Starting school, planned from the first visit to the first half-term
A practical kit for parents and carers of 4 to 6 year olds anywhere in the world: choose a school, apply on time, build the readiness that really matters and make the first weeks calmer for everyone.
- A School Start Planner workbook with a weighted school scorer, deadline countdown, readiness practice log, kit budget and first-term diary
- Five fillable PDFs: School Visit Questions, All About Me for the Teacher, Readiness Skills Check, First Week Plan and Half-Term Review
- 36 ready-made messages to school and teacher, six ready-to-send letters and a family agreement for school mornings
- Ten pages of colourful countdown, practice, routine and chat cards to print and use with your child
Starting School Readiness Kit · Bodhih Pro Kits · 104 by Bodhih Training, trainers to 2,000+ companies since 2008.
How do I prepare my child for starting school?
Focus on independence (toilet, coat, lunchbox), getting along and saying goodbye, listening, and daily books and talk rather than drills. Choose a school with weighted criteria, meet the official deadline, run a 12-week countdown and plan the first weeks. The Starting School Readiness Kit from Bodhih Training gives you every tool for each step.
Want the full free guide first? Read How to prepare your child for starting school: a calm guide.
You already feel the problem. Here is what it is costing you.
Every school says 'nurturing'
After three open days the brochures blur. Without a list of what matters to your family, the decision comes down to whichever visit you remember best.
Deadlines that sneak up
Application windows, care bookings and waiting lists all run on different dates. One missed date is the hardest mistake to undo.
Worrying about the wrong things
It is easy to spend months on letters and numbers while the real first-term struggles turn out to be coats, lunchboxes and saying goodbye.
The first weeks are harder than the first day
Tired children, tears at the gate, a flood of messages and a working week that suddenly doesn't fit. Most families plan the photo and not the six weeks after it.
Picture the next few weeks with the kit open beside you.
Imagine an evening in November. You open the School Start Planner, type in your seven weights, and as you score each school the same night after the visit, the shortlist sorts itself. You notice which school you actually believe in, and why.
Picture a Saturday in June. Your child is opening their real lunchbox on a picnic rug in the lounge, giggling at the clip. You log five minutes on the Practice Log and watch the sessions add up week by week, while the 12-week countdown quietly tells you what comes next.
Now think about the first Wednesday in September. The bag was packed last night. The goodbye ritual takes twenty seconds. You walk away knowing exactly what you will do at pick-up: snack first, quiet next, questions later.
Whether you start with the planner tonight or the readiness check this weekend, each step is already laid out for you, from the first school visit to the half-term review.
21 files that do the work for you
The e-book shows you how. The tools make it happen. Here is exactly what you download.
Starting School Readiness Kit (e-book, PDF)
The guide: methods, worked examples, scripts and exercises
Start here map
The whole job of starting school as thirteen steps with the file to open at each, your first hour, and a stage-by-stage use plan.
School Start Planner workbook
Twelve-sheet workbook: settings, weighted school shortlist scorer, open day notes, applications and deadlines, readiness skills with practice log, 12-week countdown, kit and uniform budget, weekly logistics, first-term diary and dashboard.
School visit questions
Twenty questions in five groups, a watch-for checklist and a scoring box that matches the School Shortlist sheet. One copy per school.
All about me for the teacher
A two-minute read for your child's new teacher: names, family, comforts, loves, worries, help needs and words they use. Fill it in with your child.
Readiness skills check (strengths first)
A calm, strengths-first check of twenty everyday skills across four lanes, with space to choose three focus skills and a second check eight weeks before school.
First week plan
One form for the first week: times, who does drop-off and pick-up, what is in the bag, a light after-school plan and one line on how each day went.
Half-term review
A one-evening look back at the first half-term: what went well, what is still hard, what the teacher says, how the household routine is holding up and one change for next half-term.
Messages to school and teacher (36 ready-made messages)
36 short, editable messages and scripts: visits, applications, settling-in, health, absences, worries, meetings, other parents, and words for your child.
Morning and after-school routine guide
Morning timelines for three school start times, a gradual sleep shift for three starting points, an after-school routine, sick-day and two-home notes, and a troubleshooting table.
Family agreement for school mornings
A one-page agreement every adult at home (and every helper) can sign: times, who does what, the night before, the goodbye, screens, after school, sick days and a review date.
