Children starting reception in September 2026 are being encouraged to ‘Get ready with Teddy’ as part of a new school readiness campaign being launched by Rochdale Borough Council.
As the new school year fast approaches, the local authority is keen to ensure all children have the key skills they need to make the best possible start at school. This includes practical skills such as being fully toilet trained and having the confidence to join in group activities.
Building on the work already taking place across early years settings to prepare pupils for the classroom, this campaign will also support families whose children are not currently in a nursery or pre-school setting.
To kickstart the campaign, the council is giving every new reception pupil a comforting teddy bear companion to take with them on their school readiness journey.
Families are also being invited to ‘Teddy Saturday’ on Saturday, 25 April 2026 across selected Best Start Family Hubs as an official launch event to learn more about how they can get involved in the campaign.
With lots of teddy bear themed activities for families to enjoy on the day, including a teddy bear picnic, teddy biscuit baking and outdoor play, this will also give families the opportunity to meet and connect with others whose children are starting school at the same time.
A variety of early years services will be in attendance too, should any parents or carers have any concerns about their child’s development that they may wish to discuss.
In addition, a new dedicated programme of activities will then begin on Monday, 27 April 2026 to support families with their child’s development in the lead-up to their first day of term.
Taking places across the borough’s Best Start Family Hubs, the sessions support the development of key school readiness skills such as building a child’s independence, relationships and communication.
Children will also be supported with their physical development and their understanding of a healthy routine, all of which are important for a positive transition into education and for long‑term school attendance and attainment.
Sharon Hubber, director for children’s services at Rochdale Borough Council, said:
“Starting school is a huge milestone for our children and their families, and we want every child in our borough to begin that journey feeling confident, supported and ready to thrive.
While many children attending nursery, pre‑school or a childminder receive this support already, there’s lots that can still be done at home to prepare children for reception and beyond, especially for families who do not access this support already.
By giving families simple, practical tools to help build their independence, communication and social skills, we can ensure every child has the very best start.
We can also connect families to the right support at the earliest opportunities to set our children up for positive outcomes long beyond their first day in the classroom.”
The ‘Get ready with Teddy’ campaign will also contribute to enhancing the borough’s good level of development (GLD).
GLD is the key education assessment carried out on pupils aged 5 at the end of their reception year which measures whether a child has met their expected early learning goals in key areas like communication and language, personal and social skills, physical development, literacy and maths.
The current number of children achieving GLD across Rochdale borough is 61 per cent in comparison to the national average of 68 per cent.
Rachael Bentham, principal at Norden Primary Academy, added:
“Children thrive when families and school staff work hand‑in‑hand.
School readiness is not about children knowing everything before they arrive, it’s about helping them feel confident, curious, and prepared for the exciting journey ahead.
When families and schools work closely together, children benefit from consistent routines and expectations, shared understanding of their needs, positive relationships and early support.
Working together, we can create a smooth and joyful start to school, helping every child feel ready, valued, and excited for the journey ahead.”