Children Are ‘Ready To Learn’

A new Wales-wide campaign to get children ready to start school has been launched in Rhondda Cynon Taf by Wales Education Minister Kirsty Williams. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

During a visit to Treorchy Primary School, the Minister praised the work of staff and the local authority as she launched Ready to Learn, which is designed to help parents and carers prepare their child for school through a range of engaging resources available from schools and nurseries. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Aimed at parents and carers of children who are aged four or soon to be starting school, the resources provide advice and tips on how to prepare children for the transition from play to more structured learning. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Kirsty Williams, Cabinet Secretary for Education, said: “Starting school is a huge change in a young child’s life, and a big adjustment for parents too. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We also know the home environment is the single biggest factor in educational attainment. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Being able to help children to develop those all-important life skills at home – being curious, confident and ready to learn – will help make it a positive and sacxciting experience from their very first day. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“This initiative will help create an environment which values education and supports learning to give our children a significant head start on their academic journey. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I am aware of the huge success at Treorchy Primary School in developing those relationships between school staff and parents and carers. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“What is going on here in Treorchy is going to make a huge difference right across Wales so congratulations to the school and Rhondda Cynon Taf Council on the work you are already doing.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Eudine Hanagan, Cabinet Member for Education and Lifelong Learning, said: “We are delighted the Education Minister decided to come along to Rhondda Cynon Taf to launch the Ready to Learn initiative. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Not only did she praise Treorchy Primary School for the relationship its staff already have with parents and prospective parents who wish to send their children to the school, she also spoke positively about the work Rhondda Cynon Taf Council is doing in its schools. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“In recent years, attainment in our schools is improving faster than the Welsh average and this is testament to the hard work of our schools, teachers and governing bodies and the support we as a Council provide such as the Attendance and Wellbeing Service and our significant 21st Century School investments. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Ready to Learn initiative will be a valuable tool to further strengthen the support our schools provide to parents and children.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Ready to Learn materials available include: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

• A Ready to Learn activity leaflet
• An activity chart for parents and carers to work through with their child to help prepare their transition to primary school
• A short video animation to talk parents and carers through what they do at home can help their child in school