Letter to the teacher and other ready-to-send school letters
Six ready-to-send letters: introducing your child to the teacher, waiting list, appeal outline, additional needs meeting request, formal concern and flexible start request.
Worked example pack: Maya's school start
The main forms filled in for one composite family, from the school visit to the half-term review, so you can see what good looks like.
AI prompt pack for starting school (26 prompts)
26 tool-agnostic prompts grouped by step, from choosing a school to the half-term review, each with what to paste in and what to check.
Ready for school: what really matters
The four readiness lanes, what matters less than you think, the six-step method and help words to practise.
Decision card: worries and what to do
If-this-then-that card for ten common first-term worries, the five-step path, safety rules and opening words.
Country notes: school starting rules (October 2026)
Dated summary for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, the US, Canada, Australia, India, UAE, Singapore and South Africa, with the official source to check.
First-term mistakes to avoid
Ten common mistakes with the early sign and what to do instead, plus a two-minute Friday check.
12-week school countdown calendar
44 calendar events from 12 weeks before the first day to half-term, each naming the file to open. Import into a new calendar, then move the dates to match your first day.
School start task board import
32 countdown tasks as a CSV ready for Trello, Asana, Notion, Planner or Jira, with block, week, who and due date.
Countdown and routine cards
10 colourful printable pages: a 12-week countdown poster, a 20-sleeps chart, school practice cards, school-morning and after-school routine cards, after-school chat cards, brave badges and a first-week certificate.
Chapter by chapter
Each chapter opens with a real situation, gives you a method and ends with something to do today, using the tools in your kit.
- Format
- PDF e-book + XLSX + fillable PDF + DOCX + ICS + CSV + printable PDF
- Files
- 21 files plus a one-click ZIP
- E-book
- 63 pages
- Works with
- Excel, Google Sheets, LibreOffice, Word, Google Docs, Acrobat Reader, GoodNotes, Google Calendar, Outlook, Apple Calendar, Trello, Asana, Notion
- Best for
- Families with a child starting school at 4 to 6, any country
What Ready Really Means
The four lanes of readiness, why reading matters less than you think, and a calm strengths-first check.
Choosing a School You Can Live With
Set your weights before you visit, ask the same questions everywhere and read reports for what matters.
Applications and Deadlines Without Panic
Work backwards from the official deadline, gather documents early, rank honestly and plan care at the same time.
Independence Skills, Five Minutes at a Time
Toileting, coats, shoes and lunchboxes with the show, share, step back method.
Getting Along, Saying Goodbye and Listening
Turn-taking, separation practice, two-step instructions and the words to ask for help.
Early Learning Through Play, Not Drills
Talk, books, rhymes, names and everyday counting in ten minutes a day.
The Twelve Weeks Before
Facts, habits, practice and a calm final week, including the sleep shift and the dress rehearsal.
The First Day and the First Weeks
The goodbye ritual, the first week plan, after-school tiredness and a one-line daily diary.
Partnering With the Teacher
All About Me, short and specific messages, light homework and gentle help with friendships.
When Things Wobble
Notice, wait, talk, plan, review: telling normal wobbles from worries that need action, including additional needs.
Not just reading. Tools you will actually open again.
E-book
- Starting School Readiness Kit e-book: 10 chapters, 2 appendices, 6 illustrations, about 9,900 words
Spreadsheet
- School Start Planner workbook: Start here, Settings, School Shortlist scorer, Open Day Notes, Applications and deadlines, Readiness Skills, Practice Log, 12-week Countdown, Kit and Uniform budget, Weekly Logistics, First-Term Diary and Dashboard
Fillable PDF forms
- School Visit Questions (20 questions, watch-for list and scoring box)
- All About Me for the Teacher
- Readiness Skills Check (strengths first, 20 skills)
- First Week Plan
- Half-Term Review
Word templates
- Messages to School and Teacher: 36 ready-made messages and scripts
- Morning and After-School Routine Guide
- Family Agreement for School Mornings
- Letter to the Teacher and Other School Letters: 6 ready-to-send letters
- Worked Example Pack: Maya's school start
- AI Prompt Pack for Starting School: 26 prompts
Cheat sheets
- Start Here map
- Ready for School: What Really Matters
- Decision Card: Worries and What to Do
- Country Notes: School Starting Rules (October 2026)
- First-Term Mistakes to Avoid
Calendar and import
- 12-Week School Countdown calendar file (44 events)
- School Start Task Board CSV (32 tasks) for Trello, Asana, Notion, Planner or Jira
Printables
- Countdown and Routine Cards: 10 pages including a 12-week poster, 20-sleeps chart, 12 practice cards, 12 school-morning cards, 6 after-school cards, 12 chat cards, 6 brave badges and a first-week certificate
When you have worked through it, you will be able to…
Every outcome is practised with a worked example and a tool, not just described.
