Very impt to have some x/w skills prior to 1st solo.
Most JT schools used to have 5-7 kts x/w 'ability' before solo
CASA Instructors Manual, 12-4, appears to say that x/w is part of what you teach pre-solo, and thats what I've always done.
On another pprune thread, there's an interesting discussion about using rudder during the flare - and that's worth a read. See Flight Instructors & Examiners - it's still on p1.
happy days,