Helping children get ready for school: Summer School Readiness Melas

Starting school is one of the biggest milestones in a young child’s life. But being ready for school isn’t just about recognising letters or counting numbers. It’s about having the confidence, curiosity and foundational skills to learn, play and thrive in the classroom.

As part of CAMaL Ki Taiyyari, Pratham’s school readiness initiative for children aged 3 to 6, School Readiness Melas (SRMs) are being conducted across multiple states in partnership with P&G Shiksha. Designed to support children as they prepare for Grade 1, the initiative brings together communities, families, Anganwadi workers and schools to make the transition into formal education a positive one.

Each School Readiness Mela features five interactive activity stalls, each focusing on a key area of child development: language, early numeracy, cognitive development, physical development, and social and emotional development. As children move through games, stories, songs and hands-on activities, trained volunteers observe their progress, helping families understand what school readiness looks like beyond traditional academic skills.

Parents and caregivers are central to the process. They accompany their children through each activity, receive a simple report card showing their child’s progress across the five developmental domains, and are introduced to practical learning activities they can continue at home. Over the following weeks, families receive easy, structured activities through WhatsApp, supported by Anganwadi workers and pre-primary teachers, before returning for a follow-up School Readiness Mela to celebrate children’s progress and share an updated report card with families and Grade 1 teachers.

By combining community events with simple home-based learning, School Readiness Melas help children begin school feeling confident, capable and ready to learn, while giving parents the knowledge and tools to support their child’s learning long after the mela has ended.

Donate now to help more children feel confident to start school and unlock their potential this summer.