- You will be able to compare schools against your own weighted priorities and rank them with confidence
- You will be able to track every application, document and decision date in one place
- You will be able to check readiness calmly, strengths first, and choose three skills worth practising
- You will be able to run a 12-week countdown with two or three small actions a week
- You will be able to handle the first goodbye with a short, warm ritual
- You will be able to write short, effective messages and letters to school
- You will be able to tell normal first-term wobbles from worries that need action
- You will be able to review the first half-term and agree one change at home
Know your starting point. Prove your progress.
People who measure before and after improve faster and can show it. AssessAll, our sister assessment platform, has AI-graded assessments that pair with this kit. Take one now, work through the kit, then re-take it.
Early Years & Childcare Practice Judgment
Take the assessment →AssessAll assessmentStudy Conditions and Exam Preparation Environment Assessment for Students, Parents and Tutors
Take the assessment →AssessAll assessmentPlan Strength Assessment with an Eight-Week Re-Measure
Take the assessment →JobularyIf-then plans that make habits stick (Jobulary)
Make it a growth plan →A taste of Chapter 4
Chloe picked three skills on the Readiness Skills sheet: shoes, coat and opening a lunchbox. She built them into the day instead of adding new practice sessions. Shoes happened at every outing, with a cheerful "Shoe challenge, you have until I've found my keys." The lunchbox came out at Saturday lunch on a picnic rug in the lounge. The coat used the flip trick from the printable practice cards. She logged each go. After four weeks the Practice Log showed 31 sessions, mostly five minutes each. Coat and lunchbox reached "mostly". Shoes went to "sometimes with help", so she swapped to hook-and-loop school shoes, and they jumped to "mostly" in a week. Sometimes the fix is the shoe, not the child.
The honest comparison
| Free templates and typical advice | This kit | |
|---|---|---|
| Choosing a school | A list of generic questions | Weighted scorer, 20 visit questions, watch-for list and a matching workbook sheet |
| Readiness | Letters and numbers worksheets | Four lanes, strengths-first check, practice log and printable practice cards |
| Deadlines | Remember to apply on time | Applications tracker with days left, alerts and dated country notes |
| First weeks | Stay positive | Goodbye ritual, first week plan, after-school routine, diary and decision card |
| Talking to school | Nothing | 36 messages and 6 ready-to-send letters |
| Country fit | One country's system assumed | Works anywhere; dated notes for 9 countries and regions |
Made for you if…
- Parents and carers of children starting reception, kindergarten, prep, LKG or UKG, KG1, Grade R or Year 1
- Working parents who need to plan care, settling-in weeks and sick days around school
- Grandparents raising grandchildren, foster and adoptive families, and co-parents across two homes
- Families moving country and meeting a new school system
- Parents who want a calm, practical method rather than a pile of worksheets
- Nursery key workers and family support workers who want a ready set of parent tools
Probably not for you if…
- Families looking for a diagnosis or a developmental assessment: please talk to your health professional
- Anyone wanting phonics or handwriting drills to do before school
- Families needing legal advice on an admissions appeal
Built by trainers, tested in real rooms.
Bodhih Training has designed and delivered corporate programmes since 2008. Bodhih Pro Kits package what works in those workshops into a guide plus the exact tools we use, so you can apply it the same day without a facilitator in the room.
From here to using it in three steps
- STEP 1
Tap Get the kit
Name, email and country. UPI, card or netbanking in India; international cards everywhere else. No account to create.
- STEP 2
Download instantly
Your download page opens at once, with every file and a one-click ZIP. A permanent link lands in your inbox too.
- STEP 3
Open the first tool
Start with the quick-start chapter, then the main spreadsheet or planner. Most buyers use something from the kit the same day.
