What Is School Readiness?

School readiness refers to the range of skills, supports and experiences that help a child participate in a school or early learning environment.
It may involve:

• Communicating needs and ideas
• Managing everyday routines
• Separating from caregivers
• Participating in group activities
• Moving between activities
• Following familiar instructions
• Using fine motor skills
• Managing belongings
• Toileting and self-care
• Coping with sensory demands
• Asking for help
• Developing confidence in unfamiliar settings

Every child develops differently.

Some children may feel comfortable with classroom routines but need additional communication support.

Others may communicate confidently but find noise, transitions or busy environments overwhelming.

School readiness support should therefore be individualised rather than based on a single checklist.

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Who May Benefit From School Readiness Support?

School readiness support may be helpful for children who:

• Are starting kindergarten, pre-primary or school
• Are autistic
• Have ADHD or attention differences
• Have developmental delay or developmental differences
• Experience emotional overwhelm
• Have sensory processing differences
• Find transitions difficult
• Need additional communication support
• Need support with fine motor development
• Find group environments challenging
• Need additional support with independence
• Are anxious about starting school
• Have difficulty participating in early learning routines

A formal diagnosis is not always required before families seek school readiness support.

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School Readiness and Neurodiversity

School readiness should not mean teaching neurodivergent children to hide their differences or behave in ways that make other people more comfortable.

For autistic children, children with ADHD and other neurodivergent children, support may instead focus on:

• Understanding sensory needs
• Preparing for change
• Supporting communication
• Building predictable routines
• Developing self-advocacy
• Supporting emotional regulation
• Helping adults understand the child
• Identifying environmental adjustments
• Building independence in ways that are appropriate for the individual child

Our aim is to help the environment become more supportive of the child, not simply expect the child to adapt to every demand.

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Occupational Therapy for School Readiness

Paediatric Occupational Therapy can support children with many of the functional skills involved in school participation.
Occupational Therapy may support:

• Fine motor development
• Pencil and tool use
• Hand strength and coordination
• Scissor skills
• Dressing and self-care
• Toileting independence
• Managing lunchboxes and belongings
• Emotional regulation
• Sensory processing
• Attention and participation
• Motor planning
• Classroom routines
• Transitions
• Independence

Our Occupational Therapists focus on practical skills and participation rather than expecting every child to perform tasks in exactly the same way.
Learn more about Paediatric Occupational Therapy

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Speech Pathology for School Readiness

Communication plays an important role in school participation.

Paediatric Speech Pathology may support children with:

• Understanding language
• Expressing wants, needs and ideas
• Following instructions
• Asking for help
• Speech sound development
• Social communication
• Participating in group activities
• Communication during play
• Using AAC where appropriate
• Building confidence with communication

​Our Speech Pathologists value different communication styles and focus on helping children communicate meaningfully and effectively.
Learn more about Paediatric Speech Pathology

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Emotional Regulation and Co-Regulation at School

Starting school introduces many new experiences.

Children may need to manage:

• Busy environments
• New adults and peers
• Changes in routine
• Group expectations
• Noise
• Transitions
• Waiting
• Unfamiliar activities
• Separation from caregivers

Some children may experience anxiety, overwhelm, frustration, shutdowns or emotional escalation.

School readiness support may help families and children explore:

• Emotional regulation
• Co-regulation
• Predictable routines
• Preparing for transitions
• Recognising early signs of overwhelm
• Communication during distress
• Sensory supports
• Recovery after difficult experiences
• Environmental adjustments

The goal is not to stop children expressing emotion.
It is to help them feel safe, supported and understood while building appropriate strategies over time.

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Sensory Processing and School Readiness

School environments can involve significant sensory demands.

Children may experience differences relating to:

• Noise
• Lighting
• Movement
• Touch
• Crowds
• Smells
• Clothing
• Sitting for long periods
• Busy classrooms
• Assemblies
• Playgrounds

Some children may seek sensory input, while others may find certain environments overwhelming.

School readiness support may involve:

• Identifying sensory preferences
• Planning for difficult environments
• Providing movement opportunities
• Developing sensory-friendly routines
• Adjusting expectations
• Creating quieter options
• Supporting transitions between environments
• Helping educators understand the child's sensory needs

Where more detailed sensory or functional support is required, Paediatric Occupational Therapy may also be appropriate.

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Fine Motor Skills and School Participation

Fine motor skills are used throughout the school day.
Children may use these skills for:

• Drawing
• Writing
• Cutting
• Using glue
• Manipulating small objects
• Opening containers
• Managing clothing
• Using classroom equipment

Some children develop these skills earlier than others.

School readiness support may focus on helping the child participate in these tasks while recognising that there are often different ways to achieve the same functional outcome.

