Fresh Government guidance has been issued for early years staff to support school readiness among children starting reception.

Consisting of two parts, the ‘Getting children ready for reception: supporting effective transition’ guidance provides information about children’s preparation for and transition into school settings.

The ‘Getting children ready for reception’ document labels reception as a ‘universal priority within the regional improvement for standards and excellence (RISE) programme’, according to Minister for Early Education and Equalities, Olivia Bailey’s foreword.

To support smooth and equitable starts, it urges a joined-up approach between schools, early years settings, parents and carers, councils, and wider partners.

Elements of the good practice tips include:

• Establishing meaningful relationships with families
• Creating strong partnerships with early years settings
• Approaching transition ‘as a continuum of early education, beginning early but not prematurely’
• Ensuring the wellbeing, belonging, and early learning of children are at the heart of transition practice.

The ‘Supporting a smooth transition into reception’ guidance advises ‘reciprocal visits’ between early years settings and schools from adults working with children in these environments, such as summer term visits from school staff to children and early years staff.

‘By working together in this way, adults across all settings create greater consistency for children and help them feel familiar with the people they will meet when they start school’, the guidance advises.

Further recommendations involve ensuring relationships between relationships between early years settings and schools are secure, supporting parents with practical school readiness advice, participating in transition events, implementing familiar activities throughout the school year, and communicating important information about children’s learning.