Deb Barclay
Primary School Principal
Teacher of 30 years
Master of Education
Bachelor of Education
Diploma in Teaching
Certified Coach
About Deb
Hi, I’m Deb Barclay.
I’ve spent over 30 years in education, including 17 years in school leadership, working closely with children, teachers, and families at one of the most important stages of learning, the transition into school.
As a Primary School Principal, I’ve welcomed hundreds of children into their first year of school. I’ve seen, firsthand, what helps children settle, thrive, and build confidence, and what can make those early weeks unnecessarily hard for both children and parents.
Alongside my leadership role, I hold a Bachelor of Education, a Master of Education, formal training in mindfulness, and I am a certified coach. My work has always sat at the intersection of child development, emotional wellbeing, and practical, real-world strategies that actually work in busy family life.
What I’ve learned is this:
'School readiness' isn’t about children knowing their letters or numbers early.
It’s about emotional readiness, independence, resilience, social confidence, and feeling safe enough to learn.
Ready for School was created to give parents clear, calm, realistic guidance, the kind of advice teachers wish they had time to share with every family. It’s grounded in decades of experience, not trends, and is designed to help you support your child with confidence, not pressure.
You don’t need to do everything, just the right things. And I’m here to show you what those are.
My Ready for School Guide is a simple, practical 20-page resource created from decades of experience helping children thrive from day one.
Inside, you’ll find the key skills teachers truly value, fun ways to build confidence at home, and gentle tips to make the transition smooth and stress-free. If you want to feel prepared, supported, and clear on what really matters, this guide is the perfect place to start — and it’s only $9.