Occupational Therapy may be appropriate where fine motor skills are significantly affecting school participation.
Explore Fine Motor Skills

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Communication and Social Participation

School involves communicating with many different people across different environments.

Children may need support with:

• Asking for help
• Expressing needs
• Understanding instructions
• Participating in play
• Navigating misunderstandings
• Communicating with teachers
• Joining group activities
• Building social connection

Social participation should not mean forcing children to make eye contact, copy neurotypical social behaviours or interact in ways that are uncomfortable for them.

Support should focus on meaningful communication, connection and participation.

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Independence Skills for School

School introduces many opportunities for children to develop independence.
This may include:

• Carrying and managing belongings
• Opening lunchboxes
• Dressing
• Toileting
• Following familiar routines
• Moving between activities
• Asking for assistance
• Managing personal items
• Participating in classroom tasks

School readiness support may help identify where the child needs additional assistance and how adults can gradually support greater independence without withdrawing support too quickly.

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Parent Coaching for School Readiness

Parents and caregivers play an important role in preparing children for school.

Parent Coaching may support families with:

• Preparing for school routines
• Talking about upcoming transitions
• Creating predictable routines
• Supporting emotional regulation
• Understanding sensory needs
• Building independence
• Communicating with educators
• Preparing for separation
• Supporting difficult transitions
• Helping children recover after demanding school days

The aim is to develop practical strategies that fit naturally into family life.
Learn more about Parent Coaching WA

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Counselling and Emotional Wellbeing Support

Some children may benefit from counselling support around the emotional experience of starting or participating in school.

Counselling may support children aged 7+ with areas such as:

• Anxiety and worries
• Emotional regulation
• Confidence
• School-related stress
• Friendships
• Self-esteem
• Family changes
• Coping strategies
• Emotional wellbeing

Counselling is separate from our Psychology Assessment service and focuses on emotional wellbeing rather than diagnostic assessment.
Learn more about Counselling for Children and Teenagers

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Positive Behaviour Support and School Participation

Some children communicate stress, overwhelm, frustration, anxiety, sensory overload or unmet needs through behaviours that affect participation at school.

Positive Behaviour Support may help with:

• Understanding why behaviour is occurring
• Identifying triggers
• Communication supports
• Environmental changes
• Emotional regulation
• Sensory-informed strategies
• Routine and transition support
• Collaboration with families and educators
• Supporting quality of life and participation

Our approach is neurodiversity-affirming and does not focus on unnecessary compliance, masking or suppressing harmless autistic traits.
Learn more about Positive Behaviour Support

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Psychology Assessments and School Readiness

Belong Health provides Psychology Assessments rather than ongoing Psychology therapy.

Some families may seek assessment to better understand a child's:

• Autism profile
• ADHD profile
• Cognitive strengths and support needs
• Learning profile
• Attention and executive functioning
• School participation needs

An assessment is not automatically required simply because a child is preparing to start school.

However, assessment may be useful when families, schools or healthcare professionals are seeking greater understanding of the child's developmental, cognitive or learning profile.

Learn more about Psychology Assessments

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School Readiness While Waiting for Assessment

Families do not always need to wait for an autism, ADHD or developmental assessment before beginning school readiness support.

While waiting for assessment, families may still explore:

• Communication supports
• Sensory adjustments
• Emotional regulation strategies
• Independence
• Routines
• Transition preparation
• Parent coaching
• Appropriate allied health support

Support can be based on the child's current functional needs rather than waiting for a diagnostic label.

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School Readiness for Autistic Children

Autistic children may experience school environments differently.

Some children may benefit from support with:

• Predictability
• Sensory environments
• Communication
• Transitions
• Emotional regulation
• Understanding expectations
• Independence
• Self-advocacy
• Building safe relationships with educators

School readiness support should not focus on making autistic children appear less autistic.

Instead, the goal is to help children feel safe, understood and supported while also helping the adults around them better understand their needs.

Learn more about Autism Support for Children Under 9

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School Readiness for Children With ADHD

Children with ADHD may experience differences in:

• Attention
• Executive functioning
• Organisation
• Impulse regulation
• Emotional regulation
• Motivation
• Transitions
• Working memory

Support may involve:

• Breaking routines into manageable steps
• Visual supports
• Reducing unnecessary demands
• Movement opportunities
• Predictable routines
• Environmental adjustments
• Preparing for transitions
• Supporting organisation
• Collaboration with educators

The aim is not to expect children with ADHD to simply “try harder”.

Support should recognise the child's individual executive functioning and regulation needs.

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School Readiness and Thriving Kids WA

Thriving Kids WA began its phased rollout on 1 October 2026 and is being progressively introduced through to January 2028.

