Prep for Prep: Skill Boosters for School Readiness
19 - 23 January 2026 | 5-day program (book 1–5 days)
📅 Monday 19 – Friday 23 January 2026
🕘 9:30am – 11:30am (2 hours)
👧 Children starting Prep in 2026
📍 Upper Mt Gravatt Clinic
What is Prep for Prep?
Prep for Prep is a structured, play-based occupational therapy booster program designed to support children as they prepare for the transition into Prep in 2026.
The program has been thoughtfully developed by our occupational therapy team to target the key developmental foundations required for school readiness, while still feeling fun, engaging, and achievable for young children.
Across the week, children participate in carefully planned group activities that mirror the social, emotional, physical, and cognitive demands of a Prep classroom. Sessions follow a predictable routine to support confidence and regulation, while gradually introducing new challenges that encourage independence, persistence, and flexible thinking.
Prep for Prep is particularly supportive for children who would benefit from:
extra practice with attention, listening, and following group instructions
building fine motor strength and control for early writing and classroom tasks
developing confidence with routines, transitions, and new environments
strengthening independence with self-care and organisation
learning strategies to manage emotions and stay regulated in a group setting
The program balances movement-based learning, tabletop activities, social interaction, and regulation strategies, allowing children to practise essential school skills in a way that feels safe, supportive, and motivating.
Goal Areas
The Prep for Prep program targets the following school readiness foundations:
Fine motor skills
Supporting hand strength, coordination, and control for drawing, writing, cutting, and managing classroom tools.Attention and listening
Developing the ability to attend to tasks, follow instructions, and participate in group routines.Social and play skills
Practising turn-taking, peer interaction, cooperation, and engagement within a small group.Self-regulation
Supporting children to recognise their emotions, manage arousal levels, and use calming strategies when needed.Independence skills
Building confidence with self-care, managing belongings, and completing tasks with reduced adult support.
Pricing
$280 per child, per day
• 1–3 days: $280 per day
• 4 days: 5% discount (total $1,064)
• 5 days: 10% discount (total $1,260)
Discounts apply to one child’s booking across the program days.
Flexible Booking Options
Prep for Prep is designed to offer flexibility for families.
Children can attend all five days or select individual days based on the areas where they would benefit most from extra support.
Each day focuses on a specific school readiness skill area and can be attended independently. This means families can choose the days that best match their child’s individual needs.
For children attending multiple days, the program is thoughtfully designed so skills are gently revisited and connected across the week. Children attending all five days will experience how the skills from earlier sessions come together in Day 5: Ready, Set, Go!, supporting confidence with transitions, routines, and group participation.
What We’ll Do Each Day
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Theme: Getting to know routines, making friends and feeling confident about school.
Starting school can feel big for little people. Day 1 is designed to help children feel safe, welcomed, and confident in a group environment while gently introducing the idea of school routines.
Children will practise engaging with peers, participating in group activities, and transitioning between tasks, all within a predictable and supportive structure.
Skills supported:
Understanding routines and expectations
Social engagement and turn-taking
Emotional awareness and reassurance
Early listening and group participation
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Theme: Building core strength, balance and coordination for school routines.
A strong, regulated body supports attention, sitting tolerance, and participation in classroom activities. On Day 2, children engage in whole-body movement experiences that help develop core strength, balance, and coordination.
These activities are designed to support children’s ability to manage their bodies during seated work, movement breaks, and playground time.
Skills supported:
Core strength and postural control
Balance and coordination
Body awareness
Regulation through movement
Fine motor control
Motor planning
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Theme: Fine motor control and hand-eye coordination.
Fine motor skills are essential for drawing, writing, cutting, and managing school tools. Day 3 focuses on strengthening hands and fingers while building control, coordination, and endurance.
Children will practise skills that directly support pre-writing and classroom independence, while also learning to sustain attention during tabletop tasks.
Skills supported:
Hand strength and dexterity
Bilateral coordination
Visual–motor integration
Pre-writing foundations
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Theme: Building independence and self-care confidence.
Independence is a key expectation in Prep. Day 4 supports children to practise everyday self-care and organisational skills in a way that builds confidence and reduces reliance on adult support.
Children are encouraged to problem-solve, persist with tricky tasks, and celebrate their growing independence.
Skills supported:
Dressing and self-care skills
Managing personal belongings
Sequencing and problem-solving
Confidence and perseverance
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Theme: Putting all the skills together – a mini “school day” practice.
The final day helps children apply the skills they’ve been building across the week within more complex group routines and transitions.
Children practise flexibility, following instructions, and using regulation strategies when things feel challenging — supporting a positive and confident start to their Prep journey.
Skills supported:
Transitioning between activities
Following group instructions
Emotional regulation strategies
Confidence in new environments
Spaces limited to 16 children per day.
Booking Priority
Due to limited places, bookings will be confirmed in order of program length:
Priority will be given to children attending all 5 days
Followed by children attending 4 days
Then shorter bookings, subject to availability
This approach helps us maintain consistent group numbers across the week and supports children who benefit from attending the full program.
Families wishing to book fewer days are still encouraged to register, and places will be confirmed once priority bookings have been allocated.
Important Information About Suitability
Children have been invited to participate in Prep for Prep 2026 based on their occupational therapist’s professional assessment of suitability. This helps ensure that each child is able to engage meaningfully in the group format and gain the greatest benefit from the program.
Prep for Prep is designed as a booster program to support children in strengthening key school readiness foundations, including:
early social communication
emotional awareness and basic self-regulation skills
fine and gross motor foundations
play participation within a small group
early independence and classroom routines
Program suitability
This group may not be suitable for children who:
require 1:1 support to engage in activities
experience significant challenges with emotional regulation or behavioural safety
require high levels of redirection or adult support
are unable to participate safely in a small group environment
For children who may find the group format challenging, their occupational therapist can continue to support the development of these key skill areas through individual therapy sessions, tailored to their specific needs and readiness level.
If you have any questions about suitability, we encourage you to speak with your child’s occupational therapist or contact our team for further guidance.
Spaces limited to 16 children per day.