Children develop at different rates, and readiness for structured literacy learning depends on various skills and behaviours rather than age alone. Look for these indicators that suggest a child is ready to engage with the English Language Discovery Kit. (For additional guidance on supporting early writing development specifically, our blog ‘Nurturing Early Writing Skills: A Guide to Supporting Young Learners‘ provides practical strategies.)

• Shows curiosity about letters and the sounds they make
• Recognises some environmental print (familiar logos, signs)
• Enjoys being read to and shows interest in books
• Can focus on structured activities for 5-10 minutes
• Demonstrates improving fine motor control when holding writing tools
• Attempts to ‘write’ or make marks to communicate meaning
• Shows interest in sorting and classifying objects
• Follows simple 2-3 step instructions
• Asks questions about words and their meanings
• Engages in pretend play that incorporates literacy elements
• Shows ability to recognise and name common objects
• Demonstrates readiness to learn through focussed attention