Tools for School is a program designed by our Occupational Therapists (OT) and Speech and Language
Pathologists (SLP) to help children build confidence and independence in a small group.
Your child will learn school readiness skills through play-based activities, movement, group games,
tabletop learning, and social interaction:
- following and understanding classroom routines
- listening and following instructions
- attention and group participation
- early literacy and numeracy concepts
- communication and social interaction
- fine motor and pre-writing skills
- emotional regulation and learning readiness
The program runs over 7 themed weeks, with the option to attend the full program or select individual
sessions based on your child’s needs and interests.
Who is this for?
This program is designed for children aged 4–5 years who are preparing to start school.
Program Duration
Each session includes:
- 45 minutes of structured group activities
- 15 minutes for parent handover and an information handout
Session Structure
Transition In
- Drop-off and goodbye routine
- Lining up with peers
Warm Up & Greetings
- Attendance
- Visual schedule
- Regulation warm-up activity
Movement Activity
- Gross motor and group participation activities designed to support regulation, coordination, and
teamwork.
Tabletop & Circle Activities
- 1–2 structured learning and play-based activities targeting school readiness skills.
Transition Out
- Goodbye action song
- Lining up with peers
- Parent handover and progress checklis
Weekly Program Themes
Week 1: Counting & Shapes
Learning Outcomes:
- Develop rote and 1:1 correspondence counting skills and number recognition
- Identify, match, and sort shapes
- Build attention and participation in tabletop learning activities
- Follow multi-step instructions in a small groupBuild social skills in shared play
Week 2: Learning Letters & Sounds
Learning Outcomes:
- Recognise and sequence the letters in their name
- Develop awareness of letter sounds
- Build visual perceptual and cognitive skills
- Develop listening and auditory processing skills
- Build social skills in perspective-taking
Week 3: Arts & Crafts
Learning Outcomes:
- Develop scissor, glue, and tool-use skills
- Follow up to 3-step instructions
- Learn safety rules when using scissors
- Use communication skills to share and borrow materials
- Build fine motor, bilateral coordination, visual-spatial, and sequencing skills
Week 4: Fine Motor & Handwriting
Learning Outcomes:
- Develop listening and waiting skills in group activities
- Improve body and spatial awareness in a small group
- Build fine motor skills for a functional pencil grasp
- Strengthen visual motor and pre-writing skills
Week 5: Nature & Colours
Learning Outcomes:
- Develop vocabulary for weather, nature, and colours
- Practice outdoor safety and group routines
- Develop visual perceptual and observation skills
- Develop social, spatial and body awareness of self and others, including perspective taking,
thinking about others, and following a group plan
Week 6: Games & Friends
Learning Outcomes:
- Learn about social play skills such as games with rules, cooperative play, and competitive play
skills
- Practice turn-taking, flexible thinking, and coping with winning and losing
- Develop problem-solving and social interaction skills with peers
- Increase awareness of hygiene with handwashing
- Develop independence in snack routines, such as opening and closing lunch box items
Week 7: Move & Learn About Feelings
Learning Outcomes:
- Develop body awareness and gross motor skills
- Identify body language to share their feelings with others
- Explore simple mindfulness and regulation strategies
- Practice staying with the group during movement activities