Ready Set School 2027
Three Kindy mornings to help your child start school in 2027, guided by a teacher, speech therapists, OTs and psychologists at Kids First.
Creating school-ready kids with Ready, Set, School.
You have probably already pictured your child’s first day of Kindergarten. The uniform, the new bag, the classroom. You may also be wondering how they will manage the parts that don’t come easily: moving from one activity to the next, following someone else’s lead, coping with big feelings, and finding the words to connect with other children.
Ready Set School is designed for children who need a little more support with these things. It gives them a chance to practise a Kindy morning before the real thing. Over three mornings in January, your child is guided and supported by a teacher, speech pathologists, occupational therapists and psychologists, working together in a small group of 4 to 6 children. Each brings their own expertise in how children learn, communicate, move and feel. Together, they help your child know what to expect on the first day.
Three groups in January 2027
Each group meets for three mornings in a row, from 9.15am to 11.45am.
Group 1: Tuesday 12 to Thursday 14 January
Group 2: Tuesday 19 to Thursday 21 January
Group 3: Wednesday 27 to Friday 29 January
What make Ready Set School
different?
Kids First has been running Ready Set School since 2007, and it is guided by former teacher Sonja Walker, author of the best-selling book School Ready. Here is what you and your child can expect.
A full Kindy morning, three days in a row. From 9.15am to 11.45am, your child practises what a typical classroom routine asks of them. They learn, build early literacy and fine motor skills, speak to the group, talk with their teacher and peers, share resources and use their social skills to start new friendships. By the end, the routine feels familiar to your child.
A teacher and therapists in the same room. A teacher shows your child how a Kindy classroom runs, from news time to lining up. Speech therapists help them find the words to connect with others. Psychologists help them with big feelings and changes through the day. Occupational therapists build their fine motor and independence skills. In a real classroom, all of these come up at once, so our experienced team works on them together to help your child get ready to start school.
A small group. With 4 to 6 children, your child is seen, heard and supported.
It starts with your goals. Before the program begins, we talk with you about what matters most for your child.
It ends with something useful. After the program, you receive a school readiness summary to share with your child’s new teacher, at no extra cost.
Is Ready Set School
a good fit for your child?
Ready Set School is designed for children starting Kindergarten in 2027 who:
- find it hard to move from one activity to the next
- are still learning to follow instructions and follow another person’s lead
- find big feelings hard to manage when things are new
- need support to start or keep a conversation going and to make connections with other children
- need guidance to work as part of a group
- miss social cues or find it hard to understand how others feel
- find the playground or classroom a bit tricky to navigate
- are still working on fine motor skills like pencil grip and forming letters
A Kindy classroom has a lot of new routines. Practising them in January can help your child walk in on the first day feeling more at ease. If you are not sure whether your child is a good fit, we are happy to talk it through.
Get your child school ready
Social Skills
Pre-Literacy Skills
Fine Motor Skills
Learning Skills
Communication Skills
Pre-Numeracy Skills
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my child is ready for Kindergarten?
School readiness is about more than knowing letters and numbers. Listening in a group, following instructions, coping with changes, managing big feelings and connecting with other children are the skills that make the first weeks of school easier. Every child is different, and many children are still building these skills in the year before school. If you are unsure how your child is going, call Kids First on 9938 5419. We will talk with you about what you are noticing and whether Ready Set School might suit your child.
Does the Kids First team use a neurodivergent-affirming approach?
Yes. The Kids First team uses neurodivergent-affirming, strengths-based approaches. We value each child’s way of learning and communicating, and we build on what they already do well. We talk with you about your child’s goals before the program starts, and we focus on practical skills that help in the classroom and the playground.
Which group should we choose?
There are three groups in January 2027. Each group meets for three mornings in a row, from 9.15am to 11.45am:
- Group 1: Tuesday 12, Wednesday 13 and Thursday 14 January 2027
- Group 2: Tuesday 19, Wednesday 20 and Thursday 21 January 2027
- Group 3: Wednesday 27, Thursday 28 and Friday 29 January 2027
Each group has 4 to 6 children, its own activities and its own mix of children, so you can choose the dates that suit your family. If you have a preference, let us know when you get in touch.
