Fame Arts Preschool

Welcome to the Fame Preschool blog – insights, updates, and tips for parents in Whangaparāoa and Stanmore Bay.”

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Preparing for School: Building Positive Dispositions for Learning

What Does ‘School Readiness’ Really Mean?

At Fame Preschool, we believe school readiness isn’t just about knowing letters or numbers - it’s about building the foundations for learning itself.

We focus on developing learning dispositions - the attitudes, habits, and ways of thinking that help children approach new experiences with curiosity, confidence, and resilience.

These dispositions come from a mix of relationships, play, and experiences that help children say, “I can try. I can think. I can learn.”

What Are Learning Dispositions?

As teachers we nurture early skills that prepare the brain and body for later literacy, numeracy, and problem-solving.

Some key dispositions include:

  • Curiosity - wanting to explore and find out more

  • Perseverance - trying again when things are tricky

  • Confidence - believing “I can do it!”

  • Independence - managing belongings, routines, and emotions

  • Cooperation - learning and playing with others

  • Creativity - thinking flexibly and imaginatively

These form the heart of lifelong learning.

How We Support Readiness at Fame Preschool

At Fame Preschool, our programme combines creative arts, sensory play, movement, and early literacy and maths games.
This helps develop both the brain pathways and emotional readiness children need for success at school.

Here’s how:

Language & Listening Games

Sound awareness activities, we play with rhythm, rhyme, and listening skills long before formal reading begins.

  • Clapping syllables

  • “Sound detectives” - finding objects starting with the same sound

  • Singing and rhyme games

These strengthen the auditory skills that lead to confident readers later on.

Fine & Gross Motor Play

Before children can hold a pencil, they need strong shoulders, hands, and coordination.
Through painting, dancing, clay, climbing, and threading, we build motor control naturally - making writing easier when the time comes.

Emotional Readiness

Confidence to try, fail, and try again comes from feeling safe and supported.
Our teachers model emotional regulation, helping children name and manage feelings. This sets the stage for calm, focused learning.

Imaginative & Cooperative Play

Pretend play builds planning, communication, and empathy - key for school life. Children learn to share ideas, listen, and negotiate roles - all early forms of teamwork and problem-solving.

How Parents Can Support Learning Readiness at Home

You don’t need flashcards or worksheets - just connection, play, and conversation.

Here are some simple ideas:

  • Talk and listen: Ask open questions (“What do you think will happen next?”).

  • Play sound and movement games: Simon Says, clapping patterns, rhymes.

  • Build independence: Encourage dressing, packing bags, washing hands.

  • Share stories: Reading daily builds attention, imagination, and memory.

  • Encourage curiosity: Wonder together - “Why do clouds move?”

Small, everyday interactions create confident learners ready to take on new challenges.

A Final Thought

School readiness is less about “getting ahead” and more about growing a love of learning.
At Fame Preschool, we help children develop the curiosity, confidence, and self-belief to thrive — not just at school, but in life.

Learn more about our transition to school programme