School Readiness Program
Starting school asks a lot of little hands — holding a pencil, using scissors, managing buttons and zips,
and keeping up with a classroom full of drawing, cutting and hands-on activities.
Our School Readiness Program helps preschool children build fine motor, coordination
and participation skills they need for a confident, capable start to school.
Sessions are delivered by a trained Allied Health Assistant under the oversight of
Occupational Therapist Penny Gardner, ensuring children receive high-quality, evidence-informed support.
Designed for children aged 4–5 years who are starting school the following year.
The program can be booked directly by families or delivered in partnership with your preschool as a small-group program.
We Can Help With
Fine Motor & Visual Motor Integration (VMI)
Supporting drawing, colouring, cutting, and early classroom tasks
Hand & Finger Strength
Building endurance and control for table-top activities
Dexterity & Manipulation Skills
Supporting self-care tasks like dressing and using utensils
Regulation & Attention
Increasing focus and persistence during structured activities
Bilateral Coordination
Using both hands together for everyday tasks like cutting or buttoning clothes
Early Social Skills
Turn-taking, sharing, and participating in group routines
Choosing the Right Option
Two ways to take part — as a centre embedding the program, or a family booking directly.
Group Program
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Ideal for: preschools and early learning centres wanting to embed school readiness support in a room
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Structure: small groups of up to 5 children, weekly 60-minute sessions over a 10-week block
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Implemented by: trained Allied Health Assistant, under the oversight of Occupational Therapist Penny Gardner
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Benefits: individual attention within a small group, peer interaction, consistent skill-building over the block
Individual Program (Families)
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Ideal for: families booking directly for their child
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Structure: one-on-one sessions, weekly 60-minute sessions over a 10-week block, same as the group program
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Implemented by: trained Allied Health Assistant, under the oversight of Occupational Therapist Penny Gardner
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Benefits: fully individualised pacing, flexible scheduling, no need to wait for a group to form.
What to Expect
The program is designed to build participation in fine motor and tabletop activities, develop hand strength and control for drawing, colouring and cutting, improve visual motor coordination for classroom tasks, and strengthen the dexterity needed for self-care skills such as dressing. Along the way, we also support children's confidence, attention and engagement as they prepare for school.
Progress is tracked throughout the program using observation checklists, individual session notes and an end-of-program summary.
Who This Is For
Preschool children aged 4–5 years, in the year before they start school.
Children do not need a diagnosis to take part. Educator input and discussions with parents can help identify children who may benefit from the program.
This is a skills-focused program and does not include individual therapy assessments. If your child may benefit from more individualised support, this can be discussed separately with COMO Therapy.
Contact
Like what you see? Get in touch to learn more.