Can my child attend more than one group?
Yes. The activities in each group are different, and each group welcomes a different mix of children, so your child has a fresh experience each time. Many families enrol their child in more than one Ready Set School group in January. It can offer wonderful structure for a child’s week, especially those who have finished preschool and are waiting for Kindergarten to start in the first week of February.
What does Ready Set School cost, and what is included?
The program is $675. Each child receives approximately 10 hours of clinical time from our team. That is 7.5 hours face to face over three mornings, a consultation with you before the program begins, and a written school readiness summary at the end, to share with your child’s new teacher.
Can my child attend with NDIS funding?
Yes. Children with self-managed and plan-managed NDIS funding are very welcome at Kids First, and so are families paying privately. If you have questions about payment, please call us on 9938 5419.
What happens after the program?
After the program, we send you a written school readiness summary to share with your child’s new teacher. It helps the teacher get to know your child from the first day.
The school readiness checklist.
Discover insights from our experienced team on how to get your child ready for their next school adventure with our school readiness checklist. Purchase your copy today and help your child prepare for what’s to come!
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See What Our Amazing Community has to Say…
I just wanted to say a quick thank you for the Kids First School Readiness Checklist. Since my partner and I didn’t go to school in Australia, we weren’t sure if our son would be ready to start school here. The checklist was such a game-changer for us! It covered so many areas of development we hadn’t even thought about, and it made it much easier to talk to his preschool teacher about his progress. Now we feel so much more prepared and reassured. We’re really grateful to have this guide as we get Oliver ready to start school next year.
I recently attended a workshop on school readiness presented by Sonja Walker. She is very knowledgeable and charismatic, able to answer professionally to any question related to child development. Her book “School Ready” is a must have for all mothers in Australia who want to feel confident about choosing the right school for their children, preparing them for it and supporting them along the way. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience with us Sonja!
Highly recommended. As an educator I always look forward to the workshops from Kids First. They are insightful and exceed expectations of knowledge and practices that families and educators can implement that very day! The engaging anecdotes provide valuable practical strategies that will be used to support parent/caregiver and child attachment, communication, connection, consistency and comfort. Thank you Sonja and the team for your passion, expertise and care.
The wisdom and guidance Sonja Walker shares in School Ready is essential reading for parents and professionals alike.
Sonja has written an incredibly practical book about ensuring your child is ready for school. It’s a must-read for all parents and educators embarking on the journey of preparing children for school.
I always recommend Kids First as the place with heart – this is apparent in everything you guys do & we have been so lucky to have had the caring professionals at Kids First to help our family. We’ve been to other places that offered similar services but just didn’t have the heart at the center & it’s such a different feeling. From the consistently amazing staff, across multiple disciplines, to the friendly & patient admin, to even the offer of a cup of tea to a frazzled mother who has made a mad dash to get there, it really just seems that heart is at the center of all that you do, and it shows, and we love you guys for it.
Kids First has been like a warm, comforting hug for our family for years now. Sometimes this journey can seem big, unknown and overwhelming but we’ve never felt alone. You guys are always steady, calming and super knowledgeable and that means EVERYTHING! Our boys love you and have taken huge strides. What a gift you are to us.
I’m not going to speak about the high-quality therapy and services you have to offer as I’ll be here for days, so I’ll just speak to the feelings we get when we walk through the Kids First doors. The team at Kids First has seriously changed our lives for the better. Our family feels so supported through this journey. All of your team make us feel special and important and supported in this journey which can be stressful, hard, and exhausting. They say it takes a village to raise a child and we are so blessed to have you as members of our village.
We had a wonderful experience at Kids First. It is a warm, friendly, nurturing environment and I am so grateful for the help they’ve given my daughter with speech lessons. They are patient and kind and make these sessions fun. I am so glad we found Kids First.
Absolutely thrilled to be working with such a supportive, knowledgeable and caring team of professionals. Sonja and Morgan have gone above and beyond for my family, and I cannot recommend them enough.
