parenting tips for childcare is to develop their social skills early on. Socialization of children is important as it develops their social skills, helping them build positive peer relationships. This begins with me-myself then extends to immediate family and next they take on a friend or two, as they grow older. The social set up in a classroom enables socialization of children, helping them build more relationships with adults and other children. By the time children are 5 years of age, they also show preferences in their association. So transitioning from a small group to a large group set up is a milestone that occurs naturally, provided that the children are in a healthy social setting through proper socialization of children.
6. Who decides the school admission age criteria?
The school admission age criteria are stipulated by the NCERT. The state also draws guidelines on the appropriate age for admission into Grade 1. The schools have their guidelines depending on the curriculum that they follow for school admission age.
7. Which is better- CBSE or ICSE or IGCSE IB?
There is no definitive answer to this question, ‘Which is better CBSE or ICSE’. Each of these boards follows a curriculum that addresses the holistic development of the child. While the approach may vary, the difference between CBSE and ICSE board lies in the implementation of the curriculum and the assessments patterns. However, all of them have their merits. CBSE and ICSE are national curricula while IB and IGCSE are international programs. When compared to the national education boards, IGCSE and IB appear to have an advantage as they have an international orientation in addition to the ingredients for subject knowledge building. The emphasis on language acquisition also gives them an edge over CBSE, and to a lesser extent, over ICSE.
The Curriculums of CBSE and ICSE are well-grounded and keep getting updated. The NCERT syllabus followed by the national boards is comprehensive and is said to inculcate an affinity towards learning and discipline, required for higher studies.
What we need to also remember is that the education scenario is changing. So instead of looking at outcomes at grade 10, the focus should be on a good school environment that brings out the best in the child irrespective of the curricula adopted by the school. We should look at schools as a platform to develop life skills and not merely to address career goals.
8. Is it ok to expose children to multiple languages when they are still so young?
The ages 3 to 6, are a vital stage of childhood in terms of language development in children, learning and development. Young children are capable of learning multiple languages and early childhood is the optimum time for them to begin. Research shows that children raised in multilingual environments develop core cognitive skills like decision-making and problem-solving. Being multilingual boosts cognitive development which helps in overall academic progress. So it is good to expose children to multiple languages during the early child language development years.
9. When should you start reading to your baby?
The earlier the better! Starting to read to your child from a young age is important because the roots of language are developing in a baby’s brain even before the baby can talk. Of course, your child may not understand the meaning of what you read, to begin with, but the different rhythms and sounds will help to stimulate and develop his hearing as well as lay good foundations for listening skills later on in life. You can start with a picture book, the transition to a large print book, and then to books with more printed content. Preferably start with books with limited vocabulary and one that has the words repeated multiple times. This will help the child in the retention of the new word. No matter how old your baby is, regular reading helps your baby understand that books are fun! What’s more, reading to your baby provides a little moment of quiet and togetherness that you can both enjoy. Curling up together with a story is a wonderfully calming addition to your baby’s bedtime routine.
10. At what age should children start writing?
Writing skills for children develop in stages. The first stage of writing is the random scribbling which starts at 15 months or so. This is the period when young children are just figuring out that their movements result in the lines and scribbles they see on the page. These scribbles are usually the result of large movements from the shoulder, with the crayon or marker held in the child’s fist.
As children develop better control over the muscles in their hands and fingers, their scribbles begin to change and become more controlled. This happens around 2 years of age. Toddlers may make repeated marks on the page—open circles, diagonal, curved, horizontal, or vertical lines. Over time, children make the transition to holding the crayon or marker between their thumb and pointer finger.
By around 2.5 years, children understand that writing is made up of lines, curves, and repeated patterns. They try to imitate this in their own writing. So while they may not write actual letters, you may see components of letters in their drawing. These might include lines, dots, and curves. This is an exciting time as your toddler realizes that his drawing conveys meaning! For example, she/he may write something down and then tell you what word it says. This is an important step toward reading and writing.
By around 3 years of age, children begin to purposefully draw images. 3-year-old writing skills are an important milestone in thinking skills because it means that the child understands that lines on paper can be a symbol of something else, like a house, a cat, or a person. At this stage, children also begin to understand the difference between pictures and writing. So you may see the child draw a picture and then scribble some “words” underneath to describe what he has drawn or to tell a story.
At BAMBINO, we see writing skills for children developing when they start ascribing meaning to their sketches. By 3.5 years, there is more stress on the formation of the letters and associating the sound to the letter. By 5 years, they are ready to write simple words, phrases and even short sentences.
11. What do I need to do from my end to ensure my child is ready for a mainstream school?
Mainstream schools will address the academic needs of children. So making your child big-school ready should, therefore, focus mainly on social and emotional skills. Developing confidence and independence is equally important. So some of the things parents can do are ensure that your child is exposed to a social setting, maybe at playtime or playdates. Encourage independence by letting them clothe themselves, put on their footwear on their own, clean up after play etc. Play games with your little one – simple games like snakes and ladders, Pictionary, I spy etc. These are great opportunities for practising turn-taking, sharing, waiting and learning to cope with not winning!
12. What kind of a routine should I try to inculcate before my child goes to a mainstream school?
Children thrive on routine and getting them ready for school would mean bringing in more discipline into their routine with respect to mealtime and nap times. Ensure though that the mealtime and nap time is consistent and adheres to the schedule. Using the toilet should also become a matter of routine. Encourage conversations, encourage your child to attempt tasks independently and prepare her/him for the new environment by describing what to expect, the people she would meet etc.
13. How to find a good school for my child?
Each parent has a set of expectations from school and they are different for different parents. So if you are wondering how to choose a school for your child, first decide on what you expect from the school. Visit schools that you have shortlisted. Consider the daily routine at school, travel time, school fees, transport, meal plan, co-curricular and extracurricular activities offered, availability of outdoor space etc. Talk to parents who have their children already enrolled in the school. Before you visit the school, prepare your list of questions that you want to be answered by the school.
Remember though that each child is different and it is important therefore to find the right child-school-parent fit that works for all.
Bambino International Montessori School
Trivandrum,
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