Essential Literacy Skills Your Child Needs Before P1

Essential Literacy Skills Your Child Needs Before P1 (And How You Can Support Them at Home)

“P1 English isn’t about being ‘ahead’, it’s about having the right foundations.”

Every year, parents worry about whether their child is “ready” for Primary 1. Many feel pressure for their child to read long books, write full paragraphs, or score perfectly on spelling before the school year even begins.

But here’s the truth: P1 readiness is not about being advanced. It’s about having the right foundations in place.

Children don’t need to enter P1 reading fluently or writing lengthy stories. What they do need are essential literacy skills that help them cope with the pace and expectations of P1 English.

What Are the Key Literacy Skills Needed Before P1?

These core skills help children start P1 with confidence instead of fear:

✔ 1. Letter–Sound Knowledge

Children should recognise most letters and know the common sounds they make.

✔ 2. Blending Simple Words (CVC Words)

Being able to blend words like cat, ship, ring helps them read simple texts used in early P1.

✔ 3. Recognising High-Frequency Words

Words like the, come, said, me, and appear often. Recognising them supports reading fluency.

✔ 4. Understanding Simple Sentences

Children should be able to read or listen to a short sentence and understand what it means.

✔ 5. Writing Letters With Reasonable Control

Their handwriting doesn’t need to be perfect, but they should be able to write letters in a clear, recognisable way.

✔ 6. Listening and Following Simple Instructions

This helps them cope with classroom routines and multi-step tasks.

✔ 7. Speaking in Complete Sentences

Verbal clarity supports reading comprehension, writing, spelling and participation in class.

✔ 8. Confidence to Try Reading Independently

The courage to try (even with mistakes!) is often more important than correctness.

How Parents Can Support These Skills at Home

Small, consistent habits make the biggest difference.

1. Read Together Daily (5–10 Minutes Is Enough)

Short, enjoyable reading moments build vocabulary, confidence, and a love for books.

2. Play Sound Games

Try simple games like:
“Tell me something that starts with /s/.”
“What sound do you hear at the end of dog?”

These boost phonological awareness — a key predictor of reading success.

3. Encourage Invented Spelling

Let them attempt to spell words based on the sounds they hear.
Examples: frend for “friend”, apl for “apple”.
This builds early writing confidence.

4. Model Speaking in Complete Sentences

Instead of:
“Water?”
Try:
“Can I have a bottle of water, please?”

This supports grammar and oral language skills that transfer into writing.

5. Use Simple, Everyday Writing Tasks

Let them help write:

Grocery lists
Name labels
Birthday cards
Simple reminders

This makes writing meaningful, not stressful.

Starting P1 With Confidence, Not Pressure

With these foundational skills and a supportive home environment, your child can step into P1 feeling prepared, secure, and excited to learn.

✨ Save this to support your child’s P1 readiness journey! ✨