What your child learns in Kindergarten
Age typically 5 to 6 years old
Kindergarten is where number sense and early reading really begin. Most of the year is hands-on: counting real objects, hearing the sounds in words, and learning that print carries meaning. Progress varies a lot at this age, so the milestones below are typical rather than fixed.
US grade: Kindergarten. This year is usually called Foundation (Prep, Kindy or Reception depending on the state) in Australia and Reception and the start of Year 1 in the UK. Curriculum expectations vary by country, state and school, so use the milestones below as a typical guide rather than a fixed standard.
Maths through the year
Start of the year
- Count to 20 and count a group of up to 10 objects accurately, one number per object.
- Recognise and write numerals 0 to 10.
- Sort and compare small groups as more, fewer or the same.
- Name basic 2D shapes such as circle, square, triangle and rectangle.
Mid-year
- Count on from a given number rather than always starting at one.
- Understand that the last number counted tells how many there are.
- Compare two written numbers to 10 as greater or less.
- Copy and continue simple patterns such as red, blue, red, blue.
End of the year
- Count to 100 by ones and by tens.
- Join and separate groups to add and subtract within 10, for example 3 and 4 make 7.
- Begin number bonds to 10 (the pairs that make ten, such as 6 and 4).
- Describe position with words like above, below, next to and behind.
English and literacy through the year
Start of the year
- Recognise and name most upper and lower case letters.
- Hear and say the first sound in a spoken word.
- Hold a book the right way and follow print left to right, top to bottom.
- Join in with rhymes and repeated lines in favourite stories.
Mid-year
- Match each letter to its main sound (phonics).
- Blend sounds to read simple three-letter words such as cat, sun and map.
- Write their own name and a few common words.
- Retell a familiar story with a beginning, middle and end.
End of the year
- Read simple decodable sentences and some sight words (the, and, is).
- Spell short CVC words (consonant-vowel-consonant words like cat, sun and dog) by sounding them out.
- Write a short sentence with a capital letter and full stop.
- Answer simple who, what and where questions about a text read aloud.
Signs your child is ahead
- Reads simple sentences smoothly and wants longer books.
- Counts well past 20 and adds small numbers in their head.
- Writes several sentences and spaces words clearly.
Signs your child may need support
- Still confuses many letter names or sounds late in the year.
- Loses track when counting a group of objects.
- Finds it hard to hear the separate sounds in a spoken word.
Every child develops at their own pace. A single sign is rarely a worry on its own. If several apply and persist, a quick chat with your child's teacher is the best next step.