Is your child ready to take the big step into “big school”? Our School Readiness Assessment – offered in Centurion and Middelburg – helps answer this question with confidence. In South Africa, children typically attend Grade R (the reception year) at age 5–6, followed by Grade 1. This transition is exciting, but children develop at different paces. A school readiness assessment evaluates whether your 5- to 6-year-old has the foundational skills needed to cope with the formal demands of Grade 1, as per CAPS and IEB curriculum expectations.
What is school readiness? It’s a holistic measure of a child’s development across several critical domains that enable learning. We look at your child’s:
Cognitive skills and general knowledge – e.g. basic understanding of numbers, shapes, colors, letter recognition, simple problem-solving and reasoning.
Language development – the ability to understand age-appropriate instructions, speak in sentences, and express needs or ideas.
Social and emotional maturity – how well they can handle separation, share and take turns, follow routines, work with peers, and manage emotions like frustration or anxiety.
Physical well-being and motor development – gross motor skills (like running, jumping, coordination) and fine motor skills (like holding a pencil, cutting with scissors). Being healthy and rested also factors into readiness.
A child ready for school doesn’t need to be perfect in all these areas but they should have skills close to the developmental stage that Grade 1 will demand. For instance, they should be able to listen to a short story and recount something about it, hold a crayon or pencil with reasonable control, and play cooperatively for a period of time.
Our assessment approach: We make the evaluation fun and engaging so that your child enjoys the experience. The educational psychologist will use play-based, age-appropriate activities to observe and test skills. This might include puzzles, drawing or copying shapes, counting games, chatting about pictures or stories, and gross-motor play (like hopping on one foot or throwing a ball). Many children don’t even realize they are being “assessed” they often think they are just having a special play session. We also incorporate some formal assessment tools designed for preschoolers, but always in a friendly manner with plenty of encouragement and breaks as needed (we know little ones have short attention spans!). Additionally, we may ask parents to fill out a developmental history and possibly obtain input from the child’s preschool teacher or creche, since those perspectives are valuable. In some cases, we use projective techniques (like drawings or storytelling prompts) and interviews with caregivers to get a well-rounded picture of the child’s social-emotional world.
What you’ll learn: After the assessment, we will provide a clear explanation of your child’s readiness. There are generally three outcomes: (1) Ready for Grade 1: your child shows the skills needed to start Grade 1 on schedule; (2) Borderline: your child has many strengths but a few areas of concern that could make the transition challenging; or (3) Not yet ready: your child would likely benefit from additional time or support before entering formal schooling. No matter the result, we focus on constructive feedback and a plan forward. You will receive a written report detailing your child’s developmental profile what they excel at, and what needs strengthening.
If your child is ready, we’ll highlight how you can continue to stimulate them at home to keep their momentum (for example, fun fine-motor activities to further develop handwriting skills, or reading together daily to build listening span). If your child is borderline or not ready yet, we will discuss options such as:
Targeted activities or therapy: e.g. enrolling in an occupational therapy group to boost fine-motor and coordination, or a speech & language therapist if there are language delays.
An extra year of growth: Some children simply benefit from another year in a play-based preschool/kindergarten setting (Grade R or a bridging class) to mature. We’ll help you weigh the pros and cons of delaying Grade 1.
At-home support: We’ll guide you on exercises and games to do at home to practice certain skills. For instance, if attention span is an issue, we might suggest gradually lengthening story time and reducing screen time. If social confidence is a bit low, we might recommend playdates or group activities to practice social skills.
School choice considerations: In a few cases, parents might consider a smaller class size or specific educational approach for Grade 1 if a child has particular needs. We can advise if, for example, a remedial school or a Montessori environment might suit your child better, or if mainstream schooling with some support will be sufficient.
Our goal is to ensure your child doesn’t struggle unnecessarily by being placed in an environment they’re not ready for. By identifying readiness, we set them up for a happy and successful start to school. If they are ready, you can send them to Grade 1 knowing they are equipped to thrive. If they need a bit more time or help, you can provide that now – and then watch them flourish when they do start formal school. We know that as a parent, you want the very best start for your little one’s educational journey, and this assessment gives you the information to make that important decision with confidence.
(Service available through in-person appointments in Centurion, Gauteng and Middelburg, Mpumalanga.)