Readiness for school entry: a community survey.

This study assessed the development of 4-5-year-old children in an urban low-income community in Sri Lanka, with the aim of investigating their readiness for formal education. A modified Denver developmental screening test was used to determine the presence of age-appropriate motor, cognitive (including language) and social skills in 295 children. Of these children, 17.8% were unable to perform more than 50% of the tasks correctly. Children with motor problems were more likely to have difficulties with cognitive tasks than children without motor problems. Children who attended preschool did significantly better in most tasks compared with those who did not. The level of maternal education did not show a direct association with the competencies of the children. This assessment schedule can be used as a quick screening method in the community for early recognition of children with the potential for learning problems in school.