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Is your child ready to start school?  Many parents are anxious, so here’s what you can do

lucindamiller
Lucinda Sun, 27th Apr 2025
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You’ve received the exciting news that your child has a school place in this September’s reception class! The thought of your little one starting school inevitably brings a mix of excitement and nerves. 

So, as you count down the days, you’ll want to ensure they’re ready, feeling confident and capable, so that they can settle into big school and shine. 

Nutrition is closely associated with physical development, brain development and mental health, so in this blog, I’ll explore some essential nutrition tips to give your child a strong start in their school career, especially if you sense they need a bit of extra support before embarking on this new adventure.

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What does your child need to be ready?

Here are some basic benchmarks for school readiness and a good list to tick off as you are approaching the start to school. 

  • Can they recognise and say their name?
  • Can they sit still for fifteen minutes or so without a screen?
  • Can they play nicely and share with other children?
  • Can they go to the loo/toilet and wash their hands independently?
  • Can they change clothes on their own?

I talk to some parents who are concerned their child must have certain skills like knowing their numbers and counting, as well as being able to hold a pencil or crayon to be able to start school. This is not true, and to be honest that’s the kind of thing they go to school for. 

Conversely, basic prerequisites include having the social skills to share and respond to simple instructions, as well as be able to spend several hours a day with a large group of children. Independence skills such as being able to say their own name, avoid little loo accidents; and being able to use cutlery at lunch are also vital if your child is going to find starting school easy. 

Shockingly, a third of children now start school without these expected developmental foundations. It’s a national scandal. This is placing a huge pressure on teachers, who are already overstretched. On average 2.4 hours of teacher time is now lost every day just supporting children who struggle to play nicely, share or need help with basic personal care, such as getting changed or going to the loo. 

According to the ‘Kindred School Readiness Survey’ published in January 2025 for England and Wales, teachers reported 45% of children are unable to sit still in class; over a third struggle to play/share with other children and can’t listen or respond to a simple instruction; and a quarter are still wearing nappies during the day. And according to the charity Speech and Language UK, one in five children (1.9 million) are currently struggling with talking and understanding words. 

These delays are also affecting gross motor and physical skills too, and one teacher said ‘We’ve had a lot of delayed walkers. Their movements are quite clumsy, dropping things, unable to climb a staircase’.

Why is this happening? 

Expert opinion varies. At one end of the scale, it could be caused by both parents busily working hard trying to make ends meet, so that they do not have the time or bandwidth to help their kids reach these important milestones. At the other end of the scale, parenting knowledge and motivation may be lacking.

Most people agree that too much screen time is also a major factor why children are overall behind in their social and cognitive skills. 

And the right nutrition is also vital. It’s often the overlooked missing piece in the puzzle when it comes to helping children reach their potential and help them catch up with their developmental milestones. 

This is where the increasingly high intake of ultra-processed foods may well be playing a role in delaying key childhood skills and developmental milestones. 

What is the role of ultra-processed foods?

UPFs are often lacking in key nutrients for brain development. It is hard to ensure that your kids are getting enough of the vitamin and mineral basics to cover their daily nutritional needs. Iron, zinc, magnesium and calcium levels can drop if they are eating lots of beige and crunchy foods. And giving children lots of oily fish and green vegetables can often feel like an impossible mountain to climb. 

In an ideal world your child would eat a nutritious and healthy diet and consume less than 20% ultra-processed foods. The problem is that toddlers now eat a diet of up to 74% UPFs. 

So, if your kid grazes on puffed corn snacks, sweet cereals, chicken nuggets, squash and fizzy drinks instead of nutritious meals, then this could well influence their development and behaviour, simply because they do not contain the vitamins, minerals, healthy fats and protein which are the building blocks to a healthy mind and body. 

Research on child nutrition and highly processed foods and drinks is still emerging. But here are some important pointers: 

