‘Getting ready for school’ should be a fun and hands-on experience where your child doesn’t even realise they are learning, and we are here to help!
Meet Annette and Lucy, two mums from Leeds with a shared passion for instilling skills in your children that set them up for life, whilst creating fantastic memories and fun. Annette is the founder of Number Train, award winning maths-based preschool classes which now run in venues across Yorkshire and the North East. Lucy is the founder of Pickle Kitchen, providing workshops and resources for families all about food, from cooking and food science, to food culture and where our food comes from.
At Pickle Kitchen and Number Train we believe in a holistic approach to engage young children – we mix in dancing, singing, playing, exploring, getting messy and so much more. Many of the ideas and skills shared in our classes can then be reapplied at home to ensure children learn through play, exploration and focused time together. Learning and being school ready doesn’t need to be complex or require lots of sat down focus time – because as mums, we know that’s not how children learn best. Our classes are a great way to help in the transition to school.
How can I help to prepare my child for school?
Here are 6 simple ways that we can help your child to prepare for school:
1️⃣ Social interaction
From taking turns to listening to instructions, children naturally develop important social skills, essential for being in a classroom. Whether it’s waiting for their turn to follow a recipe step, or take a turn with a fishing rod, they’re learning cooperation, patience, and how to listen and respond.
2️⃣ Recognising numbers & early maths
Annette knows the power of early maths skills, as a former primary teacher. The opportunities to practise maths skills in cooking are endless! Here are some of the skills you can include as you cook – counting ingredients, spotting numbers on recipes, equipment and ingredients, finding half, comparing two amounts and knowing which is “more or less”
3️⃣ Understanding measures
Cooking introduces children to real-life maths language like empty/full, heavier/lighter, more/less or fewer. They explore different units of measure in a meaningful, hands-on way and with different equipment.
4️⃣ Fine & gross motor skills
Pouring, whisking, spreading, cutting, chopping and using different tools all help develop hand eye co-ordination and control. From using their pincer grip to bigger movements, these skills are essential for writing and physical development later on in school.
5️⃣ Language development
As children chat, describe, and explore, they naturally expand their vocabulary. Learning the names of tools, ingredients, textures, and actions in a rich, engaging way is all part of the process. You are your child’s best fountain of language.
6️⃣ Screen-free, quality learning time
Cooking at home and exploring maths-based fun becomes a meaningful time together, away from screens, where learning happens holistically and the best part is that all of the skills can be repeated again and again which builds confidence and independence over time! We frame our classes around time together with your child, guiding and learning together. This not only gives you precious time to create memories before they set off on their path through school, but supports you in supporting them.
Remember, the best preparation for school doesn’t look like lessons. It looks like play.
Come join our classes and experience our play based approach to learning for yourself! Head to the train timetable to book your ticket on the Number Train, and why not visit the Pickle Kitchen Club website to learn more about the wonderful classes they offer and to book your place.