Start with one date tonight
Open the planner, type in the first day of school and watch the countdown appear. Whether you begin with the school shortlist this week or the readiness check this weekend, each step from the first visit to half-term is already mapped out for you.
Personal licence for the buyer's own use (and use with your own family or the families you support where the kit says so). Please don't share or resell the files. Team and company licences: solutions@bodhih.com.
The Bodhih family, when you are ready for more
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AssessAll
250+ AI-graded assessments to measure skills and earn verified credentials.
Jobulary
Individual development plans that start from evidence and stay yours.
Bodhih Training
Run this topic as a live workshop for your team, in person or online.
Pewple
Book a vetted coach for career, leadership or communication. Pay per session.
Bodhih.org pathways
Certification pathways in Applied AI, Workplace English and management.
Starting School Readiness Kit: FAQs
Read the free guideAlready bought? Resend my linkIs this kit educational or professional advice?
It is educational. It is not medical, developmental, legal or admissions advice for your particular child. For health, sleep, toileting and development, follow your doctor, health visitor, nurse or paediatrician, and always confirm admissions rules with the official source for your area.
Does it work outside the UK?
Yes. The method works for reception, kindergarten, prep, LKG and UKG, KG1, Grade R or Year 1 anywhere. The workbook uses your own dates and money label, and the dated Country Notes cover England and the rest of the UK, the US, Canada, Australia, India, the UAE, Singapore and South Africa.
How do I know if my child is ready for school?
Look at four lanes: independence, getting along and saying goodbye, listening, and early learning through play. Readiness is mostly about managing their body and the day, not reading. Milestones are ranges; if you are worried, talk to your health professional.
What should a child know before starting school?
Useful skills include using the toilet and washing hands, putting on a coat and shoes, opening a lunchbox, asking an adult for help, taking turns and recognising their own name. Teachers expect to teach reading and writing.
What questions should I ask on a school visit?
Ask how they help a child who is upset at drop-off, what a typical day looks like hour by hour, and how they will tell you if your child is struggling. The School Visit Questions form has twenty, grouped by topic.
How do I stop tears at the school gate?
Use a short, warm goodbye ritual that is the same every day, say a clear goodbye, leave, and be on time at pick-up. Tears that stop within minutes are common. If they last weeks, agree a plan with the teacher.
Why is my child so tired and tearful after school?
Many children hold it together all day and let go with the safe adult at home. Snack first, quiet next, fewer clubs and early bedtimes usually help over the first half-term.
Can I measure my starting point as the adult running this?
Yes. To measure your starting point, AssessAll offers the Early Years and Childcare Practice Judgment, the Study Conditions and Exam Preparation Environment Assessment, and the Plan Strength Assessment with an Eight-Week Re-Measure, which suits re-checking your plan before school starts.
How do I turn my plan into habits that stick?
The Jobulary guide to if-then plans shows how to turn intentions into specific cues, which helps you turn the countdown into a development plan for the whole household: if it is 7.30 pm, then the bag gets packed.
Does the kit cover children with additional needs?
It covers starting the conversation early, what to ask, and a letter requesting a meeting. For a full method to plan and review support at school, see the Bodhih Pro Kit School Support Plan Binder.
How much does Starting School Readiness Kit cost?
₹799 including 18% GST for buyers in India, or $24 for buyers outside India. One-time payment, no subscription, with an automatic invoice.
How do I get the files after paying?
Instantly. Your download page opens the moment payment succeeds, and a permanent download link is emailed to you. Download each file separately or everything in one ZIP.
What software do I need?
Any of the usual tools: Excel or Google Sheets for spreadsheets, Word or Google Docs for templates, Adobe Acrobat Reader, Preview, Xodo or GoodNotes for the fillable PDFs, and Google, Outlook or Apple Calendar for the calendar plan.
Can I get a refund?
Because it is a digital download, kits are not refundable once downloaded. We always refund a duplicate charge or a failed delivery, and if a file is corrupted and we cannot fix it within 3 working days. Full terms: bodhih.org/refunds.
Can my company buy this for a team?
Yes. Team and company licences, and workshops on this topic run by Bodhih Training, are available. Write to solutions@bodhih.com or call +91 99000 11601.