  • Verbal Comprehension Index – VCI is a way of measuring how much a child can understand instructions. One study found that children who ate lots of biscuits, sweets, fast-food, ice cream, sweetened drinks and sweet bakery products had a decreased VCI scores, and these diet choices were affecting the cognitive function in 4–7-year-olds. Another study carried out in Italy found that kids who ate more fish and seafood had a higher VCI with better verbal abilities and perceptual reasoning.
  • Overstimulated kids – several studies have found a relationship between high levels of free-sugar consumption and refined starches during the early years and the likelihood of a child developing hyperactive behaviour, sleeping problems and anxiety symptoms. 
  • Lowers IQ – intelligence quotient or IQ is one way of measuring cleverness, and a large study conducted at Bristol university found that children who ate a highly nutritious diet before the age of 3 had a slightly higher IQ, versus the children who ate a more ultra processed diet who had a slightly lower IQ. This was measuring IQ at the age of 8, and after adjusting for genetic and socioeconomic factors. 
  • Higher SEN need – several studies have found that children who consume a diet high in highly processed foods or sugar sweetened drinks are more likely to have attention and focus issues. High calorie processed foods have also been demonstrated to impair working memory and task performance. Many studies have found that a processed diet may also affect executive function such as organisational and planning skills. Also, if the diet does not contain enough omega-3 fatty acids from eating oily fish such as salmon, mackerel or sardines, then this can pose a higher risk for difficulties with working memory and processing. 
  • Poor locomotor skills – one study found that children’s physical skills such as jumping and hopping were delayed in those who consumed high levels of UPFs. These skills are vital for other aspects of learning, including improved cognitive function, as well as better attention and academic performance in kids. Locomotor skills also help to boost a child’s confidence.
  • Foods that easily melt in the mouth and do not need to be chewed very much such as cereals, rice cakes and puffed corn snacks are now known to be affecting children’s oral development. This not only leads to more crowded teeth, but it can also worsen mouth breathing which can affect a child’s sleep. ‘No-chew’ food can also lead to poor oral muscle tone, speech delay and difficulty being understood. On the other hand, chewing on meat, nuts and crunchy fruit and veg encourages straighter teeth, less mouth breathing and better oral muscle tone.
  • Finger foods and picnic-style foods such as pizza, sandwiches, chips and nuggets have become the normal for many kids and they will not eat any food that needs a knife, fork or spoon. As well as good table manners, the ability to use a knife and fork correctly can help to encourage fine motor skills such as the ability to tie laces, do up buttons and zips. These skills are also vital for developing handwriting skills and writing neatly. 
  • Toilet training can be delayed if a child is very constipated, and a blocked-up gut can lead to both wetting and soiling. Constipation affects a lot of children nowadays and can often be due to a child not drinking enough water and/or not eating enough food containing fibre such as wholegrains, pulses, fruits and vegetables. Constipation and hard dry stools are very common in kids who choose highly refined processed foods over the healthier more fibrous foods. 
  • Nutrient deficiencies – UPFs tend to be full of refined maize/corn, rice and potato starches, as well as refined seed oils such as vegetable and sunflower oil. These foods rarely contain important nutrients for child development such as iron for energy and vitality; zinc for immunity, learning and emotional regulation; calcium for strong bones; magnesium for sleep and muscles; omega 3 for eye and brain development; and B vitamins for a healthy nervous system. 

Ten nutrition tips to help your child catch up and find school easier

As parents we all know instinctively that a well-fed child is a happy child, and we can see a difference in their demeanour after they have eaten a well-balanced meal, versus a meal full of snacky junk. We need to feed our children at least three times a day until they start school, and the reality is that raising toddlers can involve constant snack requests, and some little ones graze all day. 

Each time we feed our children, there is an opportunity to give them nutritious foods packed with vitamins, minerals, protein and omega fatty acids to help with their brain development and social skills. 

Here are my top easy tips to reduce the amount of UPF your child eats and to optimise their overall nutrition and development. Take one step at a time, and soon you’ll all be enjoying more nutritious, home-cooked meals and snacks together:

  1. Prioritise cooking from scratch: The more you prepare food yourself, the more likely you are to make healthy choices for your family. Aim to try one new recipe each week.
  2. Read the labels: Look out for foods that contain only a handful of ingredients that you recognise as actual food. Avoid products with unfamiliar names or additives that you wouldn’t typically use in your kitchen.
  3. Avoid unnecessary additives: Whenever possible, steer clear of emulsifiers, acidity regulators, artificial sugars and preservatives.
  4. Focus on protein-rich breakfasts: Give your child with a protein-rich breakfast to help them feel full longer, reducing the likelihood of snacking on UPFs between meals. Think eggs, live yoghurt, nut butters or cheese. 
  5. Pack homemade lunches: If your nursery allows, send them in with a packed lunch that includes homemade food and then you can adapt your child’s nutrition to their specific needs. 
  6. Make or assemble your own snacks: Whenever possible, prepare snacks at home – it could be something simple like some apple slices and cheddar chunks or more complex like homemade muffins or bliss balls. Fill your freezer and store cupboard with these ingredients to make healthier snacks. This not only promotes healthier eating but can also save you money.
  7. Choose healthier drinks: Dilute the sweet drinks and squash progressively to filtered water to help reduce sugar intake, as well as cut back on artificial sugars and preservatives. 
  8. Plan ahead: Fill your kids’ tummies before they go to parties or events to prevent them from bingeing on too much sugary junk food.
  9. Connect food with mood: Help your child recognise the connection between the foods they eat and their mood. Identify which foods boost their energy and mood and which ones leave them feeling low or tired. This awareness will encourage healthier choices over time.
  10. Fuss pot: For fussy eaters, make one tiny change at a time and you will get there! My top tip is to try and bake or assemble healthy snacks with them, as they are most likely to enjoy this one-to-one time with you and will engage more with the process – even if it’s just a little lick of the bowl to begin with – that is progress! 

Round up

Your little one starting school should be an exciting and memorable moment for you as a family. I hope that over the next few months prioritising making their diet with more nutritious food really helps them to catch up and feel more school ready. You’ve got this! 

If you have greater concerns about your child’s development, they are a highly selective eater, or potentially on the SEN trajectory, then our NatureDoc Child Nutrition Clinical Team would be delighted to work with you. 

I can also highly recommend Kate Hudson, from our secret NatureDoc little black book, who is a Neurodevelopmental & Education specialist offering coaching and support for school readiness and throughout a child’s educational journey. 

References

Categories: Baby Health, Child Health, Diet & Supplement & Lifestyle Hacks, Fussy & Selective Eating, Gut Health, The Healthy Blog

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