Milestones for School Readiness​

Getting ready for your little one to start school? Dive into the key school readiness milestones for speech and language!

Milestones for School Readiness

Getting ready for your child to start school in 2026?
Dive into the key school readiness milestones for speech and language.

They can listen to sounds and know a few letters that match these sounds.

Already having early literacy skills is a great boost in school.

Can your child tell you what the first sound in a word is? Can your child match the sound /a/ to the letter ‘a’? Reading books is a great time to check this!

They can say all of their sounds clearly.

 By this age, kids should be able to say most of their speech sounds like /sh/, /st/, /bl/ and /l/. They might still have a little trouble with /th/ and /r/, which is common at this age. If you’re not sure, you can film your child playing or talking and listen back to see if you can hear any errors.

They can listen to and follow instructions.

In the classroom, your child may be expected to follow simple 2-3 step instructions like “Put your books away, get your hat on, and line up at the door”. 

You can see how they go at home with instructions on getting ready to go out, or silly instructions like “Jump up and down, give me a high five, and spin in a circle.”

They can tell stories and answer questions about their story.

Try asking ‘wh’ questions about their day and see how they go answering. Who, what, and where questions are usually easier than when, why, and how. If your child has trouble telling you about their day, you can help them by making the question more specific. ‘What did you do at grandpa’s house today?’ is easier to answer than ‘What did you do today?’

They can learn new vocabulary words easily.

On average, a child should know 5000 words by the time they’re five years old. 

Consider how easily your child is able to tell you something. Are they able to pick up and use new words easily? Can they describe things easily?

They can talk in long sentences.

By school, children should be able to combine ideas with ‘and’ or ‘but’. For example, ‘I went swimming and dived to the bottom and found a shell.’ 

It doesn’t have to be every sentence but start listening to see if your child is joining their sentences.

Aside from the milestones, there are other ways to check your child’s school readiness. Here are some other red flags to look out for:
  • Behavioural difficulties i.e the “naughty” child at preschool
  • Low self-confidence
  • Attention difficulties
  • Difficulty making and maintaining friendships
  • Being unable to express themselves clearly
  • Having difficulty understanding games, conversations, and following directions
If any of these sound familiar, we recommend seeking more advice. You can chat with Pop Online Speech Therapy about any of these concerns in an obligation-free call to decide if your child may need speech therapy.

I've Checked the Speech and Language Milestones, Now What?

How did your child go? Were they able to complete these 6 key speech and language goals?

It’s important to remember that not reaching milestones or seeing red flags does not mean you have been a ‘bad’ parent or that there is something ‘wrong’ with your child. It’s actually quite common for children to need support in their development.


In fact, 1 in 7 Australian children have difficulty communicating. The good news is there are many ways to receive support now through schools, online, at home and from professionals.

If you are looking for our advice as Speech Pathologists, we always recommend that if you have concerns, you should ask a professional for their opinion.

Our motto is: “early intervention is the best prevention.”

💡Did you know a speech pathologist can help you if you are unsure if your child is ready for school?

At Pop, we’ve heard it all when it comes to concerns about this significant step. We totally understand all the questions running through your mind:

“When should my child be writing their name?”
“Will they fit in okay?”
“What should my child be able to do before starting kindy?”

Pop offers FREE 15 minute advice phone calls. In the call you can discuss with one of our experienced Speech Therapists whether you need a tailored speech therapy assessment for your child so you can feel confident starting school. All our speech therapy is online via Zoom, meaning support is only a click away in the comfort of your own home.

In your free advice call, the Speech Therapist will:

  • Find out and assess your child's needs
  • Address any questions or concerns you may have
  • Discuss the best next steps - what should happen next
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Here are our top tips for helping your child prepare for starting school to help them (and you!) feel more cool, calm and collected when the time comes to send them on their way. Find tips for Language and Literacy, School Readiness and Routine, Social and Emotional Skills, Attention and Listening, and Fine & Gross Motor Skills.
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Early Literacy Difficulties & How to Treat Them with Robyn Monaghan from Read 3

When it comes to literacy difficulties, early intervention is everything. Pop CEO, Heidi, interviews one of the best in the business, Robyn Monaghan, to discuss early literacy difficulties, how to identify them, and some insightful tips on how to treat them!
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Pop acknowledges and pays respect to the past and present Traditional Custodians and Elders of this nation and the continuation of cultural, spiritual and educational practices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

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  • Share the next steps for how Pop Online Speech Therapy can support your journey

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