Starting school

For kids starting primary school, or heading back to school after the holidays, it can be hard settling into a new routine, making new friends, homework, learning how to read and count – even trying new food. Explore this page to find lots of information, support and guidance on what to expect as your little one begins their journey to primary school.

Sing the Get Ready to Go song. Video
Sing along with Dodge and Miss Hoolie to get ready for school or nursery. With fun music and cool moves, Dodge shows us how to start the day with a big “I CAN!”.
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CBeebies House
Eight reasons to get excited for school or nursery. Video
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Dodge's Pup School
Numberblocks: Make and Play game. Game
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Numberblocks
Brain-boosting bites for babies and toddlers. Article
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CBeebies Parenting
My First Day at School
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CBeebies Parenting

Can Bluey help with skills for school?

Discover how Bluey’s playful adventures can support your child as they get ready for school.

Find out more

Which skills can help your child as they start school?

From using the toilet to language learning.

Find out more

Step inside the classroom and listen to tips and advice from kids

My School Day by Wufflebump. Video
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School of Roars
Visit Topsy and Tim's classroom. Video
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Topsy and Tim
Waffle's top five tips for starting school. Video
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Waffle the Wonder Dog
Listen to Dodge’s Pup School: Story Time. Audio
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Dodge's Pup School

Start your day the fun way 🎶 🍳

Create a morning routine with CBeebies Video
Mr Tumble. Video, 2 minutes
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CBeebies
The Getting Ready Song. Video, 3 minutes
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CBeebies
Can you help Dodge get ready for school? Activity
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Dodge's Pup School

Supporting your little ones

Seven techniques for helping kids keep calm. Newsletter
Try these simple relaxation and mindfulness activities together and help your child learn to calm down when they feel stressed or anxious.
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Pablo
How to help your child make friends at primary school. Help
Starting school: parents' stories. Help
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Time for School
Seven tips to help prepare for primary school. Help
Managing anxiety in primary school Newsletter

Learn phonics with Alphabocks

Learn the A-Z phonetically. Video, 2 minutes
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CBeebies
Alphablocks A to Z colouring sheets. Interactive
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Alphablocks
Alphablocks Jigsaw. Activity
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Alphablocks
The Alphablocks guide to phonics. Help
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Alphablocks

One Times Table Quiz. Activity
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Numberblocks
Numberblocks One to Ten Colouring Sheets. Interactive
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Numberblocks
Play the Numberblocks sticker quiz Activity
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Numberblocks
How Numberblocks supports school maths. Help
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Numberblocks

Three in a row puzzle Activity
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Wonderblocks
Meet Stop! Video
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Wonderblocks
We'll get you moving! Video
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Wonderblocks
The Breakfast Bears. Video, 5 minutes
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CBeebies

The Mixing Factory song. Video
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Colourblocks
Colour Wheels. Video
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Colourblocks
Play snap with the Colourblocks. Activity
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Colourblocks
How Colourblocks helps your child learn about colour. Help
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Colourblocks

Blocks Universe on BBC iPlayer

From phonics, to problem solving, colour theory to numeracy. Animated adventures with your favourite Blocks

Alphablocks - Learn about letters, how they sound and how they connect to make words. Video
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CBeebies
Wonderblocks - Develop thinking and problem solving skills. Video
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CBeebies
Numberblocks - From counting to calculating, learn to love numeracy. Video
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CBeebies
Colourblocks - Learn the complexity of colours, how they can feel and how they mix to make life more vibrant. Video
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CBeebies

Make a Bluey memory book to remember this big moment with your little one. Interactive
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Bluey
Print and make a timetable with Pablo to help with routines. Interactive
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Pablo
Go Jetters Adventure Wall Chart. Interactive
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Go Jetters

CBeebies Learn app

CBeebies Learn is a free learning app from CBeebies that puts the fun into learning! All the activities are based on the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum, so your child can have fun with CBeebies and learn at the same time!

Watch now

Starting school with Hey Duggee

Films to watch together with top tips for parents

The Bubble Badge: Handwashing skills. Article
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CBeebies Parenting
The Drawing Badge: How to hold a pencil. Article
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CBeebies Parenting
The Making Friends Badge: How parents can encourage sharing. Article
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CBeebies Parenting
The Getting Ready Badge: Getting dressed for school. Article
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CBeebies Parenting

First days with Hey Duggee

Tag's First Day. Video, 7 minutes
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CBeebies
Betty's First Day. Video, 7 minutes
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CBeebies
Happy's First Day. Video, 7 minutes
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CBeebies
Norrie's First Day. Video, 7 minutes
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CBeebies
Roly's First Day. Video, 7 minutes
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CBeebies

Potty train with help from your CBeebies favourites

Hey Duggee's Potty Song. Video
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Hey Duggee
The Toilet Song from CBeebies Toddler Club. Video
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The Toddler Club
Mr Tumble's Washing Hands song. Video
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Something Special
Learn the Toilet Train song with Bing. Video
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Bing

Pack your school bag and get ready 🖍️

Make a book bag charm with Evie. Interactive
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CBeebies House
Make a fun pot for your pencils. Interactive
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CBeebies House
What piece of stationery is your little one? Activity
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The Let's Go Club

Activities and puzzles

Ten ways to help your child with maths. Newsletter
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Numberblocks
School Words Quiz. Activity
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Alphablocks
Learn how to sign the alphabet with Magic Hands. Game
Click on a letter to learn the sign. A fun way to discover, learn and practice your ABCs.
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Magic Hands
Topsy and Tim's top tips: Starting school Video
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Topsy and Tim

Topsy and Tim's first day at school. Video
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Topsy and Tim
Help your child learn to read. Help
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Alphablocks
Help children think like engineers. Newsletter
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Bitz & Bob
How to handle Key Stage 1 homework. Newsletter

Watch CBeebies shows about school on BBC iPlayer 🍏

Time for School. Video, 11 minutes
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CBeebies
Dodge's Pup School. Video, 11 minutes
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CBeebies
Norrie's First Day. Video, 7 minutes
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CBeebies
My School. Video, 21 minutes
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CBeebies

Learn to tell the time with Numberblocks. Video
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Numberblocks
Easy Patterns Quiz. Activity
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Numberblocks
Scoop a Scoop. Video
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Numberblocks
Two Times Table Song. Video
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Numberblocks
Number Magic Quiz Level 1. Activity
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Numberblocks
Reading and Writing: learning area. Help
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Alphablocks
Alphablocks group chart A to Z. Interactive
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Alphablocks

Available now on iPlayer

View all 67 available episodes

Rules of the Den. Songs. Video, 1 minute
Dodge's den club rules leave him with no one to play with.
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CBeebies
Available for over a year
Great Inflato. Songs. Video, 1 minute
Woofer uses his latest gadget to inflate a paddling pool.
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CBeebies
Available for over a year
Hup Hup, Pup School. Songs. Video, 1 minute
The pups form a band and write a song for a competition.
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CBeebies
Available for over a year
We're Making a Camp. Songs. Video, 1 minute
When a trip is cancelled, the pups make a camp at school.
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CBeebies
Available for over a year