The program is designed for children aged 0-8 years with developmental delay and/or autism with low-to-moderate support needs.

School participation and helping children where they live, learn and play align closely with the broader Thriving Kids approach.

However, Belong Health is not currently a commissioned Thriving Kids WA provider.

Our School Readiness services remain available through our existing private, NDIS and other applicable service pathways.
Learn more about Thriving Kids WA

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Telehealth School Readiness Support Across WA

Some aspects of school readiness support can be provided through telehealth where clinically appropriate.

Telehealth may be helpful for:

• Parent coaching
• School transition planning
• Emotional regulation strategies
• Communication support
• Sensory guidance
• Building home routines
• School consultation

This can be particularly useful for families living in regional or remote areas of Western Australia.
Learn more about Telehealth Developmental Support

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School Readiness Support in Perth, Mandurah and WA

Belong Health provides school readiness and developmental support across:

• Mandurah and Peel
• Perth
• Rockingham
• Western Australia via telehealth

​Depending on the service and clinician availability, support may occur:

• At our Falcon clinic
• At home
• At school or early learning settings
• In the community
• Through telehealth

Contact Belong Health
​
If you would like to learn more about school readiness supports, Occupational Therapy, Speech Pathology, emotional regulation support, Psychology assessments, parent coaching, Positive Behaviour Support, or telehealth services, contact Belong Health today.

​Our team supports children and families across Perth, Mandurah, regional WA, and throughout Western Australia.

Call us

Email us

Frequently Asked Questions About School Readiness

What is school readiness?
School readiness refers to the range of communication, emotional, sensory, motor, independence and participation skills that help children engage in kindergarten and school environments.
It is much broader than academic skills alone.

What age should school readiness support start?
There is no single correct age.
Some families begin exploring school readiness in the year before kindergarten or school, while others seek support earlier when developmental or participation needs become apparent.
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Does my child need a diagnosis for school readiness support?
Not always.
Support may be based on the child's communication, sensory, emotional, motor, functional or participation needs rather than diagnosis.

What does a school readiness program include?
A school readiness program may include support for communication, emotional regulation, sensory processing, independence, fine motor development, routines, transitions, parent coaching and participation in learning environments.
The exact support should depend on the individual child.

Can Occupational Therapy help with school readiness?
Yes.
Occupational Therapy may support areas such as fine motor development, self-care, sensory processing, emotional regulation, motor planning, routines and independence.

Can Speech Pathology help with school readiness?
Yes.
Speech Pathology may support language, communication, speech, social communication, understanding instructions, asking for help and participation in group environments.

Can school readiness support help autistic children?
Yes.
Autistic children may benefit from support with communication, sensory environments, routines, transitions, emotional regulation, independence and school participation.
Support should be neurodiversity-affirming and tailored to the individual child.

Can school readiness support help children with ADHD?
Yes.
Children with ADHD may benefit from support around executive functioning, organisation, emotional regulation, transitions, attention, routines and environmental adjustments.

Is school readiness just about learning letters and numbers?
No.
Academic knowledge is only one small part of school readiness.
Communication, emotional wellbeing, independence, regulation, sensory needs, routines and participation are also important.

Can school readiness support help with emotional regulation?
Yes.
Support may help children and families recognise overwhelm, develop co-regulation strategies, prepare for transitions and create more supportive environments.

Can school readiness support happen at school or childcare?
Yes, depending on the service, child's needs and clinician availability.
Support may occur in home, school, early learning, clinic, community or telehealth settings.

Can parents receive coaching for school readiness?
Yes.
Parent Coaching may help families prepare for school routines, transitions, independence, communication and emotional regulation.

Can my child receive school readiness support while waiting for an assessment?
Yes, where the support is appropriate.
Children do not necessarily need to wait for an autism, ADHD or developmental assessment before accessing appropriate developmental or allied health support.

Does Belong Health provide school readiness programs in Perth?
Belong Health provides school readiness and developmental supports across Perth, Mandurah, Peel and Rockingham, with telehealth available across Western Australia.

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Help Your Child Prepare for School in Their Own Way

There is no single definition of what a child should look like when they are “ready” for school.

Some children may need support with communication.

Others may need help with sensory environments, emotional regulation, independence, fine motor skills or transitions.

The aim is to understand your child, identify what may help them participate successfully and work collaboratively with the family and education team.

If you are unsure whether Occupational Therapy, Speech Pathology, Parent Coaching, Counselling, Positive Behaviour Support or another developmental support would be appropriate, our team can discuss the services available through Belong Health.

Contact Belong Health
Supporting children and families across Mandurah, Peel, Rockingham and Perth, with telehealth available throughout Western Australia.

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Last Edited October 2026

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