Tower Hamlets – A borough - wide approach to Starting Reception

Tower Hamlets is a diverse borough with a significant proportion of families for whom English is an additional language, notably Bengali and increasingly Mandarin. To support children’s successful transition into school, the Early Help & Children and Families Service adopted the Starting Reception resource as a foundational element of its School Readiness Programme led and delivered by the Early Intervention team.

The Starting Reception resource provides practical guidance for families to help children develop essential skills before starting Reception. Key areas include:

• Independence: Self-care, dressing, toileting
• Communication and Language: Speaking, listening, and understanding
• Social and Emotional Development: Building relationships, managing feelings
• Physical Activity and Healthy Routines: Movement, healthy eating, sleep
• Support for Additional Needs: Guidance for children with SEND or EAL

Borough-Wide Distribution

• The resource was distributed to all 65 primary schools and nursery provisions in Tower Hamlets, ensuring universal access for families and practitioners.
• Schools and nurseries received digital copies.

Direct Engagement with Schools

• The Early Intervention team has delivered 191 School Readiness sessions (both in the family hubs and within schools), providing hands-on support to embed the resource into school readiness activities.
• This included direct work with individual families, workshops for parents, and collaborative planning to tailor the resource to each school’s context. 3035 attendees accessed a School Readiness Programme from April to September 2025. 

Multilingual Access and Community Engagement

• Recognising the diversity of Tower Hamlets, the resource was translated into Bengali and other community languages by Kindred Squared.
• Bengali versions were prominently displayed and distributed in Family Hubs, Children and Family Centres, and some schools.
• The Bengali speaking families are actively encouraged to access ‘The Starting Reception’ website during screening sessions for targeted intervention and within the School Readiness programme. This supports digital inclusion and accessibility for families.

Themed Sessions and Tailored Support

• The resource underpinned themed play sessions and workshops (e.g., toilet training, healthy routines, learning through play) delivered within Family Hubs, Children and Family Centres and collocated in Schools.
• Practitioners adapted the resource’s recommendations to meet the needs of children with English as an additional language or special educational needs, ensuring inclusivity.

Monitoring and Feedback

• Data collection systems were established to monitor family engagement with the School Readiness programmes.
• Feedback from schools and families is regularly gathered to inform ongoing improvements and ensure the resource remains relevant and effective.

• The borough-wide approach, combined with targeted support for 15 schools, has strengthened Early Intervention partnerships with Schools and improved consistent School Readiness messages.
• The multilingual resources have raised awareness amongst families who might otherwise face barriers to support.
• Families and practitioners report greater confidence in preparing children for school, resulting in smoother transitions and improved outcomes for children.

The implementation of the Starting Reception resource in Tower Hamlets Family Hubs enabled a coordinated and inclusive approach to school readiness. By ensuring wide distribution, direct support, and language accessibility, the borough has empowered families and practitioners to give children the best possible start to their educational